מֹאזֵנְיָא (mo.zen)
mo.zen
scale
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun mozenya refers to a scale or balance, serving as the emphatic form of the Hebrew word mozen (H3976). In biblical usage, it denotes the physical instrument used for weighing goods, a common tool in ancient commerce that required careful attention to accuracy and fairness.
This term appears only once in the entire Bible, in Daniel 5:27. There, it is part of the famous inscription "Tekel," which means "you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting." The image evokes a moment of divine judgment where a person’s character or actions are measured against a standard, revealing their true value.
Its single occurrence gives the word significant theological weight. By using this familiar commercial object, the text transforms a routine marketplace tool into a symbol of moral assessment. The scale does not just measure weight; it measures worth, suggesting that human lives can be evaluated with precision and finality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Aramaic word mozenya appears only once in Scripture, within the mysterious inscription on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast. It translates to "scale" or "balance," a tool familiar to anyone who has bought and sold goods. In Daniel 5:27, it is part of the phrase Tekel, meaning you are weighed in the balances.
This image turns a common market instrument into a powerful symbol of divine judgment. It suggests that our lives are not random but can be measured against a perfect standard. The scale does not merely check weight; it reveals true worth. We do not need to fear this measurement, for God’s standards are rooted in love and truth.
When we feel uncertain about our value, remember that God sees us clearly. He knows our strengths and our struggles. This word reminds us that our lives matter deeply to Him. We can rest in the knowledge that He weighs us with fairness and grace, offering hope even when we feel found wanting.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ scales/ the1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְ/מֹֽאזַנְיָ֖/א1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 5:27
TEKEL: you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.
This is the sole occurrence of mozenya, where it forms part of the judgment phrase Tekel, indicating that Belshazzar's reign was measured and found insufficient against God's standard.