H4910 H4910
To rule, have dominion, reign; in Hifil, to grant dominion or set as ruler over someone or something.
A verb of authority and power, mashal spans the full range of ruling — from raw dominion over persons and things to formal administrative governance and royal sovereignty. In Genesis 1:18 the sun and moon 'rule' the day and night, while in Psalm 8:6 God 'makes humanity ruler' over creation (Hifil causative). Spanish consistently distinguishes gobernar (to govern) from dominar (to dominate), mirroring the Hebrew senses. Arabic translations likewise alternate between hakama (to judge/govern) for administrative contexts and malaka (to reign) for royal ones, confirming these as genuinely distinct uses.
2. Qal: to rule, govern (administrative authority) — Administrative or official governance in the Qal stem: ruling as a governor, overseer, or judge rather than through raw power. Joseph ruling over Egypt (Gen 45:26), or the appointed governor over a district (Ps 105:20). Arabic hakama ('to judge/govern') and French chef/dominer consistently mark this bureaucratic nuance, distinguishing it from sheer dominion. 27×
AR["الْحُكَّامَ","الْحُكَّامِ","الْمُتَسَلِّطِ","حاكِمٌ","حاكِمٍ","حاكِمَ","حَاكِمًا","حَاكِمِينَ","حَكَمْتَ","حُكَّامًا","حُكَّامَ","سُلْطَانٍ","لِـ-حَاكِمِ-","مُوشِيل","وَ-حاكِمًا","وَحَاكِمُهُ","وَسُلْطَانٌ"]·ben["-শাসকদের","আর-শাসক","আর-শাসনকর্তা-তার","এবং-শাসক","তুমি-শাসন-করেছ","যে-শাসন-করত","শাসক","শাসক-","শাসকদের","শাসকরা","শাসকের","শাসনকারীদের"]·DE["Spruch","[מושל]","der-herrschte","regieren","und-herrschte","und-regieren"]·EN["You-ruled","a-ruler","and-his-ruler","and-ruler","ruler","rulers","the-one-ruling","the-rulers","to-ruler-of-"]·FR["[המושלים]","dominer","et-de-dominer","et-dominer","le-un-ruling"]·heb["ה-משל","ו-מושל","ו-מושלו","מושל","מושלי","מושלים","משלת"]·HI["और-उसका-शासक","और-शासक","शासक","शासक-","शासक-का","शासक-की","शासक-के-साथ","शासको","शासकों","शासकों-का","शासकों-के","शासकोंको","शासन-किया-तूने","हाकिम"]·ID["Engkau-memerintah","Penguasa","dan-pemerintahnya","dan-penguasa","orang-orang-yang-memerintah","para-penguasa","penguasa","penguasa-","penguasa-penguasa","yang-mengurus"]·IT["dominare","e-da-tranquillo","e-dominare","e-proverbio","governante","governare","il-uno-ruling","parabola"]·jav["Panjenengan-mrentah","ingkang-ngasta","ingkang-nguwasani-","lan-panguwasa","lan-panguwasa-nipun","pangageng","panguwasa","pangwasa","para-ingkang-mrentah","para-ingkang-ngereh","para-panguwasa","para-panguwasaning","tiyang-ingkang-mréntah"]·KO["그-다스리는","그-통치하는-자들을","그리고-그의-통치자가","그리고-다스리는-자-로","그리고-통치자가","다스리는-자-가","다스리는-자들아","다스리는-자들을","다스리는-자들의","당신이-다스리신","통치자","통치자-의","통치자가","통치자들의","통치자에게","통치자의","통치하는-자에게"]·PT["ao-governante-de-","e-governador","e-governante","e-seu-governador","governador","governante","governantes","governantes-de","governaste","o-que-governa","os-que-dominam","os-que-governam"]·RU["владыке-","владыки","властвующего","властелина","властителей","и-властелин","и-властелином","и-правитель-его","правил-Ты","правителей","правителем","правители-","правитель","правителя","управляющему"]·ES["Gobernante","al-gobernante-de-","el-que-gobierna","gobernante","gobernantes","gobernantes-de","gobernaste","los-que-gobernaban","un-gobernante","y-gobernante","y-su-gobernante"]·SW["anayetawala","hukuwatawala","kwa-mtawala-wa","mtawala","na-mtawala","na-mtawala-wake","wa-watawala","watawala"]·TR["hakimin","hukumdarinin-","hukumdarlarin","hukumdarlik-ettin","hükm-edenler","hükmeden","hükmedeni","hükmedenlerin","hükümdar","ve-hükmeden","ve-hükmü-onun","ve-hükümdar","yoneticcileri","yoneticilerin","yöneten","yönetici","yöneticileri","yöneticinin","yöneticisi"]·urd["اور-حاکم","اور-حاکم-اس-کا","اور-حکمران","تُو-نے-حکومت-کی","حاکم","حاکم-کا","حاکم-کے","حاکمو","حاکموں","حاکموں-کے","حکمران","حکمرانوں-کی","حکمرانوں-کے","منتظم"]
Gen 24:2, 2 Chr 23:20, Ps 105:20, Ps 105:21, Prov 23:1, Prov 28:15, Prov 29:2, Prov 29:12, Prov 29:26, Eccl 9:17, Eccl 10:4, Isa 14:5 (+15 more)
▼ 3 more senses below
Senses
1. Qal: to have dominion, exercise power over — The broadest Qal usage: exercising dominion, mastery, or control over persons, animals, or cosmic bodies. Often carries a nuance of subjugation or imposed authority — the sun ruling the day (Gen 1:18), sin crouching to master Cain (Gen 4:7), or a husband exercising authority over his wife (Gen 3:16). Spanish dominar and Arabic sallata capture this forceful, controlling aspect. 44×
AR["المُتَسَلِّطُ","الْمُتَسَلِّطُ","تَتَسَلَّطُ-","تَسودُ","تَمْلِكُ","حَاكِمٌ","حَاكِمُونَ","سائِدٌ","مُتَسَلِّطاً","مُتَسَلِّطًا","مُتَسَلِّطٌ","وَ-يَتَسَلَّطُ","وَ-يَحْكُمُ","وَيَتَسَلَّطُ","يَتَسَلَّطنَ","يَتَسَلَّطُ-","يَسودُ"]·ben["এবং-শাসন-করবেন","ও-শাসন-করবে","শাসক","শাসন-কর","শাসন-করছিল","শাসন-করছে","শাসন-করবে","শাসন-করে","শাসনকারী"]·DE["Herrscher","[ימשל]","[תמשול]","herrschend","herrschte","regieren","soll-herrschen-","sollst-herrschen-","und-Spruch","und-regieren"]·EN["and-he-shall-rule","and-he-will-rule","and-rule","rule","ruler","rules","ruling","shall-rule-","will-rule"]·FR["--régner-","[מושל]","chef","de-dominer","dominer","et-dominer","ruling","régnant"]·heb["ו-משל","ימשול","מושל","מושלים","משל","משלו","תמשול"]·HI["और-शासन-करेगा","शासक","शासन-कर-रहे-थे","शासन-कर-रहे-हैं","शासन-करता","शासन-करता-हुआ","शासन-करता-है","शासन-करती-हैं","शासन-करनेवाला","शासन-करेगा","शासन-करेगा-","शासनकरताहै"]·ID["Dan-dia-akan-menguasai","Memerintah","akan-berkuasa-atasmu","akan-memerintah","dan-dia-akan-memerintah","dan-memerintah","harus-berkuasa-atasnya","memerintah","yang-memerintah"]·IT["da-tranquillo","dominando","dominare","e-parabola","governante","proverbio","regnando","shall-governare-"]·jav["Ingkang-mrentah","Ingkang-nguwasani","badhe-nguwasani","badhé-ngwaosi","ingkang-mrentah","ingkang-mréntah","kang-mréntah","lan-mréntah","lan-ngereh","mrentah","mréntah","nguwaosi","nguwasani","ngwaosi","sami-dipuncekel"]·KO["그리고-다스리리라","다스리고-있다","다스리고-있었다","다스리는","다스리는-자","다스리는-자로","다스리는자","다스리리라","다스리시도다","다스리십니다","다스릴-것이다","통치하도다"]·PT["E-dominará","Que-governa","dominam","dominando","dominará","dominará-","dominarás-","e-dominará","e-governará","governa","governam","governando","governante","governará","governas"]·RU["И-овладеет","будет-властвовать","будет-господствовать-","владели","владеют","владычествующий","властвует","властвуешь","властвующий","властвующим","господствуют","должен-господствовать-","и-будет-владычествовать","и-будет-властвовать","правящий"]·ES["El-que-gobierna","Y-dominará","dominaban","dominan","dominará","dominará-","dominarás-","gobernando","gobernante","gobernará","gobierna","gobiernan","gobiernas","y-dominará","y-gobernará"]·SW["Anayetawala","anatawala","atakayetawala","atakutawala-","atatawala","juu-ya","mtawala","na-atatawala","unatawala","utaitawala-","utatawala","walikuwa-wanatawala","wanatawala","wanatutawala"]·TR["egemen","egemenlik-sürer","hukumdarlik-ediyor","hükm-edecek","hükmedeceksin-","hükmeden","hükmediyorlardı","hükmüeden","ve-hükmedecek","yönetecek-","yöneten","yönetensin","yöneticisi"]·urd["اور-حکومت-کرے-گا","حُکمران","حکمران","حکمران-تھے","حکمران-ہیں","حکمرانی-کر","حکمرانی-کرے-گا","حکومت-کرتی-ہیں","حکومت-کرنے-والا","حکومت-کرے-گا"]
3. Qal: to reign (royal/kingly rule) — Specifically royal or kingly rule — reigning as sovereign. Concentrated in the Judges narratives (Judg 8:22–23; 9:2) where Israel debates whether Gideon and his sons should 'reign' over them. Arabic malaka ('to be king') and German regieren ('to reign') appear here rather than the governance vocabulary, confirming that these passages evoke monarchical sovereignty. 8×
AR["أَمْلِكُ","أَنْ-يَمْلِكَ","امْلِكْ","وَ-يَمْلِكُ","يَمْلِكُ","يَمْلِكُ-"]·ben["আমি-শাসন-করব","ও-শাসনকারী","শাসন-কর-","শাসন-করবে","শাসন-করবে-","শাসন-করবেন","শাসন-করা"]·DE["herrschen-","herrschend","regieren","und-regieren","wird-herrschen"]·EN["and-ruling","rule-","ruling","will-rule","will-rule-"]·FR["dominer","et-dominer","ruling","régner-","sera-régner"]·heb["אמשול","ה-משול","ו-מושל","ימשול","משול"]·HI["और-शासन-करने-वाला","राज-कर","राज-करना","राज-करूँगा","राज-करेगा","शासन-करेगा-"]·ID["akan-memerintah","akan-memerintah-","aku-akan-memerintah","dan-yang-memerintah","diperintah","kuasailah-"]·IT["dominare","e-dominare","governare-","regnando","volere-governare"]·jav["kula-mréntah","lan-mréntah","menapa-mréntah","mréntah","mréntaha-","nguwasani-"]·KO["그리고-다스리는","다스려라-","다스리리니-","다스리리라","다스림-이"]·PT["Governa-","Governar","dominar-lhes-á-","e-governando","governar","governarei","governará"]·RU["Властвуй-","будет-властвовать","будет-властвовать-","буду-властвовать","владел","и-правящий","чтобы-владели"]·ES["el-gobernar","gobernar","gobernará","gobernará-","gobernaré","gobierna-","y-gobernando"]·SW["atatawala","atawatawala","kutawala","kuwatawala","na-kutawala","nitawatawala","tutawale-"]·TR["hükmedecek","hükmedeceğim","hükmet-bize","ve-hüküm-süren","yonetecek-","yonetmesi-mi"]·urd["اور-حکومت-کرنے-والا","حکومت-کر","حکومت-کرنا","حکومت-کروں-گا","حکومت-کرے-گا"]
4. Hifil: to cause to rule, grant dominion — The Hifil causative: to cause someone to rule, to grant dominion, to set as ruler over. Only three occurrences — God granting humanity dominion (Ps 8:6), God possessing sovereign dominion (Job 25:2), and a king bestowing authority (Dan 11:39). Arabic sallata ('to empower, give authority') and Spanish hacer señorear capture the causative force. 3×
AR["السُّلْطانُ","تُسَلِّطُهُ","وَ-يُسَلِّطُهُمْ"]·ben["ও-শাসন-করাবে-তাদের","তুমি-তাকে-শাসন-করাচ্ছ","শাসন"]·DE["der-Spruch","herrschte","und-regieren"]·EN["and-cause-them-to-rule","dominion","you-make-him-ruler"]·FR["dominer","et-dominer"]·heb["ו-המשילם","ממשל","תמשילהו"]·HI["और-शासन-कराएगा-उन्हें","तूने-उसे-अधिकार-दिया","शासन"]·ID["Engkau-memberinya-kuasa","dan-dia-akan-membuat-mereka-memerintah","kekuasaan"]·IT["dominare","e-governare","governo'"]·jav["Panjenengan-ndamel-ngereh","lan-ngereh-piyambak-ipun-sedaya","pamaréntahan"]·KO["그리고-다스리게-하리라-그들을","다스리게-하셨나이다","주관함과"]·PT["Domínio","Fá-lo-dominar","e-os-fará-dominar"]·RU["владычество","и-даст-им-власть","поставил-его-властвовать"]·ES["Dominio","Lo-haces-señorear","y-les-dará-dominio"]·SW["Umemfanya-atawale","Utawala","na-atawafanya-watawale"]·TR["egemenlik","hükmetmesini-sağladın-onu","ve-yönettirecek"]·urd["اور-حکمران-بنائے-گا-اُنہیں","تُو-نے-اُسے-حکمران-بنایا","حکومت"]
Related Senses
G2962 1. Lord (divine title) (661×)H0136 1. Lord (divine title) (440×)H0113 1. lord, human superior (249×)G1849 1. authority, power (91×)H6485a 2. Qal: punish, bring judgment (63×)H8198 1. maidservant, female slave (63×)G2962 2. master, lord (human authority) (61×)H0034 1. needy, poor, destitute (61×)H0519 1. female servant, maidservant (56×)H6041 1. poor, needy person (55×)H0113 2. master, owner of servants (49×)H1800 1. poor, needy (socioeconomic) (38×)H3515 1. heavy, severe, grievous (36×)G4434 1. (34×)G5092 1. honor, esteem, respect (33×)H6485a 4. Qal: visit, attend to, care for (32×)H3513 1. honor / show respect (Piel) (30×)H4513 1. withhold, restrain, hold back (25×)G1658 1. free (23×)G5293 1. submit oneself, be subject to (23×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† III. מָשַׁל vb. rule, have dominion, reign (NH Pt. id.; Ph. משל);— Qal Pf. 3 ms. וּמָשַׁל consec. Zc 6:13 + 2 times, מָשָׁ֑ל Dn 11:4, וּמָשָׁ֑ל consec. v 5; 3 fs. מָשָׁ֑לָה ψ 103:19; 2 ms. מָשַׁלְתָּ Is 63:19, וּמָשַׁלְתָּ֫ Dt 15:16; 3 pl. מָֽשְׁלוּ Is 3:5 La 5:8; Impf. 3 ms. יִמְשֹׁל Ex 21:8 + 3 times, יִמְשׁוֹל Pr 22:7; יִמְשָׁל־ Gn 3:16, etc.; Imv. מְשָׁל־ Ju 8:22; Inf. abs. מָשׁוֹל Gn 37:8;…