מְשֹׁל (me.shol)
me.shol
byword
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun me.shol refers to a byword or proverbial saying. It describes a phrase used to characterize someone’s reputation, often highlighting a state of disgrace or ridicule. In biblical usage, it captures the idea of becoming a subject of public mockery or a cautionary tale for others.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Job 17:6. Job uses it to describe his own suffering, stating that God has made him a byword among people. The context is one of deep humiliation, where his friends and community view him with scorn rather than sympathy. The term emphasizes the social isolation and loss of honor that accompanies intense personal tragedy.
The rarity of me.shol makes its single occurrence particularly significant. It underscores the severity of Job’s condition, as he is not just suffering privately but has become a public example of misfortune. This usage reflects an ancient understanding of reputation, where one’s standing in the community was closely tied to their perceived favor with God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Job 17:6 captures a profound human fear: becoming a byword. This rare Hebrew word describes someone who has become a proverbial example of misfortune, a subject of public mockery and scorn. For Job, suffering was not just internal pain but a total loss of social standing and honor in the eyes of his community.
Yet this verse also reveals God’s presence in our deepest shame. Even when we feel reduced to a cautionary tale or isolated by our struggles, we are seen. The Bible does not shy away from the reality of public disgrace, but it places it within the context of a God who knows our pain intimately.
This word reminds us that our worth is not defined by how others treat us in times of crisis. While society may turn its back, divine compassion remains steady. We find hope knowing that our identity is rooted in something deeper than public opinion or temporary reputation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ use a proverb1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לִ/מְשֹׁ֣ל1×
Key Verses
-
Job 17:6
“But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
This is the only occurrence of the word, where Job describes being made a byword to highlight the severity of his social humiliation and loss of honor.