Why מַזָּל טוֹב is about the stars

מַזָּל

ma-ZAL, luck. The stress is at the end, so it’s ma-ZAL, not MA-zel.

In the Book of Kings, מַזָּלוֹת (mazalot) are the constellations.¹ In the ancient world, people believed the stars you’re born under shape what happens to you. So “your star” slowly became “your fate”, and then simply your luck.² When Israelis say מַזָּל טוֹב, they’re really wishing you a good star.

Five ways Israelis use it today:

• Your star signנוֹלַדְתִּי בְּמַזַּל אַרְיֵה.I was born a Leo.noladeti be-mazal arye
• Luckily for meלְמַזָּלִי, הָרַכֶּבֶת הִגִּיעָה בַּזְּמַן.Luckily, the train came on time. (In Israel, that really is luck.)le-mazali, ha-rakevet higi’a ba-zman
• Good thing that…מַזָּל שֶׁלֹּא בָּאת לַמְּסִבָּה.Good thing you didn’t come to the party. (To a woman; to a man: בָּאתָ)mazal she-lo bat la-mesiba (to a man: bata)
• A lucky personאַתָּה בַּר מַזָּל! / אַתְּ בַּת מַזָּל!You’re so lucky! (man / woman)ata bar mazal! / at bat mazal!
• And of courseמַזָּל טוֹב!Congratulations!mazal tov!

1. Melachim Bet (2 Kings) 23:5, where King Josiah removes the priests who burned incense “to the sun, the moon and the mazalot”. Read it on Sefaria
2. The shift from constellation to fate to luck: the Rav-Milim dictionary entry for מַזָּל (lucky chance; fate; star sign), and Wikipedia, “Mazel tov”.