מזוזה

Hebrew

Etymology

Root
ז־ו־ז (z-w-z)

Perhaps from the root ז־ז \ ז־ו־ז (z-z / z-w-z), forming words relating to moving, compare with זָז (zaz, “to move”). Related to Akkadian 𒍇 (manzazu [URU×MIN], “standing”). The “mezuzah” sense is an ancient but post-Biblical extension of the “doorpost” sense, referring to Deuteronomy 6:9.

Noun

מְזוּזָה • (m'zuzá) f (plural indefinite מְזוּזוֹת, singular construct מְזוּזַת־, plural construct מְזוּזוֹת־)

1. A doorpost, a doorjamb: either of the upright posts on either side of a door, which together support a lintel.
   • Exodus 12:7:

     וְלָקְחוּ מִן־הַדָּם וְנָתְנוּ עַל־שְׁתֵּי הַמְּזוּזֹת וְעַל־הַמַּשְׁקוֹף עַל הַבָּתִּים אֲשֶׁר־יֹאכְלוּ אֹתוֹ בָּהֶם׃

     v'lak'khú min-hadám v'nat'nú al-shtéi ham'zuzót v'al-hamashkóf al habatím ashér-yokh'lú otó bahém.

     And they shall take of the blood, and strike [it] on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

   • Deuteronomy 6:6–9:

     וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל־לְבָבֶךָ׃ […] וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל־מְזוּזֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ׃

     v'hayú had'varím ha'éle ashér anokhí m'tsav'khá hayóm al-l'vavékha. […] ukh'tavtám al-m'zuzót beitékha uvish'arékha.

     And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: […] And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

2. (Judaism and occasionally Christianity) mezuzah (a piece of parchment inscribed with specific Hebrew verses from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21) and attached in a case to the doorpost of a house)

References

• “מְזוּזָה” in Abraham Even-Shoshan (אַבְרָהָם אֶבֶן־שׁוֹשָׁן) et al., הַמִּלּוֹן הֶחָדָשׁ (ha-milón he-khadásh, “The New Dictionary”), Kiryat-Sefer Ltd. (קִרְיַת־סֵפֶר בְּע״ם)‎ (1984), →ISBN, volume 2 of 3 (ל to צ), →ISBN, page 654.

Further reading

• מזוזה on the Hebrew Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^he

Ladino

Etymology

From Hebrew מְזוּזָה.

Noun

מזוזה f (Hebrew spelling, Latin spelling mezuzá, plural מזוזות)

1. (Judaism and occasionally Christianity) mezuzah

Yiddish

Etymology

From Hebrew מְזוּזָה.

Noun

מזוזה • (mezuze) f, plural מזוזות (mezuzes)

1. (Judaism and occasionally Christianity) mezuzah