מֶמְשָׁלָה (mem.sha.lah)
mem.sha.lah
dominion
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 16 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun memshalah denotes the exercise of authority or the sphere in which that authority is held. It translates broadly to "dominion," "rule," or "realm," capturing both the power to govern and the territory over which one rules. In the Hebrew Bible, this term appears sixteen times, with a significant concentration in the poetic books like Psalms and the prophetic writings of Jeremiah and Isaiah.
While it can refer to human kingship, memshalah carries particular theological weight when applied to God. It describes His sovereign control over creation and history, emphasizing that His reign is absolute and unchallenged. This usage reinforces the biblical theme that ultimate authority belongs to the Creator, distinguishing His rule from the limited power of earthly monarchs.
The word’s root relates to ruling or governing, pointing to an active exercise of power rather than a passive status. Translators often render it as "dominion" to convey this sense of rightful control. By focusing on memshalah, the texts highlight not just who is in charge, but the reality and extent of that authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word memshalah points to more than just a title; it describes the active exercise of authority and the sphere where that rule is felt. In the Hebrew Bible, this term captures both the power to govern and the territory over which one rules. When applied to God, it carries profound theological weight, reminding us that His sovereign control extends over all creation and history. This usage reinforces the biblical theme that ultimate authority belongs to the Creator, distinguishing His reign from the limited power of earthly monarchs.
For your faith, this means you can rest in the reality that God’s rule is absolute and unchallenged. While human leaders may rise and fall, and while our own circumstances might feel chaotic, memshalah assures us that God remains in charge. It invites us to trust not just in who God is, but in the extent of His care and control over every part of our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 16 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- dominion/ his5×
- realm/ his2×
- for/ [the] dominion of2×
- the/ dominion1×
- imperial might/ his1×
- for/ dominion<s>1×
- for/ dominion1×
- dominion<s>/ his1×
- and/ dominion/ your1×
- and/ authority/ your1×
- [the] rule of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽ/וֹ\׃6×
- לְ/מֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת3×
- מַמְשְׁלוֹתָֽי/ו\׃1×
- מֶמְשַׁלְתּ֖/וֹ1×
- מֶמְשַׁלְתּ֑/וֹ1×
- מֶמְשֶׁ֨לֶת1×
- לְ/מֶמְשְׁל֣וֹת1×
- וּ֝/מֶֽמְשֶׁלְתְּ/ךָ֗1×
- וּ/מֶֽמְשֶׁלְתְּ/ךָ֖1×
- הַ/מֶּמְשָׁלָה֙1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 103:22
Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul!
This verse expands the scope of God's dominion to include all places and all works, calling for universal praise from every corner of His creation.
-
Psalms 145:13
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Yahweh is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds.
Here the term links God’s enduring dominion directly to His faithfulness, showing that His rule is characterized by reliable love across all generations.
-
Genesis 1:16
God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.
This occurrence establishes the foundational order of creation, assigning specific roles of governance to the celestial bodies under God’s design.
-
Jeremiah 34:1
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, with all his army, all the kingdoms of the earth that were under his dominion, and all the peoples, were fighting against Jerusalem and against all its cities, saying:
The text uses this word to describe the vast political reality surrounding Jerusalem, highlighting how human empires operate within the broader scope of earthly power.