Hebrew verb · H4910
מָשַׁל
mashalmaw-shal'
to rule
81 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: mâshal
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H4910is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 23 of 39Old Testament books
- 63spellings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · H4910
to rule
The King James renders it: (have, make to have) dominion, governor, [idiom] indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule(-ing, -r), have power.
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
mashal is rendered "to rule". It stands 81 times in the Hebrew text, across twenty-three books.
- Eleven of the uses stand in Proverbs, more than in any other book.
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Genesis 1:18to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
- The Greek text spells it sixty-three different ways.
The first use
to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:18וְלִמְשֹׁל֙
The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.
Where the word stands
The word stands in twenty-three of the 39 Old Testament books.
What the word means
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- ruling11
- a ruler6
- he will rule5
- and ruler4
- rulers4
- ruler3
- rules3
- to rule3
- and he will rule2
- and ruling2
- they have ruled2
- they will rule2
and 34 more, 81 uses in all
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
| Word | Written | Meaning | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| מָשַׁח | mashach | to anoint | Uses70 |
| מָשַׁךְ | mashak | to draw | Uses36 |
| מָשַׁל | mashal | to liken | Uses16 |
| מָשַׁשׁ | mashash | to feel | Uses9 |
Other numbers on this spelling
Strong gave these words the same spelling and different numbers, so the site counts and defines them apart.
The words it stands beside
All 81, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
63 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- מוֹשֵׁ֖ל5
- יִמְשֹׁ֥ל3
- מֹשֵׁ֥ל3
- וּמֹשֵׁ֖ל2
- וּ֝מֹשֵׁ֗ל2
- וּמֹשֵׁ֥ל2
- יִמְשָׁל־2
- יִמְשְׁלוּ־2
- מוֹשֵׁל֙2
- מוֹשֵׁ֑ל2
- מָ֣שְׁלוּ2
- מֹשְׁלִ֥ים2
and 51 more spellings in the ledger below.
The grammar of each form
- verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular20HVqrmsa
- conjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular8HC/Vqrmsa
- verb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singular7HVqi3ms
- verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine plural7HVqrmpa
- Hc/Vqq3ms4Hc/Vqq3ms
- conjunction (“and”) + preposition + verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)2HC/R/Vqcc
- preposition + verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)2HR/Vqcc
- the definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular2HTd/Vqrmsa
- verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)2HVqcc
- verb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine singular2HVqi2ms
- verb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine plural2HVqi3mp
- verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common plural2HVqp3cp
Genesis
eight uses
to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
- וְלִמְשֹׁל֙velimsholconjunction (“and”) + preposition + verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: and to rule
To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
- יִמְשָׁל־yimshol-verb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he will rule
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”
- תִּמְשָׁל־timshol-verb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: you will rule
So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
- הַמֹּשֵׁ֖לhamoshelthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: who was ruling
“Do you intend to reign over us?” his brothers asked. “Will you actually rule us?” So they hated him even more because of his dream and his statements.
- מָשׁ֥וֹלmasholverb · simple (qal), infinitive absolutetagged: certainly to rule
- תִּמְשֹׁ֖לtimsholverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: will you rule
Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
- וּמֹשֵׁ֖לumoshelconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and ruler
“Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them.
- מֹשֵׁ֖לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: ruling
Exodus
one use
If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself, he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her.
- יִמְשֹׁ֥לyimsholverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he will have dominion
Deuteronomy
two uses
When the LORD your God blesses you as He has promised, you will lend to many nations but borrow from none; you will rule over many nations but be ruled by none.
- וּמָֽשַׁלְתָּ֙umashaltaHc/Vqq2mstagged: and you will rule
- יִמְשֹֽׁלוּ׃ סyimsholuverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: they will rule
Joshua
two uses
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along the middle of the valley, up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites), that is, half of Gilead,
- מֹשֵׁ֡לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: ruled
He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan up to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
- וּ֠מֹשֵׁלumoshelconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and ruled
Judges
eight uses
Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you and your son and grandson—for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
- מְשָׁל־meshol-verb · simple (qal), command · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: rule
But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you.”
- אֶמְשֹׁ֤לʾemsholverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 1st person common singulartagged: I will rule
- יִמְשֹׁ֥לyimsholverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he will rule
- יִמְשֹׁ֥לyimsholverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he will rule
“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”
- הַמְשֹׁ֨לhamsholquestion particle + verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: ¿ to rule
- מְשֹׁ֥לmesholverb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: to rule
(Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.)
- מֹשְׁלִ֥יםmoshelimverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: ruling
In response, three thousand men of Judah went to the cave at the rock of Etam, and they asked Samson, “Do you not realize that the Philistines rule over us? What have you done to us?” “I have done to them what they did to me,” he replied.
- מֹשְׁלִ֥יםmoshelimverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: ruling
2 Samuel
two uses
The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
- מוֹשֵׁל֙moshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: rules
- מוֹשֵׁ֖לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: rules
1 Kings
one use
And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
- מוֹשֵׁל֙moshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: ruling
1 Chronicles
one use
Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all. In Your hands are power and might to exalt and give strength to all.
- מוֹשֵׁ֣לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: ruling
2 Chronicles
four uses
then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with your father David when I said, ‘You will never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.’
- מוֹשֵׁ֖לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: rules
He reigned over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.
- מוֹשֵׁ֖לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: ruling
and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.
- מוֹשֵׁ֔לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: ruler
He also took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate. They seated King Joash on the royal throne,
- הַמּֽוֹשְׁלִ֨יםhamoshelimthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: the rulers
Nehemiah
one use
Its abundant harvest goes to the kings You have set over us because of our sins. And they rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress.
- מֹשְׁלִ֤יםmoshelimverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: ruling
Job
one use
“Dominion and awe belong to God; He establishes harmony in the heights of heaven.
- הַמְשֵׁ֣לhamshelverb · causative (hiphil), infinitive absolutetagged: dominion
Psalms
ten uses
You made him ruler of the works of Your hands; You have placed everything under his feet:
- תַּ֭מְשִׁילֵהוּtamshilehuverb · causative (hiphil), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine singular + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: you make rule him
Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.
- יִמְשְׁלוּ־yimshelu-verb · simple (qal), jussive (“let him”) · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: they rule
For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.
- וּ֝מֹשֵׁ֗לumoshelconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and ruling
Consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, so it may be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah
- מֹשֵׁ֣לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: ruling
He rules forever by His power; His eyes watch the nations. Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
- מֹ֘שֵׁ֤לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: ruling
You rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them.
- מ֭וֹשֵׁלmooshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: ruling
The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
- מָשָֽׁלָה׃mashalahverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: it rules
The king sent and released him; the ruler of peoples set him free.
- מֹשֵׁ֥לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: a ruler of
He made him master of his household, ruler over all his substance,
- וּ֝מֹשֵׁ֗לumoshelconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and ruler
He delivered them into the hand of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.
- וַֽיִּמְשְׁל֥וּvaiyimsheluHc/Vqw3mptagged: and they ruled
Proverbs
eleven uses
Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler,
- וּמֹשֵֽׁל׃umoshelconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and ruler
The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
- תִּמְשׁ֑וֹלtimsholverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: it will rule
He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
- וּמֹשֵׁ֥לumoshelconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and rules
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
- יִ֭מְשֹׁלyimsholverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he will rule
Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
- מְשֹׁ֬לmesholverb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: to rule
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
- יִמְשׁ֑וֹלyimsholverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he rules
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
- מוֹשֵׁ֑לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a ruler
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
- מֹשֵׁ֥לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a ruler
When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
- וּבִמְשֹׁ֥לuvimsholconjunction (“and”) + preposition + verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: and when rules
If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked.
- מֹ֭שֵׁלmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a ruler
Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.
- מוֹשֵׁ֑לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a ruler
Ecclesiastes
two uses
The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.
- מוֹשֵׁ֖לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a ruler
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
- הַמּוֹשֵׁל֙hamoshelthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the ruler
Isaiah
ten uses
“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”
- יִמְשְׁלוּ־yimshelu-verb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: they will rule
Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths.
- מָ֣שְׁלוּmasheluverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they have ruled
The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers.
- מֹשְׁלִֽים׃moshelimverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: rulers
Send the tribute lambs to the ruler of the land, from Sela in the desert to the mount of Daughter Zion.
- מֹשֵֽׁל־moshel-verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: ruler of
I will deliver the Egyptians into the hands of harsh masters, and a fierce king will rule over them,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
- יִמְשָׁל־yimshol-verb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he will rule
Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
- מֹֽשְׁלֵי֙mosheleiverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: O rulers of
Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him.
- מֹ֣שְׁלָהmoshelahverb · simple (qal), participle · feminine singulartagged: ruling
Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”
- מֹשְׁלִ֔יםmoshelimverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: rulers
And now what have I here? declares the LORD. For My people have been taken without cause; those who rule them taunt, declares the LORD, and My name is blasphemed continually all day long.
- מֹשְׁלָ֤יוmoshelovverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: rulers its
We have become like those You never ruled, like those not called by Your name.
- מָשַׁ֣לְתָּmashaltaverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: you ruled
Jeremiah
five uses
This is what the LORD says: “Enroll this man as childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime. None of his descendants will prosper to sit on the throne of David or to rule again in Judah.”
- וּמֹשֵׁ֥לumoshelconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and ruling
Their leader will be one of their own, and their ruler will arise from their midst. And I will bring him near, and he will approach Me, for who would dare on his own to approach Me?” declares the LORD.
- וּמֹֽשְׁלוֹ֙umosheloconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and ruler its
then I would also reject the descendants of Jacob and of My servant David, so as not to take from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore them from captivity and will have compassion on them.”
- מֹֽשְׁלִ֔יםmoshelimverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: rulers
Do not let your heart grow faint, and do not be afraid when the rumor is heard in the land; for a rumor will come one year—and then another the next year—of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler.
- וּמֹשֵׁ֖לumoshelconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and ruler
- מֹשֵֽׁל׃moshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: ruler
Lamentations
one use
Slaves rule over us; there is no one to deliver us from their hands.
- מָ֣שְׁלוּmasheluverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they have ruled
Ezekiel
two uses
It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick branches, conspicuous for its height and for its dense foliage.
- מֹֽשְׁלִ֔יםmoshelimverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: rulers
Fire has gone out from its main branch and devoured its fruit; on it no strong branch remains fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a lament and shall be used as a lament.”
- לִמְשׁ֑וֹלlimsholpreposition + verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: to rule
Daniel
five uses
Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases.
- וּמָשַׁל֙umashalHc/Vqq3mstagged: and he will have dominion
But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the authority with which he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others.
- מָשָׁ֔לmashalverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he had dominion
The king of the South will grow strong, but one of his commanders will grow even stronger and will rule his own kingdom with great authority.
- וּמָשָׁ֔לumashalHc/Vqq3mstagged: and he will exercise dominion
He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and distributing the land for a price.
- וְהִמְשִׁילָם֙vehimshilamHc/Vhq3ms/Sp3mptagged: and he will make rule them
He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt, and the Libyans and Cushites will also submit to him.
- וּמָשַׁ֗לumashalHc/Vqq3mstagged: and he will rule
Joel
one use
Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
- לִמְשָׁל־limshol-preposition + verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: to mock
Micah
one use
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.
- מוֹשֵׁ֖לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: ruler
Habakkuk
one use
You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler.
- מֹשֵׁ֥לmoshelverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a ruler
Zechariah
one use
Yes, He will build the temple of the LORD; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. And He will be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two.’
- וּמָשַׁ֖לumashalHc/Vqq3mstagged: and he will rule
Where it leads
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.