What does מָשָׁל (māšāl) mean in the Bible?
מָשָׁל (māšāl): A pointed comparison or saying that embeds wisdom through figurative language, not literal instruction
Hebrew · H4912
מָשָׁל
Properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse)
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מָשָׁל H4912
Pronunciation māšāl
What does מָשָׁל (māšāl) mean in the Bible?
מָשָׁל (māšāl): A pointed comparison or saying that embeds wisdom through figurative language, not literal instruction
Full entry for מָשָׁל (H4912) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4912?
The BSB source-word alignment has 39 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include an oracle (7), proverb (4), proverbs (3), . . . (2), a proverb (2).
Where does מָשָׁל (māšāl) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Numbers 23:7. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (8), Numbers (7), Proverbs (6), Psalms (4).
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 an oracle 7× Numbers 23:7, Numbers 23:18, Numbers 24:3, Numbers 24:15
proverb 4× 1 Samuel 24:13, Ezekiel 12:22, Ezekiel 12:23, Ezekiel 18:3
proverbs 3× 1 Kings 4:32, Proverbs 25:1, Ecclesiastes 12:9
. . . 2× Ezekiel 17:2, Ezekiel 24:3
a proverb 2× 1 Samuel 10:12, Micah 2:4
an object of scorn 2× 1 Kings 9:7, 2 Chronicles 7:20
his discourse 2× Job 27:1, Job 29:1
is a proverb 2× Proverbs 26:7, Proverbs 26:9
the proverbs 2× Proverbs 1:6, Proverbs 10:1
- 1× Ezekiel 18:2
[These are] the proverbs 1× Proverbs 1:1
a byword 1× Psalms 44:14
a taunt 1× Habakkuk 2:6
and a proverb 1× Ezekiel 14:8
and an object of scorn 1× Jeremiah 24:9
are proverbs 1× Job 13:12
in parables 1× Psalms 78:2
parables 1× Ezekiel 20:49
scorn 1× Deuteronomy 28:37
song of contempt 1× Isaiah 14:4
sport 1× Psalms 69:11
to a proverb 1× Psalms 49:4
Show sample aligned rows
Numbers 23:7 מְשָׁל֖וֹ to an oracle Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Numbers 23:18 מְשָׁל֖וֹ to an oracle Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Numbers 24:3 מְשָׁל֖וֹ to an oracle Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Numbers 24:15 מְשָׁל֖וֹ to an oracle Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Numbers 24:20 מְשָׁל֖וֹ to an oracle Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Numbers 24:21 מְשָׁל֖וֹ to an oracle Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Numbers 24:23 מְשָׁל֖וֹ to an oracle Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 28:37 לְמָשָׁ֖ל to scorn Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular 1 Samuel 10:12 לְמָשָׁ֔ל to a proverb Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular 1 Samuel 24:13 מְשַׁל֙ to proverb Noun - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Numbers 23:7
Aligned rows 39
Books represented 14
Numbers 7 Deuteronomy 1 1 Samuel 2 1 Kings 2 2 Chronicles 1 Job 3 Psalms 4 Proverbs 6 Ecclesiastes 1 Isaiah 1 Jeremiah 1 Ezekiel 8 Micah 1 Habakkuk 1
Source forms
מְשָׁל֖וֹ 7x mə·šā·lōw Numbers 23:7, Numbers 23:18, Numbers 24:3, Numbers 24:15
הַמָּשָׁ֥ל 2x ham·mā·šāl Isaiah 14:4, Ezekiel 18:3
הַמָּשָׁ֣ל 2x ham·mā·šāl Ezekiel 12:23, Ezekiel 18:2
וּ֝מָשָׁ֗ל 2x ū·mā·šāl Proverbs 26:7, Proverbs 26:9
לְמָשָׁ֥ל 2x lə·mā·šāl 1 Kings 9:7, 2 Chronicles 7:20
מָשָׁ֑ל 2x mā·šāl 1 Kings 4:32, Ezekiel 17:2
מָ֭שָׁל 2x mā·šāl Psalms 44:14, Proverbs 1:6
מְשָׁל֗וֹ 2x mə·šā·lōw Job 27:1, Job 29:1
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular 9x Numbers 23:7, Numbers 23:18, Numbers 24:3, Numbers 24:15
Noun - masculine singular 7x 1 Kings 4:32, Psalms 44:14, Proverbs 1:6, Ezekiel 17:2
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular 6x Deuteronomy 28:37, 1 Samuel 10:12, 1 Kings 9:7, 2 Chronicles 7:20
Article | Noun - masculine singular 5x Isaiah 14:4, Ezekiel 12:22, Ezekiel 12:23, Ezekiel 18:2
Noun - masculine plural construct 4x Job 13:12, Proverbs 1:1, Proverbs 10:1, Proverbs 25:1
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular 2x Proverbs 26:7, Proverbs 26:9
Noun - masculine plural 2x Ecclesiastes 12:9, Ezekiel 20:49
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural 1x Ezekiel 14:8
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. A pointed comparison or saying that embeds wisdom through figurative language, not literal instruction
Source Gloss
properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
A pointed comparison or saying that embeds wisdom through figurative language, not literal instruction
properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse) BDB: proverb Usage: byword, like, parable, proverb.
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
Collection of wise sayings, pithy maxims compiled by scribes
A saying that is ineffective or misapplied, like a lame leg
A saying in mouth of a fool, dangerous like a thorn in drunkard's hand
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 39 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מָשָׁל is built from this root:
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