מַעֲלֽוֹת׃

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 מַעֲלֽוֹת׃

   ma-a-LOT

   steps or degrees
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 עֶ֥שֶׂר מַעֲלֽוֹת׃

   E-ser ma-a-LOT

   ten steps or degrees
3. clause🔊 לֹ֣א כִ֔י יָשׁ֥וּב הַצֵּ֛ל אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית עֶ֥שֶׂר מַעֲלֽוֹת׃

   LO KI ya-SHUV ha-TSEL a-kho-ran-NIT E-ser ma-a-LOT

   not for or rather let it return the shadow backward or to the rear ten steps or degrees
4. sentence🔊 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ נָקֵ֣ל לַצֵּ֔ל לִנְט֖וֹת עֶ֣שֶׂר מַעֲל֑וֹת לֹ֣א כִ֔י יָשׁ֥וּב הַצֵּ֛ל אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית עֶ֥שֶׂר מַעֲלֽוֹת׃

   va-yo-MER ye-khiz-ki-YA-hu na-KEL la-TSEL lin-TOT E-ser ma-a-LOT LO KI ya-SHUV ha-TSEL a-kho-ran-NIT E-ser ma-a-LOT

   and he said Hezekiah easy or light for the shadow to stretch out or to extend ten steps or degrees not for or rather let it return the shadow backward or to the rear ten steps or degrees

Exegesis

The nominal phrase nāqēl laṣṣēl linṭôt ʿeśer maʿălôt {נָקֵל לַצֵּל לִנְטוֹת עֶשֶׂר מַעֲל֑וֹת} employs the Qal participle nāqēl as predicate with the infinitive construct linṭôt to express ease of the shadow’s forward movement.

Root and etymology

ע־ל־ה🔊 ayin–lamed–heh

“to ascend”

• 🔊 עָלָהʿālāhto go upGenesis 28:12