Lexical Summary mozanya: Scales, Balances Original Word: מֹאזֵן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance balances (Aramaic) corresponding to mo'zen -- balances. see HEBREW mo'zen NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to mozen Definition a scale, balance NASB Translation scales (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מאֹזַנְיָא (Baer Gi Str) noun masculine emphatic scale, balance (compare also Mandean מוזאניא NöM 148, Egyptian Aramaic מוזנא S-CG 24, Christian-Palestinian Aramaic  SchulthLex. 5 NöBSW 56 JacobZAW xxil (1902), 90); — Daniel 5:27 (van d. H. dual emphatic מאֹזְנַיָּא, see K§ 51, 1, Anm. M33*). Topical Lexicon Root and Semantic Domainמֹאזֵן conveys the image of a balance-beam or scale used for weighing. From the earliest strata of Israel’s history, the balance became a visual shorthand for equity, accuracy, and moral assessment. Though מֹאזֵן appears only once, Scripture repeatedly employs the wider family of “scales” imagery to express divine justice and human integrity. Context in Daniel Daniel 5:27: “TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.” Belshazzar’s revelry is abruptly interrupted by the hand that writes on the palace wall. מֹאזֵן anchors the verdict. Babylon—the empire famed for its legal codes—has itself been placed on God’s impartial scale. The event declares that every kingdom, no matter how majestic, must submit to the Judge who possesses the true standard (Psalm 75:7; Jeremiah 51:13-14). Theology of Divine Weighing 1 Samuel 2:3 reminds, “For the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.” God’s omniscient evaluation reaches motives (Proverbs 16:2; 21:2) and not merely outward performance. Job longs for vindication: “let God weigh me with honest scales” (Job 31:6). Isaiah marvels that the Creator “weighs the mountains in a balance” (Isaiah 40:12), illustrating that the One who calibrates creation itself can surely appraise human hearts. Daniel 5 therefore stands as a paradigm: divine weighing precedes decisive intervention. Mene numbered the days, Tekel weighed the deeds, and Peres divided the kingdom. The sequence underscores that God’s judgment is never impulsive; it is measured, calculated, and righteous. Ethical Implications Because God weighs with perfect accuracy, His people must emulate that standard in daily dealings. Economic integrity becomes a tangible reflection of theological conviction. The ancient Israelite who tampered with weights sinned not merely against a neighbor but against the very character of the God who wields the ultimate מֹאזֵן. Historical Background Archaeology uncovers stone weights inscribed with hieratic marks across Canaan and Mesopotamia. Merchants displayed balances prominently; kings asserted justice by engraving scales on seals and reliefs. When Daniel announced that Babylon had failed the heavenly measure, hearers immediately grasped the severity—an indictment against the empire’s vaunted fairness. Christological Fulfillment At Calvary, the perfect life of Jesus Messiah satisfied the divine scale. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). The cross reveals that humanity’s deficiency (Romans 3:23) is remedied only by the righteousness of Christ, imputed to believers so that on judgment day they stand “complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10). Ministry Applications • Preaching: Daniel 5 invites proclamation that every individual and nation will be weighed. The urgency of repentance and faith gains vividness through the image of the scale. Prophetic Echo Revelation 6:5 portrays a rider holding scales during the third seal, signaling scarcity and economic instability. The motif threads from Daniel’s courtroom through apocalyptic vision, affirming that the God who once weighed Babylon still assesses global systems and will culminate history in perfect justice. Conclusion מֹאזֵן, though appearing but once, distills a profound biblical theme: the Almighty weighs all things with infallible precision. Daniel’s oracle to Belshazzar summons every generation to humility, authenticity, and trust in the only One who tips the scales of judgment and grace. Forms and Transliterations בְמֹֽאזַנְיָ֖א במאזניא ḇə·mō·zan·yā ḇəmōzanyā vemozanYaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 5:27 HEB: תְּקֵ֑ל תְּקִ֥ילְתָּה בְמֹֽאזַנְיָ֖א וְהִשְׁתְּכַ֥חַתְּ חַסִּֽיר׃ NAS: you have been weighed on the scales and found KJV: Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found INT: TEKEL weighed the scales and found deficient 1 Occurrence |
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