What does מָשַׁל (tamšîlēhû) mean in the Bible?
מָשַׁל (tamšîlēhû): To exercise authority or dominion; often God's sovereign reign over creation and human affairs
Hebrew · H4910
מָשַׁל
To rule
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
מָשַׁל H4910
Pronunciation tamšîlēhû
What does מָשַׁל (tamšîlēhû) mean in the Bible?
מָשַׁל (tamšîlēhû): To exercise authority or dominion; often God's sovereign reign over creation and human affairs
Full entry for מָשַׁל (H4910) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4910?
The BSB source-word alignment has 81 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Rule (10), ruler (5), will rule (4), He ruled (3), ruled (2).
Where does מָשַׁל (tamšîlēhû) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 1:18. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (11), Isaiah (10), Psalms (10), Genesis (8).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It Rule 10× Judges 8:22, Judges 8:23, Judges 9:2, Judges 15:11
ruler 5× Psalms 105:21, Proverbs 28:15, Jeremiah 51:46, Micah 5:2
will rule 4× Genesis 3:16, Proverbs 12:24, Isaiah 3:4, Isaiah 19:4
He ruled 3× Joshua 12:2, Joshua 12:5, Daniel 11:4
ruled 2× Psalms 106:41, Isaiah 63:19
rules 2× Psalms 59:13, Psalms 103:19
the ruler’s 2× Proverbs 29:26, Ecclesiastes 10:4
to rule 2× 2 Chronicles 7:18, Proverbs 19:10
- 1× Judges 9:2
. . . 1× Genesis 37:8
a ruler 1× Proverbs 23:1
a ruler’s 1× Ezekiel 19:11
an object of scorn 1× Joel 2:17
and He rules 1× Psalms 22:28
and he who controls 1× Proverbs 16:32
and of ruler 1× Jeremiah 51:46
and rule 1× Zechariah 6:13
and ruler 1× Genesis 45:8
and their ruler 1× Jeremiah 30:21
And they rule 1× Nehemiah 9:37
and will rule 1× Daniel 11:5
are the ruler 1× 1 Chronicles 29:12
but be ruled 1× Deuteronomy 15:6
Dominion 1× Job 25:2
establishes His rule 1× Isaiah 40:10
fit for a ruler’s 1× Ezekiel 19:14
He reigned 1× 2 Chronicles 9:26
He rules 1× Psalms 66:7
He who rules 1× 2 Samuel 23:3
He will gain control 1× Daniel 11:43
If a ruler 1× Proverbs 29:12
is ruler 1× Genesis 45:26
making them rulers 1× Daniel 11:39
must master 1× Genesis 4:7
not rule 1× 2 Chronicles 20:6
of a ruler 1× Ecclesiastes 9:17
of rulers 1× Isaiah 49:7
of the rulers 1× Isaiah 14:5
or ruler 1× Proverbs 6:7
or to rule 1× Jeremiah 22:30
reigned 1× 1 Kings 4:21
right 1× Exodus 21:8
rulers 1× Jeremiah 33:26
shall rule 1× Judges 8:23
the ruler 1× Psalms 105:20
the rulers 1× 2 Chronicles 23:20
those who rule them 1× Isaiah 52:5
to preside over 1× Genesis 1:18
to the ruler 1× Isaiah 16:1
were ruling 1× Judges 14:4
who managed 1× Genesis 24:2
who rule 1× Isaiah 28:14
who rules 1× 2 Samuel 23:3
who will rule 1× Daniel 11:3
will 1× Judges 8:23
will rule over 1× Proverbs 17:2
Will you actually rule 1× Genesis 37:8
You made him ruler 1× Psalms 8:6
you will rule 1× Deuteronomy 15:6
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 1:18 וְלִמְשֹׁל֙ to to preside over Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Genesis 3:16 יִמְשָׁל־ to will rule Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 4:7 תִּמְשָׁל־ to must master Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Genesis 24:2 הַמֹּשֵׁ֖ל to who managed Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Genesis 37:8 מָשׁ֥וֹל to Will you actually rule Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Genesis 37:8 תִּמְשֹׁ֖ל to . . . Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Genesis 45:8 וּמֹשֵׁ֖ל to and ruler Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Genesis 45:26 מֹשֵׁ֖ל to is ruler Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Exodus 21:8 יִמְשֹׁ֥ל to right Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 15:6 וּמָֽשַׁלְתָּ֙ to you will rule Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 1:18
Aligned rows 81
Books represented 23
Genesis 8 Exodus 1 Deuteronomy 2 Joshua 2 Judges 8 2 Samuel 2 1 Kings 1 1 Chronicles 1 2 Chronicles 4 Nehemiah 1 Job 1 Psalms 10 Proverbs 11 Ecclesiastes 2 Isaiah 10 Jeremiah 5 Lamentations 1 Ezekiel 2 Daniel 5 Joel 1 Micah 1 Habakkuk 1 Zechariah 1
Source forms
מוֹשֵׁ֖ל 5x mō·wō·šêl 2 Samuel 23:3, 2 Chronicles 7:18, 2 Chronicles 9:26, Ecclesiastes 9:17
יִמְשֹׁ֥ל 3x yim·šōl Exodus 21:8, Judges 8:23
מֹשֵׁ֥ל 3x mō·šêl Psalms 105:20, Proverbs 28:15, Habakkuk 1:14
וּמֹשֵׁ֖ל 2x ū·mō·šêl Genesis 45:8, Jeremiah 51:46
וּ֝מֹשֵׁ֗ל 2x ū·mō·šêl Psalms 22:28, Psalms 105:21
וּמֹשֵׁ֥ל 2x ū·mō·šêl Proverbs 16:32, Jeremiah 22:30
יִמְשָׁל־ 2x yim·šāl- Genesis 3:16, Isaiah 19:4
יִמְשְׁלוּ־ 2x yim·šə·lū- Psalms 19:13, Isaiah 3:4
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 21x Genesis 45:26, Joshua 12:2, 2 Samuel 23:3, 1 Kings 4:21
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 8x Genesis 45:8, Joshua 12:5, Psalms 22:28, Psalms 105:21
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 7x Genesis 3:16, Exodus 21:8, Judges 8:23, Proverbs 17:2
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural 7x Judges 14:4, Judges 15:11, Nehemiah 9:37, Isaiah 14:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 4x Daniel 11:3, Daniel 11:5, Daniel 11:43, Zechariah 6:13
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 3x Deuteronomy 15:6, Psalms 19:13, Isaiah 3:4
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct 3x Judges 9:2, Proverbs 19:10
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2x Genesis 24:2, Ecclesiastes 10:4
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To exercise authority or dominion; often God's sovereign reign over creation and human affairs
Strong's H4910
Lexical occurrences 82 verses Word forms 2 forms 55 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Psalms 8:6–9 Source Gloss
to rule
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To exercise authority or dominion; often God's sovereign reign over creation and human affairs
to rule BDB: rule Usage: (have, make to have) dominion, governor, × indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule(-ing, -r), have power.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 2 Aligned forms 55
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 54×
Participle active 1Chr 29:12 · 1Kgs 5:1 · 2Chr 7:18 · 2Chr 9:26 · 2Chr 20:6 · 2Sam 23:3 · Eccl 9:17 · Ezek 19:11 · Gen 45:26 · Hab 1:14 · Isa 14:5 · Isa 16:1 · Isa 28:14 · Isa 40:10 · Isa 49:7 · Jer 33:26 31×
Imperfect Exod 21:8 · Gen 3:16 · Isa 19:4 · Judg 8:23 · Prov 17:2 · Prov 22:7 · Deut 15:6 · Isa 3:4 · Gen 4:7 · Gen 37:8 · Prov 12:24 13×
Perfect Isa 3:12 · Lam 5:8 · Dan 11:4 · Isa 63:19 · Ps 103:19 5×
Infinitive construct Judg 9:2 · Prov 19:10 2×
Infinitive absolute Gen 37:8 1×
Sequential imperfect Judg 8:22 1×
Jussive Ps 19:14 1×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 1×
Infinitive absolute Job 25:2 1×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
You cause him to rule; you grant him dominion or mastery
Showing 1 selected witness from 82 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מָשַׁל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain