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מֶמְשָׁלָה

𐤌𐤌𐤔𐤋𐤄

memshâlâh

H4475 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Governmental authority or sovereignty; the act or condition of having dominion, governance, or administrative power. In specific contexts, refers to the territory, political structure, or domain governed under such authority. The term can denote both the abstract concept of 'rule' and the concrete realm in which this rule is exercised.

Semantic Range

rule; dominion; governmental power; authority; realm; sphere of governance; domain; administrative structure; sovereignty

Root / Etymology

From the root מָשַׁל, meaning 'to rule, govern, have dominion.' מֶמְשָׁלָה is a feminine noun formation indicating the abstract or concrete sphere or function of domination or authority.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מֶמְשָׁלָה primarily signifies a realm of authority or administrative governance, often used of both divine and human power. It can refer to the dominion of humans over creation (Genesis 1:16, Psalms 136:8-9), the rule of earthly kingdoms or rulers (1 Kings 9:19, 2 Kings 20:13), and, in later writings, the sphere or office of government. During the monarchic period, the term is associated with the centralized rule of a monarch or a state, whereas in poetic or cosmological texts, it encompasses dominions within nature or the cosmos (cf. 'the dominion of the sun and moon'). In post-exilic literature, מֶמְשָׁלָה may reflect imperial or administrative domains under foreign sovereignties, thus expanding its semantic field beyond earlier Israelite self-government. English translations such as 'dominion,' 'rule,' and 'government' capture much of its semantic value, though 'dominion' often best reflects its range from abstract authority to territorial jurisdiction.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of מִמְשָׁל; rule; also (concretely in plural) a realm or a ruler; dominion, government, power, to rule.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

משל (Mashal) — to rule, govern, have dominion, exercise authority

Root משל to rule, govern, have dominion, exercise authority
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4474 מִמְשָׁל the dominions
H4910 מָשַׁל I will rule
H4911 מָשַׁל the parable-speaker
H4913 מָשָׁל governing proverb
H4914 מְשֹׁל to rule

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4475-05 מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽ/וֹ memeshaleto HNcbsc/Sp3ms his dominion his governing authority his governing authority 6
H4475-02 לְ/מֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת lememeshelet HR/Ncbsc to rule to dominion-of to dominion-of 3
H4475-07 וּ/מֶֽמְשֶׁלְתְּ/ךָ֖ umemesheletekha HC/Ncbsc/Sp2ms and your authority and your dominion and your dominion 2
H4475-01 הַ/מֶּמְשָׁלָה֙ hamemeshalah HTd/Ncbsa the dominion the dominion the dominion 1
H4475-03 לְ/מֶמְשְׁל֣וֹת lememeshelot HR/Ncbpa to rule to dominions to dominions 1
H4475-04 מַמְשְׁלוֹתָֽי/ו mameshelotayv HNcbpc/Sp3ms his dominion his dominions his dominion 1
H4475-06 מֶמְשֶׁ֨לֶת memeshelet HNcbsc dominion rule of dominion of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4475-02 Genesis 1:16 לְ/מֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת lememeshelet HR/Ncbsc to rule to dominion-of to dominion-of
H4475-02 Genesis 1:16 לְ/מֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת lememeshelet-2 HR/Ncbsc to rule to dominion-of to dominion-of
H4475-05 1 Kings 9:19 מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽ/וֹ memeshaleto HNcbsc/Sp3ms of his dominion his governing authority his governing authority
H4475-07 Isaiah 22:21 וּ/מֶֽמְשֶׁלְתְּ/ךָ֖ umemesheletekha HC/Ncbsc/Sp2ms and your authority and your dominion and your dominion
H4475-05 Isaiah 39:2 מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽ/וֹ memeshaleto HNcbsc/Sp3ms his dominion his governing authority his governing authority
H4475-06 Jeremiah 34:1 מֶמְשֶׁ֨לֶת memeshelet HNcbsc dominion rule of dominion of
H4475-05 Jeremiah 51:28 מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽ/וֹ memeshaleto HNcbsc/Sp3ms his dominion his governing authority his dominion
H4475-01 Micah 4:8 הַ/מֶּמְשָׁלָה֙ hamemeshalah HTd/Ncbsa the dominion the dominion the dominion
H4475-05 Psalms 103:22 מֶמְשַׁלְתּ֑/וֹ memeshaleto HNcbsc/Sp3ms his dominion his governing authority his governing authority
H4475-04 Psalms 114:2 מַמְשְׁלוֹתָֽי/ו mameshelotayv HNcbpc/Sp3ms his dominion his dominions his dominion
H4475-02 Psalms 136:8 לְ/מֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת lememeshelet HR/Ncbsc to rule to dominion-of to rule
H4475-03 Psalms 136:9 לְ/מֶמְשְׁל֣וֹת lememeshelot HR/Ncbpa to rule to dominions to dominions
H4475-07 Psalms 145:13 וּ֝/מֶֽמְשֶׁלְתְּ/ךָ֗ umemesheletekha HC/Ncbsc/Sp2ms and your dominion and your dominion and your dominion
H4475-05 Daniel 11:5 מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽ/וֹ memeshaleto HNcbsc/Sp3ms his dominion his governing authority his governing authority
H4475-05 2 Chronicles 32:9 מֶמְשַׁלְתּ֖/וֹ memeshaleto HNcbsc/Sp3ms his dominion his governing authority his dominion
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