Word Study for H4207 (מַזְלֵג)

mazlêg /maz-layg'/ Ask about this word

Rootor (feminine) מִזְלָגָה · from an unused root meaning to draw up

Meaninga fork

KJV usagefleshhook.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mazlêg — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word mazlêg, represented by H4207, is a term for a fleshhook or fork. It appears 7 times in 7 unique verses in the Bible. The word comes from an unused root that means "to draw up," which aptly describes the function of this specific utensil.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H4207 is consistently used to describe an instrument for religious service. It is specified as one of the vessels for the altar, to be made of brass for the tabernacle (Exodus 27:3, Exodus 38:3) and later for Solomon's temple 2 Chronicles 4:16. These fleshhooks were listed among the holy vessels to be transported with the altar Numbers 4:14. For the temple, the plans provided by David designated pure gold for the fleshhooks 1 Chronicles 28:17. A specific use is detailed in 1 Samuel, where a priest's servant would use a fleshhook of three teeth to retrieve a portion of the boiling sacrificial meat from a pot as part of the priests' custom in Shiloh 1 Samuel 2:13-14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words, often appearing in the same lists of sacred items, provide context for the use of the fleshhook:

H3257 yâʻ (shovel): This implement is listed alongside the fleshhook as one of the essential utensils for the altar service Exodus 27:3.
H5518 çîyr (pot): This is the type of vessel in which a sacrifice would be boiling, and from which the fleshhook would draw out the priest's portion 1 Samuel 2:14.
H1731 dûwd (kettle): This is another vessel for cooking or boiling offerings, into which the priest's servant would strike the fleshhook to take what it brought up 1 Samuel 2:14.
H3627 kᵉlîy (vessel, instrument): This general term is used to encompass the fleshhooks, shovels, and other items, identifying them collectively as the prepared apparatus for the service of the altar Exodus 38:3.

Theological Significance

The significance of H4207 is tied to its function within Israel's system of worship.

Instrument of Sacrifice: The fleshhook was a necessary tool for handling the holy sacrifices, playing a direct role in the sacred rituals prescribed for the tabernacle and temple Exodus 38:3.
Designated Sanctity: The specific instruction that the fleshhooks be made of brass or even pure gold underscores their dedicated and holy purpose, setting them apart from common implements 1 Chronicles 28:17.
Priestly Provision: Its use illustrates the established custom for the priests' provision, as it was the instrument used to draw out their allotted share from the offerings of the people 1 Samuel 2:14.

Summary

In summary, H4207 refers to the fleshhook, a specialized utensil integral to the sacrificial rites of the tabernacle and temple. Though mentioned infrequently, its inclusion in divine instructions for altar vessels, its construction from sanctified materials like brass and gold, and its functional role in the priestly service highlight the precision and order required in Old Testament worship. It represents a small but significant piece of the sacred equipment used in the sacrificial system.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 7 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מִּזְלָגֹת
מַּזְלֵג
מִזְלְגֹתָי

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 7 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus and 1 Samuel (2 verses each); never once in the other 34.

Exodus

Numbers

1 Samuel

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.