מָשַׁל
to liken, i.e. (transitively) to use figurative language (an allegory, adage, song or the like); intransitively
Definition
The verb מָשַׁל (mâshal) primarily means 'to be like' or 'to compare,' often introducing a simile or metaphor. It can describe physical resemblance, as in Job 30:19 where Job says, 'I am become like dust and ashes.' More significantly, it denotes the act of speaking in proverbs, parables, or figurative language, as seen when Balaam 'took up his discourse and said' (Numbers 21:27) using poetic, comparative speech. In its causative (Hiphil) form, it means 'to use as a proverb' or 'to speak in parables,' a mode of teaching famously employed by the prophets and wisdom teachers.
Biblical Usage
מָשַׁל is used in poetic and wisdom literature, including Psalms, Job, and Isaiah. It appears in laments to express deep despair through comparison (Psalm 28:1, 143:7). In wisdom contexts, it describes the act of uttering proverbs, often contrasting human and divine perspectives, as in Psalm 49:12, 20 where mortal man is 'compared to the beasts that perish.' The verb also appears in prophetic taunts, such as Isaiah 14:10 and 46:5, where nations or idols are 'likened' to something lesser.
Etymology
מָשַׁל is a denominative verb derived from the noun מָשָׁל (mâshal, H4912), meaning 'proverb,' 'parable,' or 'byword.' This root connection highlights the word's intrinsic link to comparative, figurative speech. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'mašālu' (to be like) and Arabic 'mathala' (to resemble), pointing to a common core meaning of likeness and comparison.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it underpins the biblical method of teaching through analogy and narrative. God's communication through parables (מְשָׁלִים) relies on this concept of 'likening' spiritual truths to everyday realities. Understanding מָשַׁל enriches reading by highlighting how biblical authors, especially in wisdom and prophetic books, use comparison to reveal human nature, divine judgment, and the limitations of idolatry, inviting deeper reflection on God's nature and human existence.
In ancient Israelite culture, proverbs and comparisons were central to education and rhetoric. Speaking 'in a מָשָׁל' was not merely telling a story but a respected form of authoritative teaching and social commentary used by sages, prophets, and poets. This contrasts with a modern, sometimes simplistic view of 'parables' as just illustrative stories; they were sophisticated tools for revelation, critique, and memorization.
דָּמָה (dāmâ, H1819) — to be like or resemble, often used for physical or conceptual similarity. שָׁוָה (shāwâ, H7737) — to be like or comparable, frequently in the context of worth or value. נָשָׂא מָשָׁל (nāśā' māshāl) — a common phrase meaning 'to take up a proverb,' specifying the act of uttering one.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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