עַל
𐤏𐤋
ʻal
H5920 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A preposition and adverb commonly meaning 'upon,' 'over,' 'above,' 'against,' or 'concerning,' indicating position (physical or metaphorical elevation, contact, or direction toward a surface or object), relationship (responsibility, authority, or reference), and extension (spatial, temporal, or figurative). Less frequently used nominally with the definite article to denote a high place or, abstractly, supremacy; rarely, a divine title in poetic contexts for the Most High (God).
Semantic Range
upon, on, over, above, against, concerning, because of, for the sake of, to, towards, atop, about (regarding), in reference to; (nominally/poetically) elevation, the Most High (God)
Root / Etymology
From the root עָלָה (ʿ-l-h), which means 'to go up, ascend, arise.' עַל is a preposition/adverb formed from the same root, expressing the idea of movement or position upward, on, or over. The nominal/adjectival usages, such as 'Most High,' are later or poetic extensions from the spatial sense of 'elevation.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, עַל is overwhelmingly used as a preposition indicating spatial position ('on,' 'over,' 'above') or abstract relationship ('against,' 'concerning,' 'because of'). Its nominal or divine title use (as in 'the Most High') is relatively rare and typically poetic (e.g., Ps 7:18; 9:3). Because of its high frequency and ubiquity, nuance depends on immediate context—whether physical location, authority relations, or causation. English translations sometimes limit עַל to 'on' or 'upon,' but scope is broader: it can signal opposition, reason, or concerningness. Distinguished from אֶל ('to, toward') and עַד ('as far as, until'), which focus more on motion or temporal boundaries. The English 'the most High' as a rendering primarily reflects poetic or theological translation style and is not reflective of regular usage in Israelite or Judahite society; in most cases, עַל should not be read as a divine name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָלָה; properly, the top; specifically, the highest (i.e. God); also (adverb) aloft, to Jehovah; above, high, most High.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
על (ʿ-l) — to go up, ascend, be high
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1167 | בַּעַל | and upon him |
| H3808 | לֹא | upon |
| H408 | אַל | upon / over |
| H409 | אַל | upon |
| H413 | אֵל | upon / over |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5920-01 |
עָ֔ל | al | HNcmsa |
on high | upon, over | 3 |
H5920-02 |
מֵ/עָ֑ל | meal | HR/Ncmsa |
from above | from upon | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5920-01 |
2 Samuel 23:1 | עָ֔ל | al | HNcmsa |
on high | upon, over |
H5920-01 |
Hosea 7:16 | עָ֗ל | al | HNcmsa |
upward | upon, over |
H5920-01 |
Hosea 11:7 | עַל֙ | al | HNcmsa |
on-high | upon, over |
H5920-02 |
Psalms 50:4 | מֵ/עָ֑ל | meal | HR/Ncmsa |
from above | from upon |