מַזָּלָה
a constellation, i.e. Zodiacal sign (perhaps as affecting the weather)
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַזָּלָה (mazzâlâh) refers to a constellation or zodiacal sign, likely understood as a grouping of stars perceived to influence earthly affairs. Its single biblical occurrence in 2 Kings 23:5 lists it among objects of idolatrous worship that King Josiah abolished. The term probably denotes specific astral deities or the celestial bodies themselves, which were venerated in ancient Near Eastern pagan cults. The gloss 'planet' in the KJV reflects an older understanding, but the word more accurately signifies a constellation, possibly connected to weather patterns or perceived divine influence from the heavens.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings 23:5. It appears in a list of idolatrous items and practices that King Josiah eliminated during his religious reforms in Judah. The context is exclusively cultic and polemical, associating מַזָּלָה with pagan astral worship that had infiltrated Judahite religion. It is grouped with other objects made for Baal, Asherah, and 'all the host of heaven,' highlighting its role in forbidden celestial veneration.
Etymology
The noun מַזָּלָה is apparently derived from the root נָזַל (nāzal, H5140), meaning 'to flow, pour, or trickle,' often used for flowing water or rain. This connection suggests an original sense related to something that pours forth or influences, perhaps linking constellations to seasonal rains or astral meteorology. It is compared to the related word מַזָּרָה (mazzārâh, H4216), which also refers to a constellation, indicating a shared semantic field of celestial divisions.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights the biblical confrontation with ancient astral religion. Its sole appearance underscores the strict biblical prohibition against worshipping created celestial bodies (Deuteronomy 4:19, 17:3) and Yahweh's supremacy over all heavenly hosts. Understanding this term enriches reading of 2 Kings 23 by revealing the specific nature of Judah's syncretism—importing zodiacal worship—and the comprehensiveness of Josiah's reformation to restore exclusive devotion to the God of Israel.
In the ancient Near Eastern cultural context, constellations and planets were widely venerated as deities or as manifestations of divine power that governed fate and natural cycles. Nations surrounding Israel, like Babylon, had elaborate astral cults. The biblical mention of מַזָּלָה reflects this pervasive cultural practice, which Israel was commanded to reject. The modern understanding of constellations as scientific astronomical patterns differs radically from this ancient view of them as active, divine agents.
מַזָּרָה (mazzārâh, H4216) — Another term for constellation, used in parallel poetic contexts. כּוֹכָב (kôkāb, H3556) — A general term for star or celestial body, sometimes used for planets. צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם (ṣᵉḇā’ haššāmayim) — The phrase 'host of heaven,' a broader term for celestial bodies worshipped as deities.
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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