עֲלִיָּה
𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤄
ʻălîyâh
H5944 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A structure or space that is elevated above the main living area—typically an upper room, upper chamber, or loft; often used for special purposes, such as receiving guests, conducting private gatherings, or religious observances. Can refer to a staircase or stairway leading upwards, and occasionally, in poetic or figurative language, denotes a high place or sky/heavens.
Semantic Range
upper room, upper chamber, loft, staircase, stairway, ascent, elevated space, metaphorical height, sky/heavens (poetic)
Root / Etymology
From the root עלה (עלה), meaning 'to go up, ascend, climb.' עֲלִיָּה is a feminine noun formation indicating 'that which is above' or 'a place of ascent.' The word developed from the root sense of movement or location upward to designate specific architectural features or spatial designations within dwellings.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עֲלִיָּה in the Hebrew Bible predominantly refers to an upper chamber or room, often situated above ground level, and sometimes accessible by an interior staircase or external steps. These spaces were generally associated with privacy, honor, or specific functions, such as prayer (cf. Daniel 6:10), hospitality (cf. 2 Kings 4:10), or resting places for important guests (1 Kings 17:19–23). Occasionally used in poetic or figurative speech to denote height or the heavens, though this is less frequent and usually marked by context. The word is related to, but not synonymous with, גָּג (roof) and מִשְׁכָּן (dwelling/tabernacle); its use is distinct from later post-biblical developments where עֲלִיָּה comes to acquire specialized meanings (such as pilgrimage or 'emigration' in modern usage), none of which are attested in the biblical corpus. English translations generally render it as 'upper room,' 'chamber,' or 'loft,' though such terms may not fully capture the social or functional nuances carried by the Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine from עָלָה; something lofty, i.e. a stair-way; also a second-story room (or even one on the roof); figuratively, the sky; ascent, (upper) chamber, going up, loft, parlour.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עלה (ʿ-l-h) — go up, ascend, climb, move upward
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H421 | אָלָה | Lofty One |
| H422 | אָלָה | he ascended |
| H4605 | מַעַל | upward |
| H4607 | מֹעַל | in hand-raising |
| H4608 | מַעֲלֶה | at the ascent |
Word Forms
11 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5944-05 |
הָ/עַלִיָּ֛ה | haaliyah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the upper room | the upper chamber | 6 |
H5944-02 |
עֲלִיַּ֥ת | aliyat | HNcfsc |
the upper chamber | upper chamber of | 5 |
H5944-10 |
וַ/עֲלִיֹּתָ֛י/ו | vaaliyotayv | HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
and its upper chambers | and his upper chambers | 1 |
H5944-08 |
וַ/עֲלִיּוֹתָ֖י/ו | vaaliotayv | HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
and his upper rooms | and his upper chambers | 1 |
H5944-01 |
עֲֽלִיּ֫וֹתָ֥י/ו | aliotayv | HNcfpc/Sp3ms |
of His upper chambers | his upper chambers | 1 |
H5944-07 |
וַ/עֲלִיּ֖וֹת | vaaliot | HC/Ncfpc |
and upper chambers | upper chambers of | 1 |
H5944-09 |
וַ/עֲלִיָּת֔/וֹ | vaaliyato | HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and his ascent | his upper chamber | 1 |
H5944-06 |
מֵ/עֲלִיּוֹתָ֑י/ו | mealiotayv | HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
from His upper chambers | from his upper rooms | 1 |
H5944-11 |
וְ/הָ/עֲלִיּ֖וֹת | vehaaliot | HC/Td/Ncfpa |
and-the-upper-rooms | and the upper chambers | 1 |
H5944-03 |
בַּ/עֲלִיַּ֨ת | baaliyat | HR/Ncfsc |
in the upper chamber | in the upper chamber of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
20 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5944-03 |
Judges 3:20 | בַּ/עֲלִיַּ֨ת | baaliyat | HR/Ncfsc |
in the upper chamber | in the upper chamber of |
H5944-05 |
Judges 3:23 | הָ/עַלִיָּ֛ה | haaliyah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the upper room | the upper chamber |
H5944-05 |
Judges 3:24 | הָ/עֲלִיָּ֖ה | haaliyah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the upper room | the upper chamber |
H5944-05 |
Judges 3:25 | הָֽ/עֲלִיָּ֑ה | haaliyah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the upper room | the upper chamber |
H5944-02 |
2 Samuel 19:1 | עֲלִיַּ֥ת | aliyat | HNcfsc |
the upper chamber | upper chamber of |
H5944-05 |
1 Kings 17:19 | הָ/עֲלִיָּ֗ה | haaliyah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the upper room | the upper chamber |
H5944-05 |
1 Kings 17:23 | הָ/עֲלִיָּה֙ | haaliyah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the upper room | the upper chamber |
H5944-04 |
2 Kings 1:2 | בַּ/עֲלִיָּת֛/וֹ | baaliyato | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
in his upper chamber | in his upper room |
H5944-02 |
2 Kings 4:10 | עֲלִיַּת | aliyat | HNcfsc |
upper chamber | upper chamber of |
H5944-05 |
2 Kings 4:11 | הָ/עֲלִיָּ֖ה | haaliyah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the upper room | the upper chamber |