Mazzaroth 1

Mazzaroth
Mazzaroth is a Greek form (μαζουρωθ) of the
Hebrew plural word Mazarot (‫)תוֹרָּזַמ‬, which occurs
once in the Hebrew Bible, in Job  38:31-32, with a
very similar word also occurring in Kings 2 23:3-5.
The meaning of the word has been described as
"unsettled"[1] and "uncertain,"[2] although some
scholars, such as Franz Delitzsch,[3] believe the word
refers to the zodiac, the pattern of stars found on the
ecliptic.

Some English translations of the Bible render the

Hebrew "Mazzaroth" (‫ )תוֹלָּזַּמ‬as "zodiac" (AMP,
CJB, EMP, LEE versions); "stars" (CEV, NCB, NIR,
NLV, TEV); "stars in the southern signs" (WES); The word Mazzaroth may refer to the constellations of the zodiac,
which line the ecliptic (red).
"morning star" (CVB, TRC); "day star" (DRA);
"Venus" (MSG); "Crown season" (NJB); "sequence
of seasons" (NLT); "Lucifer, 'that is, dai sterre (day star)" (WYC); "constellations" (CJB, CSB, DBY, NET, ERV,
GWN, LEE, LIT, MKJ, NAS, NAU, NIB, NIV, TNV, WEV); but overwhelmingly the Hebrew has been
transliterated into English as "Mazzaroth/Mazzarot/Mazuroth" (ABC, ACV, AKJ, ASV, BBE, BIB, ESV, GNV,
HBR, HNV, JPS, K21, KJG, KJR, KJV, NAB, NKJ, NRS, NWT, RSV, RWB, TMB, TNK, UPD, WEB, YLT, LXE,
ZIK).

The GRT transliterates to "mazourôth" and old Greek (LXX, BGT) to μαζουρωθ.
Latin Vulgate (VUL/VUO) renders the word to "luciferum"
Luther's 1545 German Bible reads "Morgenstern"

Translators' Notes
Geneva: Certain stars so called, some think they were the twelve signs.
KJV/KGB: {Mazzaroth: or, the twelve signs}
NAS/NAU: perh. "a constellation"
NET: The word ‫( ;תוֹלָּזַּמ‬mazzarot) is taken by some to refer to the constellations (see 2 Kings 23:5), and by others as
connected to the word for "crown," and so "corona."
NIB/NIV: {32 Or the morning star in its season}

Biblical Usage
The appearance of the word in the Book of Job appears in the context of various astronomical phenomena:
Canst thou bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth
in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her sons?[4]
The related word mazalot (‫ )תוֹלָּזַּמ‬in 2 Kings may have a different meaning, and is often translated differently, with
the linkage of this word to the planets or the zodiac being more widely held (in Kabbalistic astrology, mazalot was
also used for astrology in general,[5] and the word may be related to the Assyrian manzaltu, "station"[6] ):
And the king stood on the platform, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to
keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart, and all his soul, to confirm
Mazzaroth 2

the words of this covenant that were written in this book; and all the people stood to the covenant. And the
king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to
bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the Asherah, and for
all the host of heaven; and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of
them unto Beth-el. And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to offer in
the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that offered unto
Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.[7]
The Septuagint, however, uses the transliteration mazzaroth (μαζουρωθ) again at this point.[8]
That star signs are taken credit for by the God of the bible is acknowledged in the beginning. Genesis 1:14, And God
said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs
and for seasons,(or appointed times) and for days and years (ESV)[9]

Derived words
From the use of mazalot for astrology in general comes the Yiddish expression "mazel tov," meaning "good
luck."[10]

References
[1] Jewish Encyclopedia: Constellations (http:/ / www. jewishencyclopedia. com/ view. jsp?artid=749& letter=C), accessed 2010-02-13.
[2] Norman C. Habel, The Book of Job: A Commentary, Westminster John Knox Press, 1985, p. 523, ISBN 0664222188.
[3] Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job, Volume 2, T. & T. Clark, 1866, p. 324.
[4] The Hebrew Bible in English according to the JPS 1917 Edition, Job Chapter 38. (http:/ / www. mechon-mamre. org/ e/ et/ et2738. htm)
[5] Tamar Rudavsky, Time Matters: Time, Creation, and Cosmology in Medieval Jewish Philosophy, SUNY Press, 2000, p. 25, ISBN
0791444538.
[6] James Hastings (ed), Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, Part 23, Kessinger Publishing (reprint), 2003, pp. 82–83, ISBN 0766137031.
[7] The Hebrew Bible in English according to the JPS 1917 Edition, 2 Kings Chapter 23. (http:/ / www. mechon-mamre. org/ e/ et/ et09b23. htm)
[8] The Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), Kings IV, Chapter 23. (http:/ / www. ellopos. net/ elpenor/ greek-texts/ septuagint/ chapter.
asp?book=12& page=23)
[9] Genesis 1:14 (English Standard Version) (http:/ / www. biblegateway. com/ passage/ ?search=Genesis 1:14& version=ESV)
[10] Jewish Encyclopedia: Astrology (http:/ / www. jewishencyclopedia. com/ view. jsp?artid=2051& letter=A), accessed 2010-02-13.
Article Sources and Contributors 3

Article Sources and Contributors

Mazzaroth  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=416275833  Contributors: Abiasaph, Apokryltaros, BD2412, Brz7, Chauncey navarro, Dogaroon, Esteffect, Fringedlunatic613,
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