Word Study · Strong's H4911 · Hebrew
מָשַׁל
mashal
maw-shal'
Strong's 1890 spelling: mâshal
“to liken, i.e. (transitively) to use figurative language (an allegory, adage, song or the like)”
Strong's Dictionary · 1890 · public domain
to liken, i.e. (transitively) to use figurative language (an allegory, adage, song or the like); intransitively, to resemble
Rendered in the KJV as
be(-come) like, compare, use (as a) proverb, speak (in proverbs), utter.
- 16occurrencesin the Old Testament
- 5 of 39Old Testament bookswhere the word stands
- 14inflected formsdistinct spellings
Across 16 occurrences
The word itself
Inflected forms · 14
- וְ֝נִמְשַׁ֗לְתִּי2
- נִמְשַׁ֖ל2
- הַמֹּשֵׁ֔ל1
- הַמֹּשְׁלִ֖ים1
- וָ֝אֶתְמַשֵּׁ֗ל1
- וּמְשֹׁ֣ל1
- וּמְשֹׁ֤ל1
- וְתַמְשִׁל֖וּנִי1
- יִמְשֹׁ֖ל1
- יִמְשְׁל֥וּ1
- מְמַשֵּׁ֥ל1
- מְשֹׁ֛ל1
and 2 more spellings in the ledger below.
How it is rendered · 13
- and I will be equal2
- and speak a parable2
- he is like2
- [are] speaking a proverb1
- and I have become like1
- and will you compare? me1
- he will speak a proverb1
- making a parable1
- people will use as a proverb1
- the [one who] speaks a proverb1
- those [who] speak proverbs1
- to speak a proverb1
The sense the word carries at each spot — how the translators read it there, not a fixed translation.
How it parses · 13
- Hc/VNq1cs2
- conjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), command · 2nd person masculine singular2
- verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), completed action · 3rd person masculine singular2
- HC/Vhu2mp/Sp1bs1
- Hc/Vtw1cs1
- the definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle (“the one who…”) · masculine plural1
- the definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle (“the one who…”) · masculine singular1
- verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), completed action · 2nd person masculine singular1
- verb · intensive (piel), participle (“the one who…”) · masculine singular1
- verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)1
- verb · simple (qal), ongoing or future action · 3rd person masculine plural1
- verb · simple (qal), ongoing or future action · 3rd person masculine singular1
Show the grammar codes as tagged
- Hc/VNq1cs · 2
- HC/Vqv2ms · 2
- HVNp3ms · 2
- HC/Vhu2mp/Sp1bs · 1
- Hc/Vtw1cs · 1
- HTd/Vqrmpa · 1
- HTd/Vqrmsa · 1
- HVNp2ms · 1
- HVprmsa · 1
- HVqcc · 1
- HVqi3mp · 1
- HVqi3ms · 1
All 16, in canonical order
The ledger of occurrences
Where this word lives
Ezekiel carries the most and opens below; every other book is one click.
Psalms4 occurrences
- Psalms 28:1וְ֝נִמְשַׁ֗לְתִּיvenimshaltiHc/VNq1csTo You, O LORD, I call; be not deaf to me, O my Rock. For if You remain silent, I will be like those descending to the Pit.here: and I will be equal
- Psalms 49:12נִמְשַׁ֖לnimshalverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), completed action · 3rd person masculine singularBut a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.here: he is like
- Psalms 49:20נִמְשַׁ֖לnimshalverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), completed action · 3rd person masculine singularA man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.here: he is like
- Psalms 143:7וְ֝נִמְשַׁ֗לְתִּיvenimshaltiHc/VNq1csAnswer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit.here: and I will be equal
Isaiah2 occurrences
- Isaiah 14:10נִמְשָֽׁלְתָּ׃nimshaltaverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), completed action · 2nd person masculine singularThey will all respond to you, saying, “You too have become weak, as we are; you have become like us!”here: you have become like
- Isaiah 46:5וְתַמְשִׁל֖וּנִיvetamshiluniHC/Vhu2mp/Sp1bsTo whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?here: and will you compare? me
Ezekiel8 occurrences
- Ezekiel 12:23יִמְשְׁל֥וּyimsheluverb · simple (qal), ongoing or future action · 3rd person masculine pluralTherefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will put an end to this proverb, and in Israel they will no longer recite it.’ But say to them: ‘The days are at hand when every vision will be fulfilled.here: people will use as a proverb
- Ezekiel 16:44הַמֹּשֵׁ֔לhamoshelthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle (“the one who…”) · masculine singularBehold, all who speak in proverbs will quote this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’here: the [one who] speaks a proverb
- Ezekiel 16:44יִמְשֹׁ֖לyimsholverb · simple (qal), ongoing or future action · 3rd person masculine singularBehold, all who speak in proverbs will quote this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’here: he will speak a proverb
- Ezekiel 17:2וּמְשֹׁ֣לumesholconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), command · 2nd person masculine singular“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israelhere: and speak a parable
- Ezekiel 18:2מֹֽשְׁלִים֙moshelimverb · simple (qal), participle (“the one who…”) · masculine plural“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge’?here: [are] speaking a proverb
- Ezekiel 18:3מְשֹׁ֛לmesholverb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.here: to speak a proverb
- Ezekiel 20:49מְמַשֵּׁ֥לmemashelverb · intensive (piel), participle (“the one who…”) · masculine singularThen I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”here: making a parable
- Ezekiel 24:3וּמְשֹׁ֤לumesholconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), command · 2nd person masculine singularNow speak a parable to this rebellious house and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Put the pot on the fire; put it on and pour in the water.here: and speak a parable
Same headword in Strong's