מָשַׁל (H4910) — Hebrew Lexicon

מָשַׁל

𐤌𐤔𐤋

mâshal

H4910 verb

SILEX Entry

Root משל to rule, govern, have dominion, exercise authority

Definition

To exercise authority or control, to govern or have dominion. The verb מָשַׁל fundamentally describes situations in which a person, group, or power wields rule over others, often in the political or administrative sense. It can also refer more generally to having mastery or power over something or someone.

Semantic Range

to rule, to have dominion, to govern, to have mastery over, to hold authority, to exercise sovereignty, to bear sway

Root / Etymology

Root: משל (m-sh-l). Root meaning: at the root level, משל conveys 'to govern, have authority or dominion.' The verb form מָשַׁל reflects derived verbal stems indicating active exercise of rule.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb מָשַׁל is widely used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to various forms of rule, including divine sovereignty (e.g. God's rule over creation), human kingship (as in the governance by kings, officials, or tribal chieftains), and more general types of power relationships (such as the sun 'ruling' by day in Gen 1:18, or humans having dominion over animals in Gen 1:26). The term applies both to legitimate (authorized) ruling—such as anointed kings—or to situations of mastery where the rightness of the rule is not always specified (e.g. one nation dominating another). Distinctive from מָלַךְ (malak, 'to reign, be king'), which emphasizes royal status, מָשַׁל focuses on the exercise or practice of rulership or dominion, regardless of title. Occasionally in later biblical and post-biblical periods, the noun form came to be used in connection with parabolic speech (מָשָל, 'proverb'), but this is etymologically and semantically distinct from the verbal usage. Standard English translations as 'to rule' or 'have dominion' generally capture the sense, but the term can be applied to personal, divine, political, and even cosmic kinds of rule, so narrower renderings (such as 'be king') may miss its breadth of application. Throughout the Hebrew Bible, מָשַׁל is applied to Israelites, foreign rulers, deities (as in metaphor), and even elements of creation, making it a versatile term for power and rule.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to rule; (have, make to have) dominion, governor, [idiom] indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule(-ing, -r), have power.

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Root Family

משל (m-š-l) — to rule, govern, have dominion, exercise authority

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4474	מִמְשָׁל	the dominions
H4475	מֶמְשָׁלָה	the dominion
H4911	מָשַׁל	the parable-speaker
H4912	מָשָׁל	the ruling saying
H4913	מָשָׁל	governing proverb
H4914	מְשֹׁל	to rule
H4915	מֹשֶׁל	like his ruler

Word Forms

35 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H4910-15`	מֹשֵׁ֖ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	ruler	ruling one	22
`H4910-26`	וּ/מֹשֵׁ֖ל	umoshel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and ruler	and one who rules	8
`H4910-19`	מֹשְׁלִ֥ים	moshelim	`HVqrmpa`	of rulers	ruling ones	7
`H4910-34`	יִמְשֹׁ֥ל	yimeshol	`HVqi3ms`	will rule	he will rule	5
`H4910-24`	וּ/מָשַׁ֖ל	umashal	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and he will rule	and he ruled	4
`H4910-04`	הַ/מֹּשֵׁ֖ל	hamoshel	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	of the ruler	the ruling one	2
`H4910-14`	מְשֹׁ֥ל	meshol	`HVqc`	rule	to rule	2
`H4910-32`	יִמְשָׁל	yimeshal	`HVqi3ms`	he-will-rule	he will rule	2
`H4910-33`	יִמְשְׁלוּ	yimeshelu	`HVqi3mp`	have dominion	they will rule	2
`H4910-11`	מָ֣שְׁלוּ	mashelu	`HVqp3cp`	rule	they ruled	2
`H4910-23`	תִּמְשֹׁ֖ל	timeshol	`HVqi2ms`	will rule	you will rule	2
`H4910-18`	מֹֽשְׁלֵי֙	mosheley	`HVqrmpc`	rulers	ruling-ones of	1
`H4910-02`	הַמְשֵׁ֣ל	hameshel	`HVha`	Dominion	causing to rule	1
`H4910-30`	וְ/הִמְשִׁילָ/ם֙	vehimeshilam	`HC/Vhq3ms/Sp3mp`	and he will cause them to rule	and he caused them to rule	1
`H4910-05`	הַ/מּֽוֹשְׁלִ֨ים	hamoshelim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	governors	the ruling ones	1
`H4910-10`	מָשַׁ֣לְתָּ	mashaleta	`HVqp2ms`	you have ruled	you ruled	1
`H4910-12`	מָשׁ֥וֹל	mashol	`HVqa`	indeed rule	to rule	1
`H4910-20`	משל/ו	mshlv	`HVqrmsc/Sp3ms`	his-ruler	his ruling-one	1
`H4910-08`	מָשָׁ֔ל	mashal	`HVqp3ms`	he ruled	ruling proverb	1
`H4910-06`	לִ/מְשָׁל	limeshal	`HR/Vqc`	a byword	to rule	1
`H4910-22`	תִּמְשָׁל	timeshal	`HVqi2ms`	must rule	you will rule	1
`H4910-21`	תַּ֭מְשִׁילֵ/הוּ	tameshilehu	`HVhi2ms/Sp3ms`	you have made him rule	you make him rule	1
`H4910-03`	הַ/מְשֹׁ֨ל	hameshol	`HTi/Vqc`	the ruling	the ruling	1
`H4910-17`	מֹשְׁלָ֤י/ו	moshelayv	`HVqrmpc/Sp3ms`	his-rulers	his ruling-ones	1
`H4910-28`	וּ/בִ/מְשֹׁ֥ל	uvimeshol	`HC/R/Vqc`	but when [the wicked] rule	and in ruling	1
`H4910-07`	לִ/מְשׁ֑וֹל	limeshol	`HR/Vqc`	to rule	to rule	1
`H4910-25`	וּ/מָֽשַׁלְתָּ֙	umashaleta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and you shall rule	and you ruled	1
`H4910-35`	יִמְשֹֽׁלוּ	yimesholu	`HVqi3mp`	shall rule	they will rule	1
`H4910-31`	וְ/לִ/מְשֹׁל֙	velimeshol	`HC/R/Vqc`	and to rule	and to rule	1
`H4910-01`	אֶמְשֹׁ֤ל	emeshol	`HVqi1cs`	I will rule	I will rule	1
`H4910-16`	מֹ֣שְׁלָה	moshelah	`HVqrfsa`	shall rule	she who rules	1
`H4910-27`	וּ/מֹֽשְׁל/וֹ֙	umoshelo	`HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms`	and their ruler	and his ruling-one	1
`H4910-29`	וַֽ/יִּמְשְׁל֥וּ	vayimeshelu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they ruled	and they ruled	1
`H4910-13`	מְשָׁל	meshal	`HVqv2ms`	Rule	Rule!	1
`H4910-09`	מָשָֽׁלָה	mashalah	`HVqp3fs`	rules	she ruled	1

Occurrences in Scripture

82 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H4910-31`	Genesis 1:18	וְ/לִ/מְשֹׁל֙	velimeshol	`HC/R/Vqc`	and to rule	and to rule
`H4910-32`	Genesis 3:16	יִמְשָׁל	yimeshal	`HVqi3ms`	he will rule / he shall rule	he will rule
`H4910-22`	Genesis 4:7	תִּמְשָׁל	timeshal	`HVqi2ms`	must rule	you will rule
`H4910-04`	Genesis 24:2	הַ/מֹּשֵׁ֖ל	hamoshel	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	who had charge	the ruling one
`H4910-12`	Genesis 37:8	מָשׁ֥וֹל	mashol	`HVqa`	indeed rule	to rule
`H4910-23`	Genesis 37:8	תִּמְשֹׁ֖ל	timeshol	`HVqi2ms`	will you rule	you will rule
`H4910-26`	Genesis 45:8	וּ/מֹשֵׁ֖ל	umoshel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and ruler	and one who rules
`H4910-15`	Genesis 45:26	מֹשֵׁ֖ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	ruler	ruling one
`H4910-34`	Exodus 21:8	יִמְשֹׁ֥ל	yimeshol	`HVqi3ms`	he shall rule	he will rule
`H4910-25`	Deuteronomy 15:6	וּ/מָֽשַׁלְתָּ֙	umashaleta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and you shall rule	and you ruled
`H4910-35`	Deuteronomy 15:6	יִמְשֹֽׁלוּ	yimesholu	`HVqi3mp`	shall rule	they will rule
`H4910-15`	Joshua 12:2	מֹשֵׁ֡ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	and ruled	ruling one
`H4910-26`	Joshua 12:5	וּ֠/מֹשֵׁל	umoshel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and he ruled	and one who rules
`H4910-13`	Judges 8:22	מְשָׁל	meshal	`HVqv2ms`	Rule	Rule!
`H4910-01`	Judges 8:23	אֶמְשֹׁ֤ל	emeshol	`HVqi1cs`	I will rule	I will rule
`H4910-34`	Judges 8:23	יִמְשֹׁ֥ל	yimeshol	`HVqi3ms`	will rule	he will rule
`H4910-34`	Judges 8:23	יִמְשֹׁ֥ל	yimeshol-2	`HVqi3ms`	will rule	he will rule
`H4910-03`	Judges 9:2	הַ/מְשֹׁ֨ל	hameshol	`HTi/Vqc`	the ruling	the ruling
`H4910-14`	Judges 9:2	מְשֹׁ֥ל	meshol	`HVqc`	rule	to rule
`H4910-19`	Judges 14:4	מֹשְׁלִ֥ים	moshelim	`HVqrmpa`	were ruling	ruling ones
`H4910-19`	Judges 15:11	מֹשְׁלִ֥ים	moshelim	`HVqrmpa`	rule	ruling ones
`H4910-15`	2 Samuel 23:3	מוֹשֵׁל֙	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	ruling	ruling one
`H4910-15`	2 Samuel 23:3	מוֹשֵׁ֖ל	moshel-2	`HVqrmsa`	ruling	ruling one
`H4910-15`	1 Kings 5:1	מוֹשֵׁל֙	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	ruling	ruling one
`H4910-33`	Isaiah 3:4	יִמְשְׁלוּ	yimeshelu	`HVqi3mp`	shall rule	they will rule
`H4910-11`	Isaiah 3:12	מָ֣שְׁלוּ	mashelu	`HVqp3cp`	rule	they ruled
`H4910-19`	Isaiah 14:5	מֹשְׁלִֽים	moshelim	`HVqrmpa`	of rulers	ruling ones
`H4910-15`	Isaiah 16:1	מֹשֵֽׁל	moshel	`HVqrmsc`	ruler	ruling one
`H4910-32`	Isaiah 19:4	יִמְשָׁל	yimeshal	`HVqi3ms`	he-will-rule	he will rule
`H4910-18`	Isaiah 28:14	מֹֽשְׁלֵי֙	mosheley	`HVqrmpc`	rulers	ruling-ones of
`H4910-16`	Isaiah 40:10	מֹ֣שְׁלָה	moshelah	`HVqrfsa`	shall rule	she who rules
`H4910-19`	Isaiah 49:7	מֹשְׁלִ֔ים	moshelim	`HVqrmpa`	of-rulers	ruling ones
`H4910-20`	Isaiah 52:5	משל/ו	mshlv	`HVqrmsc/Sp3ms`	his-ruler	his ruling-one
`H4910-17`	Isaiah 52:5	מֹשְׁלָ֤י/ו	moshelayv	`HVqrmpc/Sp3ms`	his-rulers	his ruling-ones
`H4910-10`	Isaiah 63:19	מָשַׁ֣לְתָּ	mashaleta	`HVqp2ms`	you have ruled	you ruled
`H4910-26`	Jeremiah 22:30	וּ/מֹשֵׁ֥ל	umoshel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and-ruling	and one who rules
`H4910-27`	Jeremiah 30:21	וּ/מֹֽשְׁל/וֹ֙	umoshelo	`HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms`	and their ruler	and his ruling-one
`H4910-19`	Jeremiah 33:26	מֹֽשְׁלִ֔ים	moshelim	`HVqrmpa`	rulers	ruling ones
`H4910-26`	Jeremiah 51:46	וּ/מֹשֵׁ֖ל	umoshel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and-ruler	and one who rules
`H4910-15`	Jeremiah 51:46	מֹשֵֽׁל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	ruler	ruling one
`H4910-19`	Ezekiel 19:11	מֹֽשְׁלִ֔ים	moshelim	`HVqrmpa`	of rulers	ruling ones
`H4910-07`	Ezekiel 19:14	לִ/מְשׁ֑וֹל	limeshol	`HR/Vqc`	to rule	to rule
`H4910-06`	Joel 2:17	לִ/מְשָׁל	limeshal	`HR/Vqc`	a byword	to rule
`H4910-15`	Micah 5:1	מוֹשֵׁ֖ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	ruler	ruling one
`H4910-15`	Habakkuk 1:14	מֹשֵׁ֥ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	ruler	ruling one
`H4910-24`	Zechariah 6:13	וּ/מָשַׁ֖ל	umashal	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and rule	and he ruled
`H4910-21`	Psalms 8:7	תַּ֭מְשִׁילֵ/הוּ	tameshilehu	`HVhi2ms/Sp3ms`	you have made him rule	you make him rule
`H4910-33`	Psalms 19:14	יִמְשְׁלוּ	yimeshelu	`HVqj3mp`	have dominion	they will rule
`H4910-26`	Psalms 22:29	וּ֝/מֹשֵׁ֗ל	umoshel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and He rules	and one who rules
`H4910-15`	Psalms 59:14	מֹשֵׁ֣ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	rules	ruling one
`H4910-15`	Psalms 66:7	מֹ֘שֵׁ֤ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	rules	ruling one
`H4910-15`	Psalms 89:10	מ֭וֹשֵׁל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	rule	ruling one
`H4910-09`	Psalms 103:19	מָשָֽׁלָה	mashalah	`HVqp3fs`	rules	she ruled
`H4910-15`	Psalms 105:20	מֹשֵׁ֥ל	moshel	`HVqrmsc`	ruler	ruling one
`H4910-26`	Psalms 105:21	וּ֝/מֹשֵׁ֗ל	umoshel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and ruler	and one who rules
`H4910-29`	Psalms 106:41	וַֽ/יִּמְשְׁל֥וּ	vayimeshelu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they ruled	and they ruled
`H4910-26`	Proverbs 6:7	וּ/מֹשֵֽׁל	umoshel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	or ruler	and one who rules
`H4910-23`	Proverbs 12:24	תִּמְשׁ֑וֹל	timeshol	`HVqi3fs`	will rule	you will rule
`H4910-26`	Proverbs 16:32	וּ/מֹשֵׁ֥ל	umoshel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and-ruling	and one who rules
`H4910-34`	Proverbs 17:2	יִ֭מְשֹׁל	yimeshol	`HVqi3ms`	will rule	he will rule
`H4910-14`	Proverbs 19:10	מְשֹׁ֬ל	meshol	`HVqc`	to rule	to rule
`H4910-34`	Proverbs 22:7	יִמְשׁ֑וֹל	yimeshol	`HVqi3ms`	rules	he will rule
`H4910-15`	Proverbs 23:1	מוֹשֵׁ֑ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	a ruler	ruling one
`H4910-15`	Proverbs 28:15	מֹשֵׁ֥ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	ruler	ruling one
`H4910-28`	Proverbs 29:2	וּ/בִ/מְשֹׁ֥ל	uvimeshol	`HC/R/Vqc`	but when [the wicked] rule	and in ruling
`H4910-15`	Proverbs 29:12	מֹ֭שֵׁל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	ruler	ruling one
`H4910-15`	Proverbs 29:26	מוֹשֵׁ֑ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	ruler	ruling one
`H4910-02`	Job 25:2	הַמְשֵׁ֣ל	hameshel	`HVha`	Dominion	causing to rule
`H4910-11`	Lamentations 5:8	מָ֣שְׁלוּ	mashelu	`HVqp3cp`	rule	they ruled
`H4910-15`	Ecclesiastes 9:17	מוֹשֵׁ֖ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	of a ruler	ruling one
`H4910-04`	Ecclesiastes 10:4	הַ/מּוֹשֵׁל֙	hamoshel	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	of the ruler	the ruling one
`H4910-24`	Daniel 11:3	וּ/מָשַׁל֙	umashal	`HC/Vqq3ms`	that shall rule	and he ruled
`H4910-08`	Daniel 11:4	מָשָׁ֔ל	mashal	`HVqp3ms`	he ruled	ruling proverb
`H4910-24`	Daniel 11:5	וּ/מָשָׁ֔ל	umashal	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and he will rule	and he ruled
`H4910-30`	Daniel 11:39	וְ/הִמְשִׁילָ/ם֙	vehimeshilam	`HC/Vhq3ms/Sp3mp`	and he will cause them to rule	and he caused them to rule
`H4910-24`	Daniel 11:43	וּ/מָשַׁ֗ל	umashal	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and he will rule	and he ruled
`H4910-19`	Nehemiah 9:37	מֹשְׁלִ֤ים	moshelim	`HVqrmpa`	ruling	ruling ones
`H4910-15`	1 Chronicles 29:12	מוֹשֵׁ֣ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	rule	ruling one
`H4910-15`	2 Chronicles 7:18	מוֹשֵׁ֖ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	to rule	ruling one
`H4910-15`	2 Chronicles 9:26	מוֹשֵׁ֖ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	ruling	ruling one
`H4910-15`	2 Chronicles 20:6	מוֹשֵׁ֔ל	moshel	`HVqrmsa`	rule	ruling one
`H4910-05`	2 Chronicles 23:20	הַ/מּֽוֹשְׁלִ֨ים	hamoshelim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	governors	the ruling ones

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