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מָשָׁל H4912
H4912 is the Hebrew word מָשָׁל, transliterated mâshâl and said maw-shawl'. The King James Version most often renders it parable.
What it means
properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse).
Where it comes from
apparently from H4910 (מָשַׁל) in some original sense of superiority in mental action.
How the King James Version translates it
Across 36 tagged occurrences, counted from this edition's word index.
Strong's own list of renderings: byword, like, parable, proverb.
Verses using מָשָׁל
All 36 verses, quoted in full.
Numbers 23:7 · KJV
And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
Numbers 23:18 · KJV
And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
Numbers 24:3 · KJV
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
Numbers 24:15 · KJV
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
Numbers 24:20 · KJV
And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
Numbers 24:21 · KJV
And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
Numbers 24:23 · KJV
And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
Deuteronomy 28:37 · KJV
And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.
1 Samuel 10:12 · KJV
And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
1 Samuel 24:13 · KJV
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
1 Kings 4:32 · KJV
And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
1 Kings 9:7 · KJV
Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:
2 Chronicles 7:20 · KJV
Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
Job 13:12 · KJV
Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
Job 27:1 · KJV
Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
Job 29:1 · KJV
Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
Psalm 44:14 · KJV
Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
Psalm 49:4 · KJV
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
Psalm 78:2 · KJV
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Proverbs 1:1 · KJV
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
Proverbs 1:6 · KJV
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
Proverbs 10:1 · KJV
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
Proverbs 25:1 · KJV
These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Proverbs 26:7 · KJV
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:9 · KJV
As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Isaiah 14:4 · KJV
That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
Jeremiah 24:9 · KJV
And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
Ezekiel 12:22 · KJV
Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?
Ezekiel 12:23 · KJV
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 days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.
Ezekiel 14:8 · KJV
And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 17:2 · KJV
Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
Ezekiel 18:2 · KJV
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 18:3 · KJV
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
Ezekiel 24:3 · KJV
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:
Micah 2:4 · KJV
In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.
Habakkuk 2:6 · KJV
Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
Common questions
What does Strong's H4912 mean?
H4912 is the Hebrew word מָשָׁל (mâshâl), meaning properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse).
How is H4912 translated in the King James Version?
The King James translators rendered it parable (17 times), proverb (11 times), proverbs (3 times), therefore it became a proverb (1 time), like (1 time), among others.
How many times does H4912 appear in the Bible?
מָשָׁל (mâshâl) is tagged in 36 verses of the King James Version in this edition's word index.
Where does H4912 come from?
Strong's gives its derivation as: apparently from H4910 (מָשַׁל) in some original sense of superiority in mental action.
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