מַדְרֵגָה
properly, a step; by implication, a steep or inaccessible place
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַדְרֵגָה (madrêgâh) fundamentally means 'a step' or 'stair,' referring to a place where one ascends or descends. In Song of Solomon 2:14, it is used metaphorically to describe the 'clefts' or 'stepping places' of a rock, portraying a secluded, elevated refuge. In Ezekiel 38:20, the meaning shifts to denote a 'steep place' or 'precipice,' emphasizing an inaccessible, rugged cliff that crumbles in judgment. Thus, the word encompasses both a physical step for climbing and a treacherous, steep terrain.
Biblical Usage
This word occurs only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct poetic contexts. In Song of Solomon 2:14, it appears in a romantic, pastoral setting as part of a lover's invitation to a hidden rocky retreat. In Ezekiel 38:20, it is used in a prophetic oracle of judgment, where mountains, cliffs, and every 'steep place' (madrêgâh) will fall. The usage contrasts intimacy and security with divine upheaval and inaccessibility.
Etymology
Derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to step' or 'to go up.' It is related to the concept of ascending or climbing, seen in words like דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) for 'way' or 'path,' though מַדְרֵגָה specifically implies a stepped or graded ascent. The development from 'step' to 'steep place' likely arose from the imagery of difficult, rocky terrain where one must tread carefully.
Semantic Range
This word enriches biblical imagery by connecting human refuge with divine sovereignty. In Song of Solomon, the 'stepping places' symbolize God-given intimacy and protection, akin to finding shelter in the Lord (Psalm 18:2). In Ezekiel, the crumbling 'steep place' illustrates God's power to overthrow human pride and security, reminding readers that even the most inaccessible strongholds are subject to His judgment. Understanding this Hebrew term deepens appreciation for how Scripture uses physical landscapes to convey spiritual truths.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, rocky cliffs and mountain clefts were common natural features offering both refuge and danger. Shepherds and travelers sought such places for shelter from enemies or weather, but they also recognized the peril of steep, unstable slopes. The metaphorical use in Song of Solomon reflects a pastoral understanding of secluded intimacy, while Ezekiel's usage taps into the universal awe and fear associated with precipitous terrain in a largely agrarian society.
סֻלָּם (sullam, H5551) — a ladder or staircase, as in Jacob's dream (Genesis 28:12), implying a constructed means of ascent. מַעֲלֶה (ma'aleh, H4618) — an ascent or uphill road, often used for geographical slopes (Joshua 10:10). צוּר (tsur, H6697) — a rock or cliff, emphasizing solidity and refuge (Psalm 18:2), without the stepped connotation.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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