מֹעַל
a raising (of the hands)
Definition
The noun מֹעַל (môʻal) refers specifically to the act of raising or lifting up, particularly in a ritual or worship context. Its sole biblical occurrence in Nehemiah 8:6 describes the people's response to the reading of the Law: 'And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up of their hands.' Here, it signifies a physical gesture of worship, agreement, and perhaps blessing. The word does not appear to have a broader semantic range in the biblical text, being confined to this singular instance of ceremonial action.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Nehemiah 8:6. It describes the congregation's unified, physical act of worship—lifting their hands—in response to Ezra's public reading and exposition of the Book of the Law. The context is a solemn assembly of national repentance and renewal following the return from exile. The usage is entirely liturgical, connected to a public declaration of 'Amen' to affirm the words of praise and the Law itself.
Etymology
מֹעַל (môʻal) is a noun derived from the common Hebrew root עָלָה (ʿālâ, H5927), which means 'to go up, ascend, or climb.' The noun form denotes the concept or result of that upward movement—a 'lifting up' or 'raising.' Cognate nouns from this root can refer to things that are high, such as a 'burnt offering' (עֹלָה, ʿōlâ) which 'ascends' in smoke, or a 'step' (מַעֲלָה, maʿălâ).
Semantic Range
While a simple noun, מֹעַל captures a significant physical expression of worship in the Bible. The lifting of hands (often paired with the word יָדַיִם, yādayim) is a posture of prayer, praise, surrender, and blessing found throughout Scripture (e.g., Psalm 63:4, 1 Timothy 2:8). In its single use in Nehemiah 8:6, it marks a pivotal moment of covenant renewal, where the people's physical 'lifting up' visually and bodily confirms their verbal 'Amen' to God and His word. It reminds readers that biblical worship engages the whole person.
In the ancient Near East, including Israel, raising the hands was a common, non-verbal gesture with multiple meanings. It could signify prayer or supplication to a deity (like reaching upward), an act of praise, or a gesture of blessing. In the specific context of Nehemiah 8, it was part of a formal, communal response in a liturgical setting, demonstrating the people's unity and reverence. This differs from a modern understanding where such a gesture might be seen as more spontaneous or individualistic.
נְשִׂיאַת כַּפַּיִם (nəśîʾat kappayim, H5375+H3709) — This phrase, meaning 'lifting of the palms/hands,' is the more common biblical expression for the same physical act, often in priestly blessing (Leviticus 9:22) or prayer (Psalm 141:2). מֹעַל is a rarer, standalone noun for the concept.
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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