מָשַׁל mashal
Hebrew word for “to use a proverb” · Strong’s H4911 · used 16 times in 15 verses
Meaning
1) to speak in a proverb, use a proverb, speak in parables, speak in sentences of poetry;
Senses in the lexicon
- to use a proverb (9)
- to liken (7)
How it is translated
Glosses given for mashal in context, with how often each is used:
- speak a parable 2
- have become like 2
- will be equal 2
- like 2
- those who speak proverbs 1
- people will use as a proverb 1
- one who speaks a proverb 1
- will speak a proverb 1
- speaking a proverb 1
- speak a proverb 1
- making a parable 1
- will you compare? 1
Where it is used
Chapters where it is used most
Psalms 49 (2), Ezekiel 18 (2), Numbers 21 (1), Job 30 (1), Psalms 28 (1), Psalms 143 (1), Isaiah 14 (1), Isaiah 46 (1), Ezekiel 12 (1), Ezekiel 16 (1)
Forms
- ומשׁל 2
- ונמשׁלתי 2
- נמשׁל 2
- המשׁלים 1
- ימשׁלו 1
- המשׁל 1
- ימשׁל 1
- משׁלים 1
- משׁל 1
- ממשׁל 1
Words used with it
Words that share verses with mashal more often than their overall frequency would suggest:
- מָשָׁל mashal “proverb” 6
- יְהֹוִה yehovih “YHWH/God” 4
- אֲדֹנָי adonai “Lord” 4
- דָּמָה damah “to cease” 2
- יְקָר yeqar “preciousness” 2
- בּוֹר bor “pit” 2
- אָדָם adam “man” 3
- בְּהֵמָה behemah “animal” 2
- זֶה zeh “this” 3
- עָנָה anah “to answer” 2
- יָרַד yarad “to go down” 2
- עוֹד od “still” 2
Key verses
The verses using mashal that are most connected by cross-references (King James Version):
- Job 30:19 — He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
- Psalms 28:1 — [A Psalm of David.] Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
- Psalms 49:12 — Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
- Psalms 49:20 — Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
- Psalms 143:7 — Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
- Isaiah 46:5 — To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
- Ezekiel 12:23 — Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The…
- Ezekiel 16:44 — Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.
- Ezekiel 17:2 — Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
- Ezekiel 18:2 — What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
- Ezekiel 20:49 — Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
- Ezekiel 24:3 — And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Set on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it:
See all 15 verses in the Word Atlas
Hebrew and Greek text, tagging, glosses and lexicon definitions: STEPBible.org, Tyndale House Cambridge (TAHOT, TAGNT, TBESH, TBESG; CC BY 4.0), adapted. Counts follow King James verse numbering; a word counts each time it is written.