Word Study for H4095 (מַדְרֵגָה)

madrêgâh /mad-ray-gaw'/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom an unused root meaning to step

Meaningproperly, a step; by implication, a steep or inaccessible place

KJV usagestair, steep place.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of madrêgâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word madrêgâh, represented by H4095, denotes a step or, by implication, a steep and inaccessible place. This word, derived from a root meaning to step, appears only 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible. Its rarity lends significant weight to each appearance, where it describes both a hidden place of refuge and a towering structure destined for collapse.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two uses of H4095 present a sharp contrast. In Song of Solomon, it refers to the "secret places of the stairs" where the beloved is hidden away like a dove in the clefts of a rock Song of Solomon 2:14. This context suggests a place of safety, privacy, and intimacy. In Ezekiel's prophecy, however, it describes the "steep places" that will fall along with the mountains in a great cataclysmic shaking at God's presence, signifying the destruction of all that seems mighty and permanent Ezekiel 38:20.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of H4095 in its specific contexts:

H5553 çelaʻ (a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)): This word for rock is directly associated with H4095 to create the image of a secure, protected refuge in the natural landscape Song of Solomon 2:14.
H5643 çêther (a cover... hiding place, privily, protection, secret(-ly, place)): Paired with "stairs," this term emphasizes that the location is a secret place, intended for private retreat and protection Song of Solomon 2:14.
H2022 har (a mountain or range of hills): In Ezekiel, mountains are listed with "steep places" as examples of immense, formidable structures that will be overthrown during God's judgment Ezekiel 38:20.
H5307 nâphal (to fall, in a great variety of applications): This verb is used to describe the fate of the "steep places," indicating that these seemingly unshakeable locations will fall and be brought to ruin Ezekiel 38:20.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H4095 is found in its contrasting applications.

Divine Refuge: In its first use, the "stairs" are part of a secret hiding place for the beloved, symbolizing a place of intimate safety and protection provided for those cherished Song of Solomon 2:14.
Divine Judgment: In its second use, the "steep places" represent the imposing heights of the world—whether natural or man-made—that will be brought low in the face of God's overwhelming presence and power Ezekiel 38:20.
The Unshakeable vs. The Shaken: The word highlights a critical distinction: the security found in a hidden relationship versus the instability of even the most formidable earthly strongholds when confronted by divine authority.

Summary

In summary, H4095 is a term with a narrow but potent scope. While used only twice, it effectively conveys two opposing ideas: a private, inaccessible place of loving refuge and a high, proud place destined for destruction. Through madrêgâh, scripture illustrates that what seems inaccessible can either be a shelter for the beloved or a symbol of pride that will inevitably fall.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מַּדְרֵגוֹת
מַּדְרֵגָה

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Song of Solomon and Ezekiel (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Song of Solomon

Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.