Original Word: מַזָּלָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mazzalah
Pronunciation: mazz-ah-loth
Phonetic Spelling: (maz-zaw-law')
KJV: planet
NASB: constellations
Word Origin: [apparently from H5140 (נָזַל - flow) in the sense of raining]

1. a constellation, i.e. Zodiacal sign (perhaps as affecting the weather)

planet

Apparently from nazal in the sense of raining; a constellation, i.e. Zodiacal sign (perhaps as affecting the weather) -- planet. Compare mazzarah.

see HEBREW nazal

see HEBREW mazzarah

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
constellations, perhaps signs of the zodiac
NASB Translation
constellations (1).

מַזָּלוֺת noun [feminine] plural constellations, perhaps signs of the zodiac (probably loan-word from Assyrian manzaltu, mazaltu, station, abode (of gods) Dl^{HWB 457; Prol. 142} Jen^{Kosmologie 348}; compare Late Hebrew מַזָּלוֺת, id.; מַזָּל Aramaic מַזָּלָא, star of fortune or fatePhoenician זל נעם[מ] CIS^{95, 8} (Vog; bilingual inscription; Greek ἀγαθῇ τύχῃ); Syriac zodiac PS¹⁰⁹; mansiones lunae, Lexicons, PS²³³²; Arabic (loan-word according to Hoffm^{ZAW iii. 1883, 110}. Suidas μαζουρωθ = ζωδία); — only ׳לַמַּזּ 2 Kings 23:5 as object of worship (+ בֵּעַל, שֶׁמֶשׁ, יָרֵחַ, and כָּלצְֿבָא הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם) ᵐ5 τοῖς μαζουρωθ; probably= מַזַּרוֺת Job 38:32.

מַזְלֵג, [מִזְלָגָה] see זלג. מְזִמָּה see זמם..

מִזְמוֺר see I. זמר.

מְזַמֶּרֶת, מַזְמֵרָה see II. זמר.

מִזְעָר see זער.

I. מזר (? √ of following so Thes⁷⁸¹ compare Ba^{NB §164 c}; otherwise Gei^{Urschrift 52:} Late Hebrew מָזַר and Aramaic be bad (of eggs), Arabic be foul, corrupt).

Meaning and Occurrence

מַזָּלָה (mazzaláh) appears once in the Old Testament, at 2 Kings 23:5, where it is rendered “constellations” in the Berean Standard Bible. The term denotes the organized star‐patterns that made up the ancient sky‐maps and, in the wider Near Eastern milieu, were linked to astrological deities and divination.

Historical Context in 2 Kings 23

The lone occurrence comes amid King Josiah’s sweeping reformation of Judah. After the long reign of Manasseh, the nation had become saturated with pagan influences, including the worship of celestial bodies. Josiah “did away with the idolatrous priests … those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven” (2 Kings 23:5). The verse lists “constellations” between “moon” and “host of heaven,” underscoring that astral worship was a distinct cultic practice alongside general star worship. By purging the priests of the constellations, Josiah reaffirmed the covenant demand that Israel serve the Creator rather than created things.

Biblical Theology of Astral Worship

From the beginning, Scripture condemns the attribution of divine power or guidance to the heavenly bodies. Moses warned, “When you look to the heavens … do not be enticed to bow down and worship the sun or the moon or the stars” (Deuteronomy 4:19). The prophets echo this stance: “Thus says the Lord, ‘Do not learn the way of the nations … for the signs of the heavens … the nations are dismayed’” (Jeremiah 10:2). Therefore, the solitary appearance of מַזָּלָה is consistent with a broader canonical pattern: God’s people must reject astrology and any suggestion that human destiny is governed by celestial forces.

Contrast with Legitimate Celestial Appreciation

While Scripture denounces astral worship, it celebrates the heavens as testimonies to God’s glory (Psalm 19:1) and objects of His sovereign control (Job 38:31-33). The same Lord who calls Orion and “binds the chains of the Pleiades” (Job 38:31) created the constellations that idolatrous cultures deified. The biblical worldview thus distinguishes between appreciating the heavens as God’s handiwork and venerating them as independent powers.

Warnings Against Astrology in Scripture

Isaiah addressed Babylon’s astrologers, challenging them to “save you, those who make predictions month by month—let them stand and save you” (Isaiah 47:13). Their impotence demonstrates that the supposed influence of the constellations is illusory. Any quest for guidance or blessing from star patterns usurps the role of divine revelation and is classified as spiritual adultery (Deuteronomy 17:2-5).

Practical and Ministry Applications

Modern fascination with horoscopes, zodiac symbols, and “luck in the stars” repeats the error confronted in 2 Kings 23:5. Pastoral teaching can employ Josiah’s example to call believers to exclusive trust in the Lord’s providence, relying on Scripture and prayer rather than celestial omens. Discipleship must stress that identity and destiny are secured in Christ, not written in the stars (Ephesians 1:3-10).

Related Terms and Differentiations

Job 38:32 mentions מַזָּרוֹת (mazzaroth, Strong’s 4216), often translated “constellations” or “zodiac signs.” Though cognate, מַזָּלָה is distinct in form and function; its lone biblical use is explicitly tied to cultic practice, whereas מַזָּרוֹת appears in God’s rhetorical questions to highlight His sovereignty. Both terms, however, converge in pointing away from celestial determinism and toward the Creator’s rule.

Summary

מַזָּלָה encapsulates the ancient temptation to seek destiny in the stars. Its single appearance at the climax of Josiah’s reform testifies that true worship requires removing every rival allegiance, including the allure of the constellations. The biblical witness unites to affirm that the heavens declare God’s glory, not humanity’s fate, and that only the Lord of heaven and earth is worthy of trust and adoration.

וְלַמַּזָּל֔וֹת ולמזלות velammazzaLot wə·lam·maz·zā·lō·wṯ wəlammazzālōwṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts