מזוזה

Hebrew edit

Etymology edit

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 edit

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

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.^[1]
- 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.^[1]
A mezuzah: a small scroll containing seven verses from the book of Deuteronomy, which are placed in the upper part of the right-hand doorpost at the entrance to a Jewish home.

References edit

“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.