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מְזוּזָה

𐤌𐤆𐤅𐤆𐤄

mᵉzûwzâh

H4201 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A vertical part of a doorway, specifically the doorpost that forms the side of a doorframe in a building. The term primarily refers to the posts of entrances, both in domestic settings and in the tabernacle or temple, serving as the structural element onto which a door is mounted or through which it pivots. The mezuzah may also function as a marker or site for inscriptions or ritual placement (as in Deuteronomy 6:9, 11:20) but fundamentally is the architectural component of the entranceway. Its semantic range includes physical doorposts of homes, gates, or sacred buildings, and can sometimes denote the threshold or boundary marked by the post.

Semantic Range

(architectural) doorpost, sidepost, post of a gate or entrance, structural part of a doorway; figurative threshold or point of entry

Root / Etymology

From the root זוז or its cognates, meaning 'to move, to project.' The noun derives from the sense of something projecting or standing prominently. The root indicates a basic idea of prominence or projection, while the word itself specifies the projecting posts forming the sides of an entranceway.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In earliest usage across the Hebrew Bible, מְזוּזָה always refers to the architectural feature—the doorpost—of a structure, including homes (e.g. Exodus 12:7, Deuteronomy 6:9), the temple (1 Kings 6:33), and city gates. The term is notably used in legal and ritual contexts (most prominently in Exodus 12 for the Pesach ritual and in Deuteronomy for the placement of the Shema), where the mezuzah functions as both a physical and symbolic threshold. For example, in Exodus 12, the command to apply blood to the mezuzah marks a boundary for protection. In later Jewish tradition the word 'mezuzah' came to refer to the inscribed parchment scroll affixed to the doorpost, but in biblical texts this meaning is absent: the word solely denotes the architectural element. English translations often render 'doorpost,' which is accurate for all biblical contexts. Distinct from other terms meaning 'door' (דלת) or 'gate' (שער), mezuzah refers exclusively to the post supporting these features.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מְזֻזָה; from the same as זִיז; a door-post (as prominent); (door, side) post.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מזז (m-z-z) — to move, to project, to stand prominently

Root מזז to move, to be prominent, to project

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4201-05 מְזוּזֹ֥ת mezuzot HNcfpc the doorposts projecting doorposts of projecting doorposts of 5
H4201-03 מְזוּזַ֖ת mezuzat HNcfsc doorpost projecting doorpost of the doorpost of 5
H4201-02 הַ/מְּזוּזֹ֖ת hamezuzot HTd/Ncfpa doorposts the projecting doorposts the doorposts 4
H4201-07 וְ/הַ/מְּזוּזָ֔ה vehamezuzah HC/Td/Ncfsa and the doorpost and the projecting doorpost and the doorpost 1
H4201-04 מְזוּזָתִ֔/י mezuzati HNcfsc/Sp1cs my doorposts my projecting doorpost my doorpost 1
H4201-08 וְ/הַ/מְּזוּז֖וֹת vehamezuzot HC/Td/Ncfpa and the doorposts and the projecting doorposts and the projecting doorposts 1
H4201-06 וּ/מְזֽוּזָתָ/ם֙ umezuzatam HC/Ncfsc/Sp3mp and their doorposts and their projecting doorpost and their doorpost 1
H4201-01 הַ/מְּזוּזָ֑ה hamezuzah HTd/Ncfsa the doorpost the projecting doorpost the doorpost 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4201-02 Exodus 12:7 הַ/מְּזוּזֹ֖ת hamezuzot HTd/Ncfpa doorposts the projecting doorposts the doorposts
H4201-02 Exodus 12:22 הַ/מְּזוּזֹ֔ת hamezuzot HTd/Ncfpa doorposts the projecting doorposts the projecting doorposts
H4201-02 Exodus 12:23 הַ/מְּזוּזֹ֑ת hamezuzot HTd/Ncfpa doorposts the projecting doorposts the projecting doorposts
H4201-01 Exodus 21:6 הַ/מְּזוּזָ֑ה hamezuzah HTd/Ncfsa the doorpost the projecting doorpost the doorpost
H4201-05 Deuteronomy 6:9 מְזוּזֹ֥ת mezuzot HNcfpc the doorposts projecting doorposts of doorposts of
H4201-05 Deuteronomy 11:20 מְזוּז֥וֹת mezuzot HNcfpc the doorposts projecting doorposts of the doorposts
H4201-02 Judges 16:3 הַ/מְּזוּז֔וֹת hamezuzot HTd/Ncfpa posts the projecting doorposts the doorposts
H4201-03 1 Samuel 1:9 מְזוּזַ֖ת mezuzat HNcfsc the doorpost projecting doorpost of the doorpost
H4201-05 1 Kings 6:31 מְזוּז֖וֹת mezuzot HNcfpc and doorposts projecting doorposts of doorposts of
H4201-05 1 Kings 6:33 מְזוּז֣וֹת mezuzot HNcfpc doorposts projecting doorposts of projecting doorposts of
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