Mazzaroth

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

 Job 38:32 . Our translators properly suppose this word to denote the twelve signs of the zodiac, a broad circle in the heavens, comprehending all such stars as lie in the path of the sun and moon. As these luminaries appear to proceed throughout this circle annually, so different parts of it progressively receive them every month; and this progression seems to be what is meant by "bringing forth mazzaroth in his season," that is, Canst thou by thy power cause the revolutions of the heavenly bodies in the zodiac, and the seasons of summer and winter, in their regular succession?

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

 Job 38:32, "canst thou bring forth the signs of the zodiac at their respective seasons?" Mazzaloth in  2 Kings 23:5 margin, the 12 lodgings or stopping places (from Arabic Menzil , "an inn"), in which the sun successively stays or appears to stay in the sky. Gesenius supports margin  Job 38:32, "the 12 signs," literally, "premonitions," i.e. "stars that give warnings or presages."

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Probably the twelve signs or constellations of the Zodiac,  Job 38:32; see margin. The Hebrew word mazzaloth occurs in  2 Kings 23:5 , translated 'planets,' but 'twelve signs, or constellations' in the margin.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Mazzaroth ( Măs'Za-R Ŏth ), The Twelve Signs. The margin of the A. V. of  Job 38:32 gives Mazzaroth as the name of the twelve signs of the zodiac.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Mazzaroth. (The Twelve Signs). The margin of the Authorized Version of  Job 38:32 gives Mazzaroth as The Name Of The Twelve Signs Of The Zodiac.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Job 38:22 2 Kings 23:5

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Job 38:32 2 Kings 23:5

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Mazzaroth', מִזָּרוֹת a word found only in the plural, and occurring but once,  Job 38:32, probably by an interchange of liquids foi מִזָּלוֹת "planets,"  2 Kings 23:5), an astronomical term, probably meaning the twelve Signs of the Zodiac (see Hirzel, Delitzsch, and Conant, severally, ad loc.). (See Astronomy). "The Peshito-Syriac renders it by Ioallto, the Wain, or Great Bear; and J. D. Michaelis ( Suppls. D Lex. Heb. No. 1391) is followed by Ewald in applying it to the stars of the northern crown (Ewald adds the southern), deriving the word from ‘ נֵזֶר , Ne-Zer, a crown. Furst ( Handw. s.v.) understands by Mazzaroth the planet Jupiter, the same as the star of  Amos 5:26. But the interpretation given in the margin of our version is supported by the authority of Gesenius ( Thes. p. 869). On referring to  2 Kings 23:5, we find the word מִזָּלוֹת , Mazzacloth (A.V. the planets), differing only from Mazzaroth in having the liquid L for R, and rendered in the margin ‘ the twelve signs,' as in the Vulgate. The Sept. there also has Μαζουρώθ , which points to the same reading in both passages, and is by Suidas explained as the ‘ Zodiac,' but by Procopius of Gaza as probably ‘ Lucifer, the morning star,' following the Vulgate of  Job 38:32. In later Jewish writings Mazzaloth are the signs of the Zodiac, and the singular, Mazzal, is used to denote the single signs as well as the planets, and also the influence which they were believed to exercise upon human destiny (Selden, De Dis Syr. Synt. 1:c. 1). In consequence of this, Jarchi, and the Hebrew commentators generally, identify Mazzaroth and Mazzaloth, though their interpretations vary. Aben Ezra understands ‘ stars' generally; but R. Levi ben-Gershon, ‘ a northern constellation.' Gesenius himself is in favor of regarding mazzaroth as the older form, signifying strictly ‘ premonitions,' and in the concrete sense, ‘ stars that give warnings or presages,' from the usage of the root נָזִר , Nazar, in Arabic. He deciphered, as he believed, the same words on some Cilician coins in the inscription מזרן זן על , which he renders as a prayer, ‘ may thy pure star (shine) over (us)' ( Mon. Phoen. p. 279, tab. 36)."

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

maz´a - roth  : The 12 constellations of the Zodiac. See Astronomy , II, 12.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Mazza´roth [ASTRONOMY]