Mashal מָשַׁל

Mashal (Hebrew מָשַׁל, Strong's H4910) is a Hebrew verb meaning “to rule”. It occurs 81 times in 74 verses of the Old Testament.

Definition

From the STEPBible Brief Lexicon of Hebrew (based on the abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs), STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.

Translated as

Topics

• Sovereignty of God

Verses

Every verse with Mashal, with the English words that translate it highlighted (KJV or BSB; other translations show the KJV here).

Genesis

• Genesis 1:18
  And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
• Genesis 3:16
  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
• Genesis 4:7
  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”
• Genesis 24:2
  And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
• Genesis 37:8
  And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.“Do you intend to reign over us?” his brothers asked. “Will you actually rule us?” So they hated him even more because of his dream and his statements.
• Genesis 45:8
  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
• Genesis 45:26
  And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.“Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them.

Exodus

• Exodus 21:8
  If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself, he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her.

Deuteronomy

• Deuteronomy 15:6
  For the Lord thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.When the LORD your God blesses you as He has promised, you will lend to many nations but borrow from none; you will rule over many nations but be ruled by none.

Joshua

• Joshua 12:2
  Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along the middle of the valley, up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites), that is, half of Gilead,
• Joshua 12:5
  And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan up to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

Judges

• Judges 8:22
  Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you and your son and grandson—for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
• Judges 8:23
  And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you.”
• Judges 9:2
  Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”
• Judges 14:4
  But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.(Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.)
• Judges 15:11
  Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.In response, three thousand men of Judah went to the cave at the rock of Etam, and they asked Samson, “Do you not realize that the Philistines rule over us? What have you done to us?” “I have done to them what they did to me,” he replied.

2 Samuel

• 2 Samuel 23:3
  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,

1 Kings

• 1 Kings 4:21
  And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

1 Chronicles

• 1 Chronicles 29:12
  Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all. In Your hands are power and might to exalt and give strength to all.

2 Chronicles

• 2 Chronicles 7:18
  Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with your father David when I said, ‘You will never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.’
• 2 Chronicles 9:26
  And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.He reigned over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.
• 2 Chronicles 20:6
  And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.
• 2 Chronicles 23:20
  And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the Lord: and they came through the high gate into the king’s house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.He also took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate. They seated King Joash on the royal throne,

Nehemiah

• Nehemiah 9:37
  And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.Its abundant harvest goes to the kings You have set over us because of our sins. And they rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress.

Job

• Job 25:2
  Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.“Dominion and awe belong to God; He establishes harmony in the heights of heaven.

Psalms

• Psalm 8:6
  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:You made him ruler of the works of Your hands; You have placed everything under his feet:
• Psalm 19:13
  Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.
• Psalm 22:28
  For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations.For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.
• Psalm 59:13
  Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.Consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, so it may be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah
• Psalm 66:7
  He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.He rules forever by His power; His eyes watch the nations. Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
• Psalm 89:9
  Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.You rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them.
• Psalm 103:19
  The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
• Psalm 105:20
  The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.The king sent and released him; the ruler of peoples set him free.
• Psalm 105:21
  He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:He made him master of his household, ruler over all his substance,
• Psalm 106:41
  And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.He delivered them into the hand of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.

Proverbs

• Proverbs 6:7
  Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler,
• Proverbs 12:24
  The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
• Proverbs 16:32
  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
• Proverbs 17:2
  A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
• Proverbs 19:10
  Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.Luxury is unseemly for a fool— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
• Proverbs 22:7
  The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
• Proverbs 23:1
  When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
• Proverbs 28:15
  As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
• Proverbs 29:2
  When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
• Proverbs 29:12
  If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked.
• Proverbs 29:26
  Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the Lord.Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.

Ecclesiastes

• Ecclesiastes 9:17
  The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.
• Ecclesiastes 10:4
  If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

Isaiah

• Isaiah 3:4
  And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”
• Isaiah 3:12
  As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths.
• Isaiah 14:5
  The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers.
• Isaiah 16:1
  Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.Send the tribute lambs to the ruler of the land, from Sela in the desert to the mount of Daughter Zion.
• Isaiah 19:4
  And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts.I will deliver the Egyptians into the hands of harsh masters, and a fierce king will rule over them,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
• Isaiah 28:14
  Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
• Isaiah 40:10
  Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him.
• Isaiah 49:7
  Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”
• Isaiah 52:5
  Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.And now what have I here? declares the LORD. For My people have been taken without cause; those who rule them taunt, declares the LORD, and My name is blasphemed continually all day long.
• Isaiah 63:19
  We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.We have become like those You never ruled, like those not called by Your name.

Jeremiah

• Jeremiah 22:30
  Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.This is what the LORD says: “Enroll this man as childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime. None of his descendants will prosper to sit on the throne of David or to rule again in Judah.”
• Jeremiah 30:21
  And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord.Their leader will be one of their own, and their ruler will arise from their midst. And I will bring him near, and he will approach Me, for who would dare on his own to approach Me?” declares the LORD.
• Jeremiah 33:26
  Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.then I would also reject the descendants of Jacob and of My servant David, so as not to take from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore them from captivity and will have compassion on them.”
• Jeremiah 51:46
  And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.Do not let your heart grow faint, and do not be afraid when the rumor is heard in the land; for a rumor will come one year— and then another the next year— of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler.

Lamentations

• Lamentations 5:8
  Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand.Slaves rule over us; there is no one to deliver us from their hands.

Ezekiel

• Ezekiel 19:11
  And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick branches, conspicuous for its height and for its dense foliage.
• Ezekiel 19:14
  And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.Fire has gone out from its main branch and devoured its fruit; on it no strong branch remains fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a lament and shall be used as a lament.”

Daniel

• Daniel 11:3
  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases.
• Daniel 11:4
  And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the authority with which he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others.
• Daniel 11:5
  And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.The king of the South will grow strong, but one of his commanders will grow even stronger and will rule his own kingdom with great authority.
• Daniel 11:39
  Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and distributing the land for a price.
• Daniel 11:43
  But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt, and the Libyans and Cushites will also submit to him.

Joel

• Joel 2:17
  Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

Micah

• Micah 5:2
  But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel— One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

Habakkuk

• Habakkuk 1:14
  And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler.

Zechariah

• Zechariah 6:13
  Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.Yes, He will build the temple of the LORD; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. And He will be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two.’

Notes

1. Definition and verse list from STEPBible's tagged Hebrew Old Testament (TAHOT) and Greek New Testament (TAGNT) and Brief Lexicons, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.
2. English renderings from the public-domain KJV with Strong's numbers (eBible.org) and the Berean Standard Bible interlinear (public domain).