Mezuzah* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

A Hebrew word, used about 20 times in the OT, that means the upright framework of a door or gate. The blood of the Passover lamb was smeared on the “mezuzah” of the house (Ex 12:7, 22-23 OET EXO 12:7 · OET EXO 12:22–23).

Show passage in OET: EXO 12:7; EXO 12:22–23

OET-RV EXO 12:7

7 Then they must take some of the blood and put it on both doorposts and on the lintel of the houses that they’ll be in when they eat it.

OET-RV EXO 12:22

22 Then you all must take a bunch of leafy hyssop stalks, and dip it in the basin with the blood from the sacrifice and paint the blood onto the lintel and both doorposts. After that, absolutely no one should go out the door of your houses until morning.

OET-RV EXO 12:23

23 Then Yahweh will pass through out Mitsrayim (Egypt) to strike the Mitsrim (Egyptians) and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, he’ll ‘pass over’ that doorway and won’t permit ‘the destroyer’ to enter into your houses to strike.

OET-LV EXO 12:7

7 And_they _will _take some _of the_blood and_they _will _put_it on the _two _of the_doorposts and_on the_lintels on the_houses which they _will _eat DOM_him/it in_them.

OET-LV EXO 12:22

22 And_you(pl)_will _take a _bunch _of hyssop and_you(pl)_will _dip_it in_blood which is_in_basin and_you(pl)_will _make _touch (to) the_lintels and_near/to the _two _of the_doorposts some _of the_blood which is_in_basin and_you(pl) not you(pl)_will _go _out anyone from_the _door _of his _house _of_his until morning.

OET-LV EXO 12:23

23 And_ YHWH _he _will _pass _through to_strike DOM Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_he _will _see DOM the_blood on the_lintels and_on the _two _of the_doorposts and_ YHWH _he _will _pass _over over the_doorway and_not he _will _permit the_destroyer to_come into houses _of_your(pl) to_strike_you.

Jump to OET EXO 12:7 section. · OET EXO 12:22–23 section.

In Deuteronomy 6:9 and 11:20, the Hebrews were instructed to write the commandments on the doors of the houses and on the city gates. This practice is still followed by the Jewish community. Every Jewish home has a small metal or wooden container mounted about shoulder-height on the doorpost of the house. This container, which itself became known as a mezuzah, has inside a small piece of parchment inscribed on one side with the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21, and on the other side with the word Shaddai, the Hebrew name for God Almighty. On the outside the mezuzah has embossed the Hebrew letter shin, the first letter of the name Shaddai. Every time a pious Jew enters or leaves the house, he or she will touch the mezuzah and then kiss the fingers as he repeats to himself the words of Psalm 121:8: “The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever” (NLT).

Show passage in OET: DEU 6:9

OET-RV DEU 6:9

9 Carve them onto your doorposts at home, and on your city gates.

OET-LV DEU 6:9

9 And_you_will _write _them on the _doorposts _of your _house _of_your and_on_gates _of_your.

Show passage in OET: DEU 11:20

OET-RV DEU 11:20

20 Carve them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates,

OET-LV DEU 11:20

20 And_you_will _write _them on the _doorposts _of your _house _of_your and_on_gates _of_your.

Show passage in OET: DEU 6:4–9

OET-RV DEU 6:4

4 Listen Yisrael: Yahweh alone is our god

OET-RV DEU 6:5

5 and you should love your god Yahweh with your whole mind, your entire being, and all your strength.

OET-RV DEU 6:6

6 Always be considering these instructions that I’m giving you today,

OET-RV DEU 6:7

7 and diligently teach them to your children, and talk about them when you’re sitting at home and when you’re out walking, when you lie down and when you get up.

OET-RV DEU 6:8

8 Your hands should always be applying them and your minds should always be evaluating them.

OET-RV DEU 6:9

9 Carve them onto your doorposts at home, and on your city gates.

OET-LV DEU 6:4

4 Wwww Oh _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) YHWH god _of_our YHWH wwww.

OET-LV DEU 6:5

5 And_you _will _love DOM YHWH god _of_your in_all heart _of_your and_on/over_all being _of_your and_on/over_all strength _of_your.

OET-LV DEU 6:6

6 And_they _will _be the_words/messages the_these which I am_commanding _of_you the_day on heart _of_your.

OET-LV DEU 6:7

7 And_you_will _repeat _them to_children _of_your and_you _will _speak in_them when_sit_you in_house _of_your and_when_walk_you on_road and_when_you_lie _down and_when_you_rise _up.

OET-LV DEU 6:8

8 And_you_will _tie _them for_a _sign on hand _of_your and_they _will _be for_marks between eyes _of_your.

OET-LV DEU 6:9

9 And_you_will _write _them on the _doorposts _of your _house _of_your and_on_gates _of_your.

Show passage in OET: DEU 11:13–21

OET-RV DEU 11:13

13 If you all listen to the instructions that I’m giving you today, loving your god Yahweh and serving him with sincerity and with energy,

OET-RV DEU 11:14

14 then he says that he’ll give the land the seasonal early and late rains so that you’ll be able to produce grain, and new wine, and olive oil.

OET-RV DEU 11:15

15 He’ll provide grass in the countryside for your livestock, and you’ll eat and be satisfied.

OET-RV DEU 11:16

16 Guard yourselves to make sure that you’re not deceived and end up turning around to serve other ‘gods’ and bow down to them,

OET-RV DEU 11:17

17 because then Yahweh would become angry at you and close the skies so that there’d be no rain, and the land would stop producing, and you’d all soon die from off the good land that he’s about to give you.

OET-RV DEU 11:18

18 Memorise these words of mine and constantly think about them. Your hands should always be applying them and your minds should always be evaluating them.

OET-RV DEU 11:19