Lexical Summary aliyyah: Upper room, upper chamber, roof chamber Original Word: עֲלִיָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ascent, upper chamber, going up, loft, parlor Feminine from alah; 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. see HEBREW alah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alah Definition a roof chamber NASB Translation chamber over (1), roof chamber (4), upper chamber (4), upper chambers (2), upper room (4), upper rooms (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֲלִיָּה noun feminine (c. adjective masculine Jeremiah 22:14, compare AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 83 KöSynt. § 251 k) roof-chamber (Late Hebrew id., ᵑ7 עֲלִיתָא, Syriac  (whence Arabic  dining-room as loan-word Frä20f.); Sabean עלית DHMEpigr. Denkm. 27); — chamber on roof, cool and secluded: absolute ׳ע Judges 3:23,24,25 (compare NesMarg. 13), 1 Kings 17:19,23; 2 Kings 4:11; construct עֲלִיַּת הַמְּקֵרָה Judges 3:20, קִֿיר׳ע 2 Kings 4:10 roof-chamber with walls (permanent); הַשַּׁעַר ׳ע 2 Samuel 19:1, i.e. over the gateway; הַמִּנָּה ׳ע Nehemiah 3:31,32 i.e. at a corner of the wall; אָחָז ׳ע 2 Kings 23:12 (probably built by A.); suffix עֲלִיָּתוֺ 2 Kings 1:2 (belonging to Ahaziah); — 2 Chronicles 9:4 read עֹלֹתָיו (compare "" 1 Kings 10:5); plural absolute עֲלִיּוֺת מְרֻוָּחִים Jeremiah 22:14 spacious roof-chambers; in Solomon's temple according to 2 Chronicles 3:9, so suffix עֲלִיּתָיו 1 Chronicles 28:11; more Generally עֲלִיּוֺתָיו Jeremiah 22:13; ׳י's chambers in sky Psalm 104:3, containing rain, Psalm 104:13. Topical Lexicon Definition and Architectural SettingThe עֲלִיָּה refers to an upper room or roof-chamber built above the main house or gate complex. Usually reached by an external stairway, it provided privacy, cooling breezes, and an elevated vantage point. Stone or wooden beams supported a flat roof, often overlaid with clay and tiles. Windows, lattices, and parapets completed the structure. In royal buildings the עֲלִיָּה could be richly paneled (Jeremiah 22:14); in common homes it might be a simple loft (1 Kings 17:19). Domestic and Royal Use 1. Personal living space: Ehud visited Eglon while the Moabite king was “sitting alone in his cool upper room” (Judges 3:20). Places of Prayer, Revelation, and Resurrection Elijah’s solitary intercession in the attic of Zarephath culminated in resurrection (1 Kings 17:19-24). Likewise, Elisha’s retreat to the Shunammite loft became the scene of a second resurrection (2 Kings 4:32-36). Both miracles underline the עֲלִיָּה as a quiet arena where life-giving power confronts death, prefiguring New Testament upper-room events (Mark 14:15; Acts 20:8). Stages for Judgment and Warning Ahaziah “fell through the lattice in his upper room” (2 Kings 1:2) and never recovered—a sober reminder that elevation without obedience affords no safety. Josiah later destroyed the idolatrous altars “on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz” (2 Kings 23:12), purging the nation of sins committed in secret heights. Temple and Cultic Significance David’s blueprint for the temple included “its upper rooms” (1 Chronicles 28:11), and Solomon “overlaid the upper rooms with gold” (2 Chronicles 3:9). The עֲלִיָּה within the house of God spoke of holiness above the common plane, an earthly echo of the heavenly sanctuary. Metaphorical Extension to God’s Dwelling Psalm 104 twice employs עֲלִיָּה to describe the Lord’s cosmic palace: “He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters” (verse 3) and “He waters the mountains from His upper chambers” (verse 13). The imagery invites worshipers to lift their eyes to the Supreme “upper room” that governs wind, rain, and seasons. Civic Architecture and Restoration Nehemiah records repair work stretching “up to the upper room at the corner” on Jerusalem’s wall (Nehemiah 3:31–32). The detail illustrates careful stewardship in post-exilic rebuilding, ensuring that elevated structures were as secure as foundational stones. Theological Themes • Separation for communion: Height symbolizes withdrawal from daily traffic for undistracted fellowship with God. Ministry Application Believers are encouraged to create “upper-room” moments—dedicated seasons of retreat, prayer, and hospitality—while remembering that elevation without humility courts disaster. Just as prophets, kings, and widows encountered life-altering grace in modest lofts, contemporary disciples can expect God to meet them wherever space is consecrated for Him. Forms and Transliterations בַּעֲלִיַּ֨ת בַּעֲלִיָּת֛וֹ בעלית בעליתו הָֽעֲלִיָּ֑ה הָעֲלִיָּ֖ה הָעֲלִיָּ֗ה הָעֲלִיָּה֙ הָעַלִיָּ֛ה העליה וְהָעֲלִיּ֖וֹת וַעֲלִיֹּתָ֛יו וַעֲלִיּ֖וֹת וַעֲלִיּוֹתָ֖יו והעליות ועליות ועליותיו ועליתיו מֵעֲלִיּוֹתָ֑יו מעליותיו עֲֽלִיּ֫וֹתָ֥יו עֲלִיַּ֤ת עֲלִיַּ֥ת עֲלִיַּ֨ת עֲלִיַּת־ עליותיו עלית עלית־ ‘ă·lî·yaṯ ‘ă·lî·yaṯ- ‘ălî·yō·w·ṯāw ‘ălîyaṯ ‘ălîyaṯ- ‘ălîyōwṯāw aliYat aliYoTav ba‘ălîyaṯ ba‘ălîyāṯōw ba·‘ă·lî·yā·ṯōw ba·‘ă·lî·yaṯ baaliYat baaliyaTo hā‘alîyāh hā‘ălîyāh hā·‘a·lî·yāh hā·‘ă·lî·yāh haaliYah mê‘ălîyōwṯāw mê·‘ă·lî·yō·w·ṯāw mealiyoTav vaaliYot vaaliyoTav vehaaliYot wa‘ălîyōṯāw wa‘ălîyōwṯ wa‘ălîyōwṯāw wa·‘ă·lî·yō·ṯāw wa·‘ă·lî·yō·w·ṯāw wa·‘ă·lî·yō·wṯ wə·hā·‘ă·lî·yō·wṯ wəhā‘ălîyōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 3:20 HEB: וְהֽוּא־ יֹ֠שֵׁב בַּעֲלִיַּ֨ת הַמְּקֵרָ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־ NAS: in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud KJV: in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud INT: he was sitting roof his cool after Judges 3:23 Judges 3:24 Judges 3:25 2 Samuel 18:33 1 Kings 17:19 1 Kings 17:23 2 Kings 1:2 2 Kings 4:10 2 Kings 4:11 2 Kings 23:12 1 Chronicles 28:11 2 Chronicles 3:9 Nehemiah 3:31 Nehemiah 3:32 Psalm 104:3 Psalm 104:13 Jeremiah 22:13 Jeremiah 22:14 19 Occurrences |
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