מַזְלֵג
a fork
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַזְלֵג (mazlêg) refers to a fork or fleshhook, a specialized utensil used in ancient Israelite worship. In most biblical contexts, it describes a large, three-pronged fork used by priests to handle sacrificial meat at the altar, particularly to retrieve portions from the boiling pots in the tabernacle and temple (Exodus 27:3, 1 Samuel 2:13-14). It was also listed among the sacred utensils crafted for the tabernacle and later the temple, indicating its importance in ritual practice (Exodus 38:3, 1 Chronicles 28:17). The term consistently denotes a functional tool for manipulating offerings, not an ordinary eating utensil.
Biblical Usage
מַזְלֵג is used exclusively in cultic or temple contexts across the Pentateuch, historical books, and Chronicles. It appears in instructions for making tabernacle equipment (Exodus 27:3, 38:3), in inventories of sacred items (Numbers 4:14, 2 Chronicles 4:16), and in narratives describing priestly duties at Shiloh (1 Samuel 2:13-14). Its usage is uniformly tied to the handling of sacrificial meat, highlighting its role in the system of offerings.
Etymology
Derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to draw up' or 'to lift,' מַזְלֵג aptly describes a tool for drawing meat out of pots or lifting it from the altar. The feminine form מִזְלָגָה (mizlagah) appears in 1 Samuel 2:13-14. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, also refer to forks or hooks, confirming its meaning as a grasping implement.
Semantic Range
This word matters theologically as it illuminates the orderly and prescribed nature of Israelite worship. The מַזְלֵג was a designated tool for handling holy offerings, reflecting God's concern for proper ritual procedure and the sanctity of the sacrificial system. Its misuse by the sons of Eli (1 Samuel 2:13-14) symbolizes priestly corruption and disrespect for God's ordinances, contrasting with the obedience exemplified in its construction for the tabernacle. Understanding this term enriches reading by highlighting how even mundane objects were consecrated for God's service.
In its original setting, the מַזְלֵג was not a common eating utensil but a specialized cultic instrument. Ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Israel, typically used hands, bread, or knives for eating; forks were rare and associated with ritual or cooking. The biblical fleshhook, likely made of bronze, was used for handling large quantities of sacrificial meat in communal worship, differing from modern personal forks. Its design—often with three tines—was practical for securing meat from boiling pots at the altar.
כַּף (kaph, H3709) — a palm, hand, or spoon; used for incense (Exodus 25:29), not for meat. מַחֲרֶשֶׁת (macharesheth, H4282) — a harrow or possibly fork for soil (2 Samuel 12:31), an agricultural tool. מִזְרָק (mizraq, H4219) — a bowl or basin for sprinkling blood, another temple utensil (Exodus 27:3).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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