כָּתַשׁ
to butt or pound
Definition
The Hebrew verb כָּתַשׁ (kâthash) means to crush, pound, or pulverize something through forceful action. It specifically conveys the idea of grinding or braying a substance in a mortar, as seen in its single biblical occurrence in Proverbs 27:22, which describes the futility of trying to separate folly from a fool even by pounding him like grain. While the core meaning is physical pulverization, the context in Proverbs applies it metaphorically to a person's ingrained character. No other distinct senses are attested in the biblical corpus.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in Proverbs 27:22. It appears in a wisdom context, employing a vivid agricultural metaphor to make a point about human nature. The usage is metaphorical rather than literal, comparing the stubbornness of a fool to grain that cannot be separated from its chaff even by intense pounding in a mortar.
Etymology
כָּתַשׁ is a primitive root in Hebrew. It is related to the Arabic word 'katasa' meaning 'to crush' or 'pound,' suggesting a common Semitic origin for this concept of forceful grinding. The root itself inherently carries the sense of applying pressure to break something down into smaller parts.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word contributes significantly to the biblical theology of human nature and folly. It illustrates the profound, ingrained nature of foolishness, suggesting it is an intrinsic part of a person's character that cannot be removed by external force or punishment alone. This enriches the reading of Proverbs by emphasizing the need for inner transformation, which is a work of God (e.g., Ezekiel 36:26), rather than mere behavioral correction.
The imagery derives from the common ancient Near Eastern practice of using a mortar and pestle to pound grain, herbs, or spices to separate edible parts from husks or to create flour or paste. Understanding this daily domestic or agricultural task makes the proverb's metaphor immediately tangible: just as pounding grain is a vigorous, thorough process, so is the depicted (yet futile) effort to purge folly from a fool.
דָּכָא (dākā', H1792) — to crush or break in pieces; often used for more violent or complete crushing, sometimes in a judicial or metaphorical sense (e.g., Psalm 90:3). רָעַץ (rāʿaṣ, H7533) — to dash to pieces or shatter; implies a sudden, destructive breaking (e.g., Psalm 2:9). טָחַן (ṭāḥan, H2912) — to grind, specifically grain into flour; a more routine milling process (e.g., Exodus 11:5).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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