מזוזה

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.

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

1. 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]

2. 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.

• “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.

From Hebrew מְזוּזָה.

מזוזה f (Hebrew spelling, Latin spelling mezuzá, plural מזוזות)

1. mezuzah

From Hebrew מְזוּזָה.

מזוזה • (mezuze) f, plural מזוזות (mezuzes)

1. mezuzah