מֹאזֵן (mo.zen)
mo.zen
balance
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun mozen refers to a balance or set of scales, the essential tool for measuring weight in the ancient world. It appears eleven times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the wisdom literature of Proverbs and Job, as well as in the prophetic writings of Isaiah. The word describes the physical instrument itself, consisting of a beam with pans suspended from either end, used to determine the precise value of goods or materials.
Its theological significance lies in its frequent metaphorical use for divine justice. When Proverbs 16:11 declares that "a just weight and balance are the Lord's," it connects the accuracy of commercial scales with God’s moral standards. Similarly, Isaiah 40:12 asks who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, implying that only God possesses the perfect mozen to weigh the mountains and hills. This usage suggests that human fairness is a reflection of divine order.
The term underscores the importance of integrity in both trade and ethics. In Job 31:6, the patriarch calls for God to weigh him in true scales to prove his innocence, showing how the device served as an objective standard against which truth could be verified. Translators consistently render it as "balance" or "scales," preserving the image of impartial judgment that resonates throughout these texts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In ancient markets, the balance was more than a tool; it was a guardian of trust. When Proverbs 11:1 calls dishonest scales an abomination to Yahweh, it reminds us that God cares deeply about how we treat one another in everyday dealings. Integrity is not just a spiritual concept but a practical reality that shapes our relationships and communities.
For your faith life, this word invites you to examine the hidden areas of your character. Just as Job asked to be weighed in an even balance (Job 31:6), you can invite God to search your heart for any deceit or unfairness. This is not about fear, but about the freedom that comes from living honestly before Him and others.
Ultimately, these scales point to a greater truth: only God possesses perfect justice. Isaiah 40:12 describes Him weighing the mountains in balances, showing that His judgment is always accurate and fair. You can rest in the knowledge that while human systems may fail, God’s standards are unchanging and His care for your integrity is complete.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- balances of2×
- with/ scales1×
- with/ balances of1×
- scales of1×
- scales1×
- on/ scales1×
- in/ balances of1×
- in/ [the] balances1×
- and/ scales of1×
- and/ balances of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/מֹאזְנָֽיִם\׃2×
- מֹאזְנַ֖יִם1×
- מֹאזְנֵ֥י1×
- מֹאזְנֵ֣י1×
- מֹ֧אזְנֵי1×
- וּ/מֹאזְנֵ֣י1×
- וּ/מֹאזְנֵ֖י1×
- בְּֽ/מֹאזְנַ֥יִם1×
- בְּ/מֹ֣אזְנֵי1×
- בְ/מֹאזְנֵי\־1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 11:1
A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight.
This verse explicitly links commercial dishonesty with moral corruption, showing that God views fairness in trade as a matter of spiritual obedience.
-
Job 31:6
(let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity);
Job uses the balance as a metaphor for divine examination, asking God to measure his life to prove his personal integrity.
-
Isaiah 40:12
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and marked off the sky with his span, and calculated the dust of the earth in a measuring basket, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
Here the physical scale becomes a metaphor for God’s infinite power, illustrating that He can weigh the entire earth with perfect precision.