מִשְׁאָל
𐤌𐤔𐤀𐤋
Misheal
H4861 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun designating a town allotted to the tribe of Asher in the west of the land, near the border with Zebulun. The term primarily refers to a geographical locality known as Mishal in the administrative and settlement lists of the Hebrew Bible. The semantic range of the name may be related to the act of asking or requesting, in line with its verbal root, but its function is as a place name.
Semantic Range
place name (town in territory of Asher); possibly related etymologically to 'request, asking', but used exclusively as a proper noun designating a town
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁאַל (sha'al), meaning 'to ask, request, inquire'. The noun form here is used as a toponym. Its link to the act of asking suggests significance in naming, possibly recalling a tradition, person, or event, but details are not preserved. Not to be confused with מָשָׁל (marshal), which is a separate root with different meaning ('proverb, saying').
Historical & Contextual Notes
מִשְׁאַל appears in the allotment lists for the tribe of Asher (Joshua 19:26), marking the western boundary. It is distinguished from similar place names by its unique consonantal and vocalization pattern. There is no direct evidence connecting the place to a historical event of 'asking' or 'requesting,' so the connection to the root is primarily morphological rather than narrative. Standard English translations usually transliterate the place name without providing additional context, which may obscure its possible connection to Hebrew verbal roots. The form should not be confused with מָשָׁל (mashal, 'proverb'), whose spelling and root are different. The ancient location is uncertain but may be identified with a site in the western Galilee region in later periods. The term does not carry over into religious or ethnic designations and remains strictly a geographical nomenclature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁאַל; request; Mishal, a place in Palestine; Mishal, Misheal. Compare מָשָׁל.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שאל (š-ʾ-l) — to ask, request, inquire
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4862 | מִשְׁאָלָה | petitions of |
| H7585 | שְׁאוֹל | in the underworld |
| H7586 | שָׁאוּל | to Shaul |
| H7587 | שָׁאוּלִי | the Shaulite |
| H7592 | שָׁאַל | I will ask |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4861-02 |
וּ/מִשְׁאָ֑ל | umisheal | HC/Np |
and Mishal | and Mishal | 1 |
H4861-01 |
מִשְׁאָ֖ל | misheal | HNp |
Mishal | Asking-town | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4861-02 |
Joshua 19:26 | וּ/מִשְׁאָ֑ל | umisheal | HC/Np |
and Mishal | and Mishal |
H4861-01 |
Joshua 21:30 | מִשְׁאָ֖ל | misheal | HNp |
Mishal | Asking-town |