מָזוֹן (ma.zon)
ma.zon
food
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mazon refers to food or sustenance, describing the physical nourishment necessary for life. It appears in only two verses in the Hebrew Bible, specifically within Genesis and II Chronicles, grounding its meaning in concrete reality rather than abstract concept.
In these contexts, the word highlights God’s provision of daily bread. Rather than focusing on luxury or abundance, mazon emphasizes the essential nature of what sustains human existence. This usage aligns with the Aramaic equivalent found in other biblical texts, maintaining a consistent focus on basic dietary needs across languages.
Translators typically render mazon simply as "food" or "provisions," reflecting its straightforward semantic range. The term serves as a reminder of dependence on divine care for survival, appearing in narratives where sustenance is critical to the story’s progression.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mazon appears sparingly in Scripture, yet it carries a profound weight regarding our daily needs. In Genesis 45:23, Jacob receives this provision from Joseph, illustrating how God often uses human relationships to sustain life. It reminds us that the food on our tables is not merely a result of economic systems, but part of a larger narrative of care and restoration.
When we consider II Chronicles 11:23, we see a different side of this provision. Here, abundance is used for political strategy rather than spiritual dependence. This contrast invites us to examine our own hearts. Do we view our sustenance as a gift from God, or do we hoard it for our own security? The simplicity of the word points back to a simple truth: we are dependent on Him for every breath and every meal.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ food1×
- <the>/ food1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/מָז֛וֹן1×
- הַ/מָּז֖וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 45:23
He sent the following to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.
This verse shows mazon as essential sustenance sent by Joseph to save his father's life, highlighting God's provision through family reconciliation.
-
II Chronicles 11:23
He dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city. He gave them food in abundance; and he sought many wives for them.
Here the term describes abundant food given by King Rehoboam to his sons, illustrating how physical resources can be managed for earthly power rather than divine trust.