רֵחֶה
a mill-stone
Definition
רֵחֶה refers to a millstone, specifically the upper, movable stone used in a hand mill for grinding grain into flour. In the Old Testament, it consistently denotes this essential household tool, never a large industrial mill. The word appears in contexts emphasizing daily sustenance, as in Numbers 11:8 where manna is ground on millstones, and in legal protections, as in Deuteronomy 24:6 which forbids taking a millstone as a pledge since it is a person's 'life' or means of survival. Its use in prophetic judgment, such as Jeremiah 25:10, symbolizes the cessation of daily life and joy.
Biblical Usage
This noun is used five times, primarily in legal and prophetic contexts. It appears in the Law (Exodus 11:5, Deuteronomy 24:6) to describe a fundamental household item and establish legal protections for the poor. In narrative (Numbers 11:8), it describes the processing of manna. In prophecy (Isaiah 47:2, Jeremiah 25:10), the cessation of millstone grinding is a powerful image of judgment, loss of autonomy, and the end of normal daily life, particularly for women who typically performed this task.
Etymology
Derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to pulverize' or 'to grind.' It is related to the verb לָטוּחַ (lāṭûaḥ, H2912) meaning 'to spread out' or 'to overlay,' possibly connecting to the grinding action. The word specifically denotes the upper, rotary stone, distinguishing it from the lower, stationary millstone.
Semantic Range
The millstone holds theological significance as a symbol of daily provision and human dignity. Deuteronomy 24:6 elevates it from a mere tool to a protected necessity for survival, reflecting God's concern for economic justice and the means of livelihood. In prophetic literature, the silencing of the millstone (Jeremiah 25:10) is a stark image of divine judgment stripping away the rhythms of ordinary life and community, underscoring how covenant blessings are tangible and daily.
In ancient Israel, grinding grain with a hand mill (typically two stones: a lower רֵחֶה and an upper one) was a daily, labor-intensive task, primarily performed by women (as implied in Exodus 11:5 and Isaiah 47:2). It was a fundamental household activity, and taking a millstone as collateral for a debt was forbidden because it was equivalent to taking 'a life in pledge' (Deuteronomy 24:6), depriving a family of their daily bread. The sound of grinding was a universal sign of an active, functioning community.
פֶּלַח (pelaḥ, H6407) — A 'slice' or 'millstone,' sometimes used for a larger, heavier millstone fragment. רֵחַיִם (rêḥayim, H7347 variant) — The dual form, referring to the pair of millstones together as a complete grinding implement.
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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