What does מֶמְשָׁלָה (memĕšālāh) mean in the Bible?
מֶמְשָׁלָה (memĕšālāh): Concrete exercise of authority—shifts from abstract rule to actual realms and rulers wielding power.
Hebrew · H4475
מֶמְשָׁלָה
Rule ; also (concretely in plural) a realm or a ruler
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מֶמְשָׁלָהH4475
Pronunciationmemĕšālāh
What does מֶמְשָׁלָה (memĕšālāh) mean in the Bible?
מֶמְשָׁלָה (memĕšālāh): Concrete exercise of authority—shifts from abstract rule to actual realms and rulers wielding power.
Full entry for מֶמְשָׁלָה (H4475) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4475?
The BSB source-word alignment has 17 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include his dominion (3), of his dominion (3), to rule (3), and Your dominion (1), authority (1).
Where does מֶמְשָׁלָה (memĕšālāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 1:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (5), 2 Chronicles (2), Genesis (2), Isaiah (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithis dominion3×2 Kings 20:13, Psalms 114:2, Isaiah 39:2
of his dominion3×1 Kings 9:19, 2 Chronicles 8:6, Psalms 103:22
to rule3×Genesis 1:16, Psalms 136:8
and Your dominion1×Psalms 145:13
authority1×Daniel 11:5
dominion1×Micah 4:8
his forces1×2 Chronicles 32:9
they rule1×Jeremiah 51:28
to govern1×Psalms 136:9
under his control1×Jeremiah 34:1
your authority1×Isaiah 22:21
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 1:16לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶתtoto rulePreposition-l | Noun - feminine singular constructGenesis 1:16לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶתtoto rulePreposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct1 Kings 9:19מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃toof his dominionNoun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular2 Kings 20:13מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃tohis dominionNoun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 8:6מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃toof his dominionNoun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 32:9מֶמְשַׁלְתּ֖וֹtohis forcesNoun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularPsalms 103:22מֶמְשַׁלְתּ֑וֹtoof His dominionNoun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularPsalms 114:2מַמְשְׁלוֹתָֽיו׃toHis dominionNoun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singularPsalms 136:8לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶתtoto rulePreposition-l | Noun - feminine singular constructPsalms 136:9לְמֶמְשְׁל֣וֹתtoto governPreposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 1:16
Aligned rows17
Books represented9
Genesis21 Kings12 Kings12 Chronicles2Psalms5Isaiah2Jeremiah2Daniel1Micah1
Source forms
מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃6xmem·šal·tōw1 Kings 9:19, 2 Kings 20:13, 2 Chronicles 8:6, Isaiah 39:2
לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת3xlə·mem·še·leṯGenesis 1:16, Psalms 136:8
הַמֶּמְשָׁלָה֙1xham·mem·šā·lāhMicah 4:8
וּ֝מֶֽמְשֶׁלְתְּךָ֗1xū·mem·šel·tə·ḵāPsalms 145:13
וּמֶֽמְשֶׁלְתְּךָ֖1xū·mɛm·šɛl·tə·ḵå̄Isaiah 22:21
לְמֶמְשְׁל֣וֹת1xlə·mem·šə·lō·wṯPsalms 136:9
מַמְשְׁלוֹתָֽיו׃1xmam·šə·lō·w·ṯāwPsalms 114:2
מֶמְשֶׁ֨לֶת1xmem·še·leṯJeremiah 34:1
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular8x1 Kings 9:19, 2 Kings 20:13, 2 Chronicles 8:6, 2 Chronicles 32:9
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct3xGenesis 1:16, Psalms 136:8
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular2xPsalms 145:13, Isaiah 22:21
Article | Noun - feminine singular1xMicah 4:8
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular1xPsalms 114:2
Noun - feminine singular construct1xJeremiah 34:1
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct1xPsalms 136:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Concrete exercise of authority—shifts from abstract rule to actual realms and rulers wielding power.
Source Gloss
rule ; also (concretely in plural) a realm or a ruler
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Concrete exercise of authority—shifts from abstract rule to actual realms and rulers wielding power.
rule; also (concretely in plural) a realm or a ruler BDB: rule Usage: dominion, government, power, to rule.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
The casting of lots determines outcome under divine rule or governance
A ruler's heart or dominion is directed by God like water channels
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 15 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מֶמְשָׁלָה is built from this root:
מִמְשָׁלH4474
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.