Hebrew

Noun

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.

References

• “מְזוּזָה” in Abraham Even-Shoshan (אַבְרָהָם אֶבֶן־שֹׁשָן) et al., הַמִּלּוֹן הֶחָדָשׁ ‎(ha-milón he-khadásh, “The New Dictionary”), Kiryat-Sefer Ltd. (קִרְיַת־סֵפֶר בְּע״ם)‎ (1984), ISBN 965-17-0084-X, volume 2 of 3 (ל to צ), ISBN 965-17-0096-3, page 654.

1. 1 2 (1611) Authorized King James translation.

Ladino

Etymology

From Hebrew מְזוּזָה

Noun

מזוזה f ‎(Latin spelling mezuzá, plural מזוזות)

1. mezuzah

Yiddish

Etymology

From Hebrew מְזוּזָה

Noun

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

1. mezuzah