מָזוֹן
Definition
The Hebrew word מָזוֹן (mâzôwn) refers to food or nourishment, specifically the sustenance required for life. In its two biblical occurrences, it describes the provisions given to living creatures, particularly in the context of God's provision. In Daniel 4:12, it is the 'food' for the beasts under the great tree of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and in Daniel 4:21, it is the 'sustenance' for all creatures from that same tree. The word carries a sense of divinely appointed or regular provision, not merely casual eating.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel (Daniel 4:12, 21). It appears in the narrative of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great tree, symbolizing his kingdom. In both verses, מָזוֹן describes the tree's role in providing nourishment ('food' in most translations) for all creatures, emphasizing the theme of universal provision and dependence. Its usage is specific to this prophetic, symbolic context.
Etymology
מָזוֹן (H4203) is an Aramaic word borrowed into the biblical text, corresponding directly to the Hebrew word מָזוֹן (H4202). Both share the same root (זון, zwn) relating to supplying or nourishing. The Aramaic form is used in the sections of Daniel written in that language, reflecting the linguistic setting of the Babylonian exile.
Semantic Range
This word highlights the theme of God as the ultimate provider. In Daniel 4, the tree (representing a king's power) is the source of מָזוֹן, but the dream's interpretation shows this provision is granted and governed by God (Daniel 4:25-26). It underscores that all sustenance, even through human or natural means, is under divine sovereignty. Understanding this enriches the reading of the passage by connecting physical provision to spiritual dependence on God.
In the ancient Near East, a king's ability to provide food for his people and even animals was a sign of his power, stability, and divine favor. Nebuchadnezzar's dream uses this culturally understood symbol of a life-giving tree. The term מָזוֹן would convey not just any food, but the regular, sustaining provisions expected from a benevolent ruler or, by extension, a deity.
לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — A more common and general term for 'bread' or 'food,' often referring to a staple meal. מָזוֹן implies sustained nourishment or provision. אֹכֶל (ʾokel, H400) — Another general term for 'food' or 'edible thing,' focusing on the substance itself rather than the act of provision.
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.
Full methodology & sources →