Extended Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (Brown-Driver-Briggs based)
proverb
Usage: 1) proverb, parable 1a) proverb, proverbial saying, aphorism 1b) byword 1c) similitude, parable 1d) poem 1e) sentences of ethical wisdom, ethical maxims
Mashal means “byword” — full meaning, definition, and every linked Bible usage across the indexed canon.
Same number, other testament: Strong's G4912 — synecho (“hold”) in the Greek Bible.
Strong's H4912 מָשָׁל (mashal) is a Hebrew Strong's word-study entry. mashal (maw-shawl') n-m. 1. (properly) a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature 2. (hence) a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse) It has 39 linked Bible usages across 14 books. Visible English usage signals include parable, proverb, said, israel, and son. Indexed coverage on this page includes Old Testament.
mashal (maw-shawl') n-m. 1. (properly) a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature 2. (hence) a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse) [apparently from H4910 in some original sense of superiority in mental action] KJV: byword, like, parable, proverb. Root(s): H4910
How independent scholarly lexicons define Strong's H4912. Each definition is shown with its source so you can compare and cite the original reference works.
proverb
Usage: 1) proverb, parable 1a) proverb, proverbial saying, aphorism 1b) byword 1c) similitude, parable 1d) poem 1e) sentences of ethical wisdom, ethical maxims
Frequent English words from the visible usage excerpts. These are not a replacement for the original-language definition, but they make the usage pattern easier to scan.
Indexed coverage includes Old Testament. Each section below keeps corpus counts and sample passages visible so readers can compare the word across contexts instead of reading one flat concordance list.
Indexed usage grouped by testament and extended corpus so readers can compare this word across the Bible, Septuagint, deuterocanonical books, and 1 Enoch where present.
39 indexed usages in Old Testament.
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.
And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
First 39 linked usage excerpts for Strong's H4912.
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.
And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
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.
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.
And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.
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?
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
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:
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.
Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.
And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
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.
Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?
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.
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.
Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
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?
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
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:
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.
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!
Every indexed verse link for Strong's H4912, grouped by book.
Mashal (Strong's H4912) is a Hebrew word most simply glossed "byword". mashal (maw-shawl') n-m. 1. (properly) a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature 2. (hence) a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse)
This page currently indexes 39 linked usages for Strong's H4912 across 14 books.
Use the linked verse references on this page to study Strong's H4912 in context. The indexed coverage includes Old Testament.
The visible usage excerpts most often surface English words such as parable, proverb, said, israel, son, and took. These are scanning signals from the displayed verses, not replacements for the original-language definition.