Original Word: מִשְׁטָר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mishtar
Pronunciation: mish-tar'
Phonetic Spelling: (mish-tawr')
KJV: dominion
NASB: rule
Word Origin: [from H7860 (שׁוֹטֵר - officers)]

1. jurisdiction

dominion

From shoter; jurisdiction -- dominion.

see HEBREW shoter

Word Origin
from the same as shoter
Definition
rule, authority
NASB Translation
rule (1).

[מִשְׁטָר] noun masculine rule, authority; — suffix מִשְׁטָרוֺ Job 38:33 (of heavens over earth).

Definition and background

מִשְׁטָר (mishṭar) denotes a sphere of rule, dominion, or authoritative order. While the noun appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, it conveys the idea of structured governance established by a superior authority. In Job 38:33 the word functions in a cosmic context, pointing to the ordained order that governs creation.

Old Testament context

Job 38:33 records the LORD’s challenge to Job: “Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule over the earth?”. Here mishṭar describes the sweeping, invisible administration by which the heavens affect the earth—an ordering that no human can fashion or regulate. The verse stands within a broader speech (Job 38–41) in which God asserts His sovereignty over every domain of the created world, thereby humbling Job and correcting his perspective on suffering and divine justice.

Concept of cosmic administration

1. Invisible yet effective. Mishṭar points to a governing system that operates whether or not it is observed or understood by humanity (compare Psalms 19:1–6).
2. Comprehensive. The phrase “over the earth” indicates that the heavenly mishṭar is not isolated but extends its influence throughout all creation (see Jeremiah 31:35–36).
3. Immutable. By linking mishṭar to God’s “ordinances,” Job 38:33 underscores the stability and predictability woven into the natural order, reflecting the unchanging character of its Creator (Malachi 3:6).

Theological implications

• God’s sovereignty. Mishṭar declares that ultimate dominion belongs to the LORD alone; human authority is always derivative (Daniel 4:34–35).
• Dependability of creation. The fixed governance of the heavens assures believers of God’s faithfulness. The same One who maintains the stars also keeps covenant with His people (Genesis 8:22; Isaiah 40:26).
• Human limitation and humility. God’s question—“Do you know… Can you establish…?”—exposes the finitude of human knowledge and power, inviting submission and trust (Proverbs 3:5–6).

Ministry and practical application

1. Worship rooted in awe. Recognizing the mishṭar of the heavens cultivates reverence; congregational praise can highlight God’s precise ordering of creation (Nehemiah 9:6).
2. Confidence in prayer. Believers may pray with assurance that the One who orders the cosmos is able to intervene in personal circumstances (Ephesians 3:20).
3. Stewardship of creation. While humanity cannot establish cosmic mishṭar, responsible care for the earth aligns with God’s intent for orderly dominion under His supreme rule (Genesis 1:28–31).
4. Pastoral counseling. When confronting suffering, ministers can draw from Job 38:33 to remind the afflicted that behind apparent chaos stands an unshakable divine administration (Romans 8:28).

Echoes in New Testament revelation

The concept embodied in mishṭar anticipates New Testament affirmations of Christ’s cosmic lordship:
• Colossians 1:17—“in Him all things hold together.”
• Hebrews 1:3—Christ “upholds all things by His powerful word.”

These passages reveal that the governing order hinted in Job finds its fullest expression in the Son, through whom and for whom all things exist.

Summary

מִשְׁטָר encapsulates the ordered dominion established by God over creation. Though attested only in Job 38:33, its theological weight is substantial—pointing to divine sovereignty, the reliability of the created order, and human dependence on the Creator. Recognizing this truth fuels worship, steadies faith amid trials, and frames the believer’s stewardship of God’s world.

מִשְׁטָר֣וֹ משטרו miš·ṭā·rōw mishtaRo mišṭārōwInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts