מַרְחֶשֶׁת
a stewpan
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַרְחֶשֶׁת (marchesheth) refers to a specific type of cooking vessel used in ancient Israelite religious practice. It is best understood as a 'stewpan' or 'fryingpan'—a shallow pan or pot used for boiling or frying grain offerings. In Leviticus 2:7, it is used for preparing a grain offering mixed with oil, while in Leviticus 7:9, it is specified for offerings cooked in this vessel, which then become the portion for the officiating priest. The word consistently denotes a dedicated cultic utensil within the sacrificial system, not an ordinary household pot.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the context of the Levitical sacrificial laws, appearing only twice in the Old Testament, both times in Leviticus. It specifies the type of pan required for preparing certain grain offerings (minḥah). In Leviticus 2:7, if a grain offering is prepared in a 'marchesheth,' it must be made of fine flour with oil. In Leviticus 7:9, the law states that every grain offering baked in an oven, cooked in a 'marchesheth,' or prepared on a griddle belongs to the priest who offers it. Its usage is strictly technical and ritual.
Etymology
The noun מַרְחֶשֶׁת (marchesheth) is derived from the root רָחַשׁ (rāḥash, H7370), which means 'to boil,' 'to seethe,' or 'to stir.' This root connection clearly points to the vessel's function for boiling or cooking food. The noun form indicates an instrument or tool, hence a 'boiling-pot' or 'stewpan.'
Semantic Range
While a simple utensil, the 'marchesheth' holds theological significance as part of the detailed system of worship prescribed by God in the Mosaic law. Its specific mention underscores the holiness and precision required in approaching God—even the cookware for offerings was regulated. Understanding this term enriches reading by highlighting how every element of the sacrificial ritual, down to the type of pan used, was consecrated for God's service and facilitated the priest's portion, sustaining the Levitical priesthood (Leviticus 7:9).
In its original setting, a 'marchesheth' was likely a common, shallow ceramic or metal pan used for frying or boiling grain-based foods. However, in the biblical texts, it is not a generic household item but a vessel sanctified for use within the tabernacle (and later temple) complex. This ritual use distinguishes it from everyday cookware, marking it as part of the sacred apparatus for preparing offerings to Yahweh.
סִיר (sîr, H5518) — a general term for a pot or kettle, often for boiling, used in both mundane and cultic contexts (e.g., 2 Kings 4:38). פָּרוּר (pārûr, H6517) — a pot or jar, sometimes for cooking (Judges 6:19), but also for other purposes like holding manna (Exodus 16:33).
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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