Wikipedia's first sentence called it “mentioned only once in scripture”. Today it says “biblical hebrew word found in the book of job”. The one-line description Wikipedia serves to search engines and AI systems read “Biblical term for the Zodiac File:Mosaic Zodiac from Synagogue in Beit Alpha, Israel, 6th Century (31858682362).jpg Helios-zodiac cycle, 6th-century mosaic in the Beth Alpha Synagogue, Israel”. It now reads “Biblical term for the Zodiac Helios-zodiac cycle, 6th-century mosaic in the Beth Alpha Synagogue, Israel”.
Measured, not asserted. Every count, date and revision on this page was taken from Wikipedia's own history and checked against the live article. The words quoted are theirs.
Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
We saved snapshots of this article over twenty years; you are reading the 2005 one. Red dashes: removed from Wikipedia since.Pale dots: rewritten; the numbered note shows what it says now.Red text: written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot.1 tap a number or a side note to jump between them
The opening as it read in 2005
Mazzaroth is mentioned only once in scripture, in the book of Job xxxviii-32 It raises several issues: 1. What it actually refers to, and 2. The revelation that its context was a subject well known to Job There are many more, but these two will serve as an introduction to the topic. The meaning of the word Mazzaroth has been in contention for some hundreds of years as the scarce but adequate literature confirms. Traditional sources generally interpret the word as meaning the constellations, where others agree it specifically refers to the zodiac and or the planet Venus. There is a convincing argument that this reference is to some thing astrological the purpose of which was a prophetic guide to the coming messiah. The knowledge of this was known to many in the ancient world, being aurally perpetuated to succeeding generations from Seth and eventually to Job and his contemporises. With the increasing ability and desire to record these aural records into a written form, some of this knowledge has been lost; over the millennia there reference has become vague and subtle... Mazzaroth being an excellent example. However for those with an enquiring desire for the esoteric, much will be revealed and the truth will not be lost, but remain for the following generations as the Author intended The names of the constellations, the figure and signs of the ancient zodiac were given by God from the beginning of creation. But as often happens, have been perverted eroded with time... and "high-jacked" for other uses, with many false claims made to their origin.1
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 17392497.
The opening as it stood in 2010 11 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
The word Mazzaroth may refer to the constellations of the zodiac , which line the ecliptic (red).Mazzaroth is a Greek form (μαζουρωθ) of the Hebrew plural word Mazarot (מַזָּרֹות), which occurs once in the Hebrew Bible , in Job 38:31–32 , with a very similar word also occurring in 2 Kings 23:3–5 .The meaning of the word has been described as "unsettled" and "uncertain," although some scholars, such as Franz Delitzsch , believe the word refers to the zodiac , the pattern of stars found on the ecliptic .Some English translations of the Bible render the Hebrew "Mazzaroth" (מַּזָּלֹות) as "zodiac" (AMP, CJB, EMP, LEE versions); "stars" (CEV, NCB, NIR, NLV, TEV); "stars in the southern signs" (WES); "morning star" (CVB, TRC); "day star" (DRA); "Venus" (MSG); "Crown season" (NJB); "sequence of seasons" (NLT); "Lucifer, 'that is, dai sterre (day star)" (WYC); "constellations" (CJB, CSB, DBY, NET, ERV, GWN, LEE, LIT, MKJ, NAS, NAU, NIB, NIV, TNV, WEV); but overwhelmingly the Hebrew has been transliterated into English as "Mazzaroth/Mazzarot/Mazuroth" (ABC, ACV, AKJ, ASV, BBE, BIB, ESV, GNV, HBR, HNV, JPS, K21, KJG, KJR, KJV, NAB, NKJ, NRS, NWT, RSV, RWB, TMB, TNK, UPD, WEB, YLT, LXE, ZIK).The GRT transliterates to "mazourôth" and old Greek (LXX, BGT) to μαζουρωθ.Latin Vulgate (VUL/VUO) renders the word to "luciferum" Luther's 1545 German Bible reads "Morgenstern" Jewish Encyclopedia: Constellations , accessed 2010-02-13.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 367839834.
The opening as it stood in 2015 6 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
6th-century depiction of the zodiac, mosaic in Beit Alpha , Israel .Mazzaroth ( Mazarot מַזָּרוֹת, LXX μαζουρωθ) is a hapax legomenon (i.e., a word appearing only once in a text) of the Hebrew Bible , found in Job 38:31–32 .The similar word mazalot (מַּזָּלוֹת) in 2 Kings 23:3–5 may be related.The word's precise meaning is uncertain but its context is that of astronomical constellations , and it is often interpreted as a term for the zodiac or the constellations thereof.In Yiddish , the term mazalot came to be used in the sense of "astrology" in general, surviving in the expression " mazel tov ," meaning "good luck." Jewish Encyclopedia: Constellations , accessed 2010-02-13.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 611582964.
The opening as it stood in 2020
6th-century depiction of the zodiac, mosaic in Beit Alpha , Israel . Mazzaroth ( Hebrew Transliteration : מַזָּרוֹת Mazzārōṯ , LXX Μαζουρωθ, Mazourōth ) is a Biblical Hebrew Word found in the Book of Job and literally meaning a Garland of Crowns , but its context is that of Astronomical Constellations , and it is often interpreted as a term for the Zodiac or the Constellations thereof. The similar Word Mazalot (מַּזָּלוֹת) in 2 Kings 23:3–5 may be related. The word itself is a hapax legomenon (i.e., a word appearing only once in a text) of the Hebrew Bible . In Yiddish , the term mazalot came to be used in the sense of "astrology" in general, surviving in the expression " mazel tov ," meaning "good luck." Jewish Encyclopedia: Constellations , accessed 2010-02-13.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 931308785.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023
Biblical term for the Zodiac 6th-century depiction of the zodiac, mosaic in Beit Alfa , Israel .Mazzaroth ( Hebrew : מַזָּרוֹת Mazzārōṯ , LXX Μαζουρωθ, Mazourōth ) is a Biblical Hebrew term found in the Book of Job (38:32) and literally meaning "constellations," according to 10th-century biblical exegete Saadia Gaon , while others interpret the word as Garland of Crowns , but its context is that of Astronomical Constellations , and it is often interpreted as a term for the Zodiac or the Constellations thereof.The similar word mazzaloth (מַּזָּלוֹת mazzālōṯ ) in 2 Kings 23:3–5 may be related. The word itself is a hapax legomenon (i.e., a word appearing only once in a text) of the Hebrew Bible . In Yiddish , the term mazalot came to be used in the sense of "astrology" in general, surviving in the expression " mazel tov ," meaning "good fortune." Saadia (1973). Job, with a Translation and Commentary of Rabbi Saadia ben Yosef Fayyumi (in Hebrew).
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1171664141.
The opening as it stood in 2025 2 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Its context is that of astronomical constellations , and some judge it to mean a specific constellation, while it is often interpreted as a term for the zodiac or the constellations thereof.The similar word mazalot (מַּזָּלוֹת) in 2 Kings 23:3–5 may be related.According to 10th-century biblical exegete Saadia Gaon , it literally means "constellations," while others interpret the word as naming various concrete astronomic bodies - Saturn , the seven planets , the Hyades , the Northern and Southern Crowns , the Southern Ship ( Argo Navis ?) or Sirius . The word itself is a hapax legomenon (i.e., a word appearing only once in a text) of the Hebrew Bible . Job, with a Translation and Commentary of Rabbi Saadia ben Yosef Fayyumi (in Hebrew).
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1286778577. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “mentioned only once in scripture”. Today it says “biblical hebrew word found in the book of job”. The one-line description Wikipedia serves to search engines and AI systems read “Biblical term for the Zodiac File:Mosaic Zodiac from Synagogue in Beit Alpha, Israel, 6th Century (31858682362).jpg Helios-zodiac cycle, 6th-century mosaic in the Beth Alpha Synagogue, Israel”. It now reads “Biblical term for the Zodiac Helios-zodiac cycle, 6th-century mosaic in the Beth Alpha Synagogue, Israel”. Read the current article and compare.
2005
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What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2005, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
mentioned only once in scripture
Now
biblical hebrew word found in the book of job
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
