Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Degree
Subjects in this Topic:
dē̇-grē´ (מעלה, ma‛ălaÌ„h, “a going up†or “ascent,†hence, a staircase or flight of steps; “rankâ€: ταπεινοÌÏ‚, tapeinoÌs, “lowâ€): By derivation it should mean “a step down†(Latin, de, down, gradus, step). It is used, however, of any step, up or down; then of grade or rank, whether high or low. (1) In its literal sense of step (as of a stair), it is used in the plural to translate Hebrew ma‛ăloÌ„th (“stepsâ€), in the parallel passages -11 the King James Version (5 t); the King James Version (3 t), where we read of the “degrees†(the Revised Version (British and American) “stepsâ€) on the “dial of Ahaz†(Hebrew “steps of Ahazâ€). See DIAL OF AHAZ. It seems to mean steps or progressive movements of the body toward a certain place in the phrase “A Song of Degrees†(the Revised Version (British and American) “Ascentsâ€), which forms the title of each of the Psalms 120 through 134, probably because they were sung on the way up to the great feasts at Jerusalem. See PSALMS (2) The secondary (but now the more usual) sense of rank, order, grade is found in the following passages: (a) , “their brethren of the second (degree),†literally, “of the seconds†(Hebrew mishnı̄m; compare , “Elkanah that was next to the king,†Hebrew, “the king's second,†i.e. in rank); (b) , “a man of high degree†(Hebrew ma‛ălaÌ„h, “stepâ€); (c) , “men of low degree ... men of high degree,†a paraphrase of Hebrew “sons of man ... sons of man,†the first “man†being Hebrew 'aÌ„dhaÌ„m (“common humanityâ€; compare Greek aÌnthroÌ„pos, Latin homo, Welsh dyn), and the second Hebrew 'ı̄sh (man in a superior sense; compare Greek aneÌ„Ìr, Latin vir, Welsh gwr) ; (d) “of low degree†for Greek tapeinos in Sirach 11:1; ; ; (e) In the King James Version “a good degree†(Greek bathmoÌs kaloÌs, the Revised Version (British and American) “a good standingâ€) is assured to those who have “served well as deacons.†Some take this to mean promotion to a higher official position in the church; but it probably means simply a position of moral weight and influence in the church gained by faithfulness in service (so Hort).