Lexical Summary mashal: To speak in a proverb, to use a parable, to rule, to have dominion Original Word: משׁל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance become like, compare, use as a proverb, speak in proverbs, utter Denominative from mashal; to liken, i.e. (transitively) to use figurative language (an allegory, adage, song or the like); intransitively, to resemble -- be(-come) like, compare, use (as a) proverb, speak (in proverbs), utter. see HEBREW mashal Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [מָשַׁל] verb represent, be like (Arabic  stand erect (compare FlDe Proverbs 1:1), II. effigiavit, representavit (rem alicui), see imitate, use a verse as a poverb;  description by way of comparison; Assyrian mašâlu, DlHWB 451 f.; Ethiopic  become like; Aramaic מְתַל be like,  compare). Niph`al Perfect3masculine singular נִמְשַׁל Psalm 49:13; Psalm 49:21; 2masculine singular נִמְֹשָׁ֑לְתָּ Isaiah 14:10; 1singular נִמְשַׁלְתִּי Psalm 28:1; Psalm 143:7: — be like, similar, with אֶל Isaiah 14:10; עִם Psalm 28:1 = Psalm 143:7; כְּ Psalm 49:13; Psalm 49:21. Hiph`il Imperfect2masculine plural suffix וְתָמְשִׁלוּנִי compare Isaiah 46:5. Hithpa`el Imperfect1singular וָאֶתְמַשֵּׁל Job 30:19 (with כְּ) and I have become like dust.. II. מָשַׁל verb denominative use of proverb, speak in parables or sentences of poetry, especially Ezekiel; — Qal Imperfect יִמְשֹׁל Ezekiel 16:44; 3masculine plural יִמְשְׁלוּ Ezekiel 12:23; Imperative מְשֹׁל Ezekiel 17:2; Ezekiel 24:3; Infinitive construct מְשֹׁל Ezekiel 18:3 Participle משֵׁל Ezekiel 16:44, plural משְׁלִים Ezekiel 18:2; Numbers 21:27; — use a proverb: מָשָׁל׳מ Ezekiel 12:23; Ezekiel 18:3; a parable with אֶלֿ Ezekiel 17:2 ("" חוּד חִידָה), Ezekiel 24:3; with עַלֿ Ezekiel 18:2, and (מָשָׁל apparently omitted) הִנֵּה כָּלֿ הַמּשֵׁל עָלַיִךְ יִמְשֹׁל Ezekiel 16:44 (but this is awkward; point הִנֵּה כֹּל הַמָּשָׁל); משְׁלִים Numbers 21:27 (JE)., Pi`el Participle הֲלֹא מְמַשֵּׁל מְשָׁלִים הוּא Ezekiel 21:5 is he not a maker of parables? Topical Lexicon Range of Meaning and Biblical Usage The verb משׁל (māshal, Strong’s 4911) traces a dual thread through Scripture: it denotes both the act of making a comparison (“to be like, resemble”) and the craft of framing that comparison in proverb, parable, or taunt poem. The contexts show two principal spheres of operation. In worship and wisdom texts the verb underscores human frailty by likening people to transitory or ignoble things. In prophetic literature it authorizes a spoken instrument—parable, riddle, or proverb—through which God confronts, instructs, or judges His people. Representative Texts • Poetic analogy: “For if You remain silent, I will be like those who descend to the Pit” (Psalm 28:1). Proverbial and Parabolic Speech in the Prophets Ezekiel employs māshal more than any other writer (Ezekiel 12:23; 16:44; 17:2; 18:2 – 3; 20:49; 24:3). Each instance highlights a clash between popular folk-sayings and God’s revelatory word. By commanding Ezekiel to utter divinely sanctioned parables, the Lord displaces cynical or fatalistic proverbs (“The fathers eat sour grapes…”) with fresh, authoritative truth that calls the nation to personal responsibility and repentance. Wisdom, Humility, and Human Frailty In Job and the Psalms the verb strengthens the moral logic of Hebrew poetry. Job mocks his counselors: “Your maxims are proverbs of ashes” (Job 13:12), exposing the hollowness of superficial wisdom. The psalmist’s repeated refrain that prosperous men are “like the beasts that perish” presses home the transience of earthly glory and the necessity of eternal perspective. Divine Self-Revelation through Comparison When the Lord asks, “To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal?” (Isaiah 46:5), He declares the inadequacy of every human analogy, even as He graciously speaks through analogy so that finite minds may apprehend His character. משׁל thus becomes a bridge between transcendence and intelligibility. Foreshadowing of Christ’s Parables The Old Testament prophets who “spoke in parables” prepare readers for the Messiah who “did not tell them anything without a parable” (Matthew 13:34). The same Hebrew concept underlies the Septuagint’s use of παραβολή, linking Ezekiel’s enacted allegories to Jesus’ kingdom stories. Both employ comparison to conceal from the proud and reveal to the humble. Implications for Preaching and Discipleship 1. Illustrative power: Faithful preaching may legitimately employ story, analogy, and proverb, following the prophetic model, provided the comparison serves rather than supplants divine revelation. Key Occurrences (17) Numbers 21:27; Job 13:12; Job 30:19; Psalm 28:1; Psalm 49:12; Psalm 49:20; Psalm 143:7; Isaiah 14:10; Isaiah 46:5; Ezekiel 12:23; Ezekiel 16:44 (twice); Ezekiel 17:2; Ezekiel 18:2; Ezekiel 18:3; Ezekiel 20:49; Ezekiel 24:3. Forms and Transliterations הַמֹּשְׁלִ֖ים הַמֹּשֵׁ֔ל המשל המשלים וְ֝נִמְשַׁ֗לְתִּי וְתַמְשִׁל֖וּנִי וָ֝אֶתְמַשֵּׁ֗ל וּמְשֹׁ֣ל וּמְשֹׁ֤ל ואתמשל ומשל ונמשלתי ותמשלוני יִמְשְׁל֥וּ יִמְשֹׁ֖ל ימשל ימשלו מְמַשֵּׁ֥ל מְשֹׁ֛ל מִשְׁלֵי־ מֹֽשְׁלִים֙ ממשל משל משלי־ משלים נִמְשַׁ֖ל נִמְשָֽׁלְתָּ׃ נמשל נמשלת׃ ham·mō·šə·lîm ham·mō·šêl hammōšêl hammōšəlîm hammoShel hammosheLim mə·maš·šêl mə·šōl memashShel məmaššêl meShol məšōl miš·lê- mishlei mišlê- mō·šə·lîm mōšəlîm mosheLim nim·šā·lə·tā nim·šal nimšal nimšālətā nimShal nimShalta ū·mə·šōl umeShol ūməšōl vaetmashShel venimShalti vetamshiLuni wā’eṯmaššêl wā·’eṯ·maš·šêl wə·nim·šal·tî wə·ṯam·ši·lū·nî wənimšaltî wəṯamšilūnî yim·šə·lū yim·šōl yimšəlū yimsheLu yimShol yimšōlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 21:27 HEB: כֵּ֛ן יֹאמְר֥וּ הַמֹּשְׁלִ֖ים בֹּ֣אוּ חֶשְׁבּ֑וֹן NAS: Therefore those who use proverbs say, KJV: Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, INT: after that say use Come to Heshbon Job 13:12 Job 30:19 Psalm 28:1 Psalm 49:12 Psalm 49:20 Psalm 143:7 Isaiah 14:10 Isaiah 46:5 Ezekiel 12:23 Ezekiel 16:44 Ezekiel 16:44 Ezekiel 17:2 Ezekiel 18:2 Ezekiel 18:3 Ezekiel 20:49 Ezekiel 24:3 17 Occurrences |
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