4912. mashal
Strong's Lexicon
mashal: Proverb, parable, byword, taunt

Original Word: מָשָׁל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mashal
Pronunciation: mah-SHAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-shawl')
Definition: Proverb, parable, byword, taunt
Meaning: a pithy maxim, a simile

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb מָשַׁל (mashal), meaning "to rule" or "to have dominion."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G3850 (παραβολή, parabolē): Often translated as "parable" in the New Testament, used by Jesus to teach spiritual truths.

- G3457 (μῦθος, mythos): Although not a direct equivalent, it refers to a narrative or story, sometimes used in contrast to truth.

Usage: The Hebrew word "mashal" primarily refers to a short, pithy saying or a parable that conveys wisdom or a moral lesson. It is often used to describe proverbs, which are succinct and insightful expressions of truth or advice. In some contexts, "mashal" can also refer to a byword or a taunt, indicating a saying that has become a common expression or a form of ridicule.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite culture, proverbs and parables were essential tools for teaching and imparting wisdom. They were used by sages, prophets, and teachers to communicate complex truths in a memorable and relatable manner. The Book of Proverbs, attributed to King Solomon, is a prime example of the use of "mashal" to convey divine wisdom. Parables were also a common teaching method in the ancient Near East, serving as a means to engage listeners and provoke thoughtful reflection.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from mashal
Definition
a proverb, parable
NASB Translation
byword (3), discourse (9), parable (3), parables (1), proverb (15), proverbs (6), taunt (2), taunt-song (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. מָשָׁל noun masculineIsaiah 14:4 proverb, parable (of sentences constructed in parallelism, usually of Hebrew Wisdom, but occasionally of other types); — absolute ׳מ Ezekiel 17:2 20t.; construct מְשַׁל 1 Samuel 24:14; suffix מְשָׁלוֺ Numbers 23:7 8t.; plural מְשָׁלִים Ecclesiastes 12:9 2t.; construct מִשְׁלֵי Proverbs 1:1 3t.; —

1 proverbial saying, brief terse sentence of popular sagacity 1 Samuel 10:12; Ezekiel 12:22,23; Ezekiel 18:2,3; הַקַדְמֹנִי ׳מ 1 Samuel 24:14 proverb of the ancients.

2 by-word Psalm 44:15; Psalm 69:12; לְמָשָׁל וְלִשְׁנִינָה Deuteronomy 28:37; 1 Kings 9:7; 2Chronicles 7:20; Jeremiah 24:9; לְאוֺת וּלְמָשָׁל Ezekiel 14:8

3 prophetic figurative discourse: נָשָׂא מָשָׁל lift up, utter a ׳מ Numbers 23:7,18; Numbers 24:3,15,20,21,23 (all of Balaam); Isaiah 14:4; Micah 2:4 ("" נהי) Habakkuk 2:6 ("" חידה), (compare Job 27:1; Job 29:1 for same phrase under 6).

4 similitude, parable, Ezekiel 17:2; Ezekiel 21:5; Ezekiel 24:3.

5 poem, of various kinds: the ode (Numbers 21:27-30), the 3,000 pieces traditionally ascribed to Solomon 1 Kings 5:12, didactic psalms Psalm 49:5; Psalm 78:2.

6 sentences of ethical wisdom דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים collected in the מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 25:1 (Proverbs 10:1-22:16 consisting of 376 couplets chiefly antithetical; Proverbs 25-29 chiefly couplets of an emblematic type, but also occasional tristichs, tetrastichs, pentastichs, and decastichs. To these are appended דְּבָרִים of a more mixed character as to size and content Proverbs 22:7-24:22,23-34; Proverbs 30:1-14; Proverbs 30:15-33; Proverbs 31:1-9; Proverbs 31:10-31; the Praise of Wisdom Proverbs 1:8-9 is prefixed, and an introduction to the whole Proverbs 1:1-7, in which the whole contents are represented as) משׁלים Proverbs 1:1, compare Proverbs 1:6. The references in Job 13:12; Job 27:1; Job 29:1; Proverbs 26:7,9; Ecclesiastes 12:9 are to the same type of wisdom.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
byword, like, parable, proverb

Apparently from mashal in some original sense of superiority in mental action; properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse) -- byword, like, parable, proverb.

see HEBREW mashal

Forms and Transliterations
בְמָשָׁ֣ל במשל הַמָּשָׁ֣ל הַמָּשָׁ֤ל הַמָּשָׁ֥ל המשל וְלִמְשָׁלִ֔ים וּ֝מָשָׁ֗ל וּלְמָשָׁל֙ ולמשל ולמשלים ומשל לְמָשָֽׁל׃ לְמָשָׁ֔ל לְמָשָׁ֖ל לְמָשָׁ֣ל לְמָשָׁ֥ל למשל למשל׃ מְשַׁל֙ מְשָׁל֖וֹ מְשָׁל֗וֹ מְשָׁלִ֖ים מְשָׁלִ֥ים מִ֭שְׁלֵי מִשְׁלֵ֗י מִשְׁלֵ֣י מָ֭שָׁל מָשָׁ֑ל מָשָׁ֔ל מָשָׁ֗ל מָשָׁ֣ל משל משלו משלי משלים ḇə·mā·šāl ḇəmāšāl ham·mā·šāl hammāšāl hammaShal lə·mā·šāl ləmāšāl lemaShal mā·šāl māšāl maShal Mashol mə·šā·lîm mə·šā·lōw mə·šal məšal məšālîm məšālōw meShal meshaLim meshaLo miš·lê Mishlei mišlê ū·lə·mā·šāl ū·mā·šāl ūləmāšāl ulemaShal ūmāšāl umaShal velimshaLim vemaShal wə·lim·šā·lîm wəlimšālîm
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Numbers 23:7
HEB: וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִן־
NAS: He took up his discourse and said,
KJV: And he took up his parable, and said,
INT: took his discourse and said from

Numbers 23:18
HEB: וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר ק֤וּם
NAS: Then he took up his discourse and said,
KJV: And he took up his parable, and said,
INT: took his discourse and said Arise

Numbers 24:3
HEB: וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר נְאֻ֤ם
NAS: He took up his discourse and said,
KJV: And he took up his parable, and said,
INT: took his discourse and said the oracle

Numbers 24:15
HEB: וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר נְאֻ֤ם
NAS: He took up his discourse and said,
KJV: And he took up his parable, and said,
INT: took his discourse and said the oracle

Numbers 24:20
HEB: עֲמָלֵ֔ק וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר רֵאשִׁ֤ית
NAS: and took up his discourse and said,
KJV: he took up his parable, and said,
INT: Amalek and took his discourse and said was the first

Numbers 24:21
HEB: הַקֵּינִ֔י וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֵיתָן֙
NAS: and took up his discourse and said,
KJV: and took up his parable, and said,
INT: the Kenite and took his discourse and said is enduring

Numbers 24:23
HEB: וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר א֕וֹי
NAS: Then he took up his discourse and said,
KJV: And he took up his parable, and said,
INT: took his discourse and said Alas

Deuteronomy 28:37
HEB: וְהָיִ֣יתָ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה לְמָשָׁ֖ל וְלִשְׁנִינָ֑ה בְּכֹל֙
NAS: a horror, a proverb, and a taunt
KJV: And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword,
INT: shall become A horror A proverb taunt all

1 Samuel 10:12
HEB: כֵּן֙ הָיְתָ֣ה לְמָשָׁ֔ל הֲגַ֥ם שָׁא֖וּל
NAS: it became a proverb: Is Saul
KJV: But who [is] their father? Therefore it became a proverb, [Is] Saul
INT: it became A proverb also is Saul

1 Samuel 24:13
HEB: כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יֹאמַ֗ר מְשַׁל֙ הַקַּדְמֹנִ֔י מֵרְשָׁעִ֖ים
NAS: As the proverb of the ancients says,
KJV: As saith the proverb of the ancients,
INT: after says as the proverb of the ancients condemn

1 Kings 4:32
HEB: שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים מָשָׁ֑ל וַיְהִ֥י שִׁיר֖וֹ
NAS: 3000proverbs, and his songs
KJV: thousand proverbs: and his songs
INT: three thousand proverbs become and his songs

1 Kings 9:7
HEB: וְהָיָ֧ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לְמָשָׁ֥ל וְלִשְׁנִינָ֖ה בְּכָל־
NAS: will become a proverb and a byword
KJV: and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword
INT: will become Israel A proverb byword all

2 Chronicles 7:20
HEB: פָּנָ֑י וְאֶתְּנֶ֛נּוּ לְמָשָׁ֥ל וְלִשְׁנִינָ֖ה בְּכָל־
NAS: and I will make it a proverb and a byword
KJV: and will make it [to be] a proverb and a byword
INT: my sight will make A proverb byword all

Job 27:1
HEB: אִ֭יּוֹב שְׂאֵ֥ת מְשָׁל֗וֹ וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
NAS: continued his discourse and said,
KJV: continued his parable, and said,
INT: Job accept his discourse and said

Job 29:1
HEB: אִ֭יּוֹב שְׂאֵ֥ת מְשָׁל֗וֹ וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
NAS: again took up his discourse and said,
KJV: continued his parable, and said,
INT: and Job took his discourse and said

Psalm 44:14
HEB: תְּשִׂימֵ֣נוּ מָ֭שָׁל בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם מְנֽוֹד־
NAS: You make us a byword among the nations,
KJV: Thou makest us a byword among the heathen,
INT: make A byword the nations A shaking

Psalm 49:4
HEB: אַטֶּ֣ה לְמָשָׁ֣ל אָזְנִ֑י אֶפְתַּ֥ח
NAS: my ear to a proverb; I will express
KJV: mine ear to a parable: I will open
INT: will incline to a proverb my ear will express

Psalm 69:11
HEB: וָאֱהִ֖י לָהֶ֣ם לְמָשָֽׁל׃
NAS: I became a byword to them.
KJV: also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
INT: became like A byword

Psalm 78:2
HEB: אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י אַבִּ֥יעָה
NAS: my mouth in a parable; I will utter
KJV: my mouth in a parable: I will utter
INT: will open A parable my mouth will utter

Proverbs 1:1
HEB: מִ֭שְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בֶן־
NAS: The proverbs of Solomon the son
KJV: The proverbs of Solomon the son
INT: the proverbs of Solomon the son

Proverbs 1:6
HEB: לְהָבִ֣ין מָ֭שָׁל וּמְלִיצָ֑ה דִּבְרֵ֥י
NAS: To understand a proverb and a figure,
KJV: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation;
INT: to understand A proverb figure the words

Proverbs 10:1
HEB: מִשְׁלֵ֗י שְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה פ
NAS: The proverbs of Solomon. A wise
KJV: The proverbs of Solomon. A wise
INT: the proverbs of Solomon son

Proverbs 25:1
HEB: גַּם־ אֵ֭לֶּה מִשְׁלֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: also are proverbs of Solomon
KJV: These [are] also proverbs of Solomon,
INT: also These are proverbs of Solomon which

Proverbs 26:7
HEB: שֹׁ֭קַיִם מִפִּסֵּ֑חַ וּ֝מָשָׁ֗ל בְּפִ֣י כְסִילִֽים׃
NAS: to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth
KJV: are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth
INT: the legs to the lame proverb the mouth of fools

Proverbs 26:9
HEB: בְיַד־ שִׁכּ֑וֹר וּ֝מָשָׁ֗ל בְּפִ֣י כְסִילִֽים׃
NAS: of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth
KJV: of a drunkard, so [is] a parable in the mouth
INT: the hand of a drunkard proverb the mouth of fools

38 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4912
38 Occurrences


ham·mā·šāl — 5 Occ.
lə·mā·šāl — 6 Occ.
mā·šāl — 5 Occ.
mā·šāl — 2 Occ.
mə·šal — 1 Occ.
mə·šā·lîm — 2 Occ.
mə·šā·lōw — 9 Occ.
miš·lê — 3 Occ.
ū·lə·mā·šāl — 1 Occ.
ū·mā·šāl — 2 Occ.
wə·lim·šā·lîm — 1 Occ.
ḇə·mā·šāl — 1 Occ.















4911b
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