טָחַן
to grind meal; hence, to be aconcubine (that being their employment)
Definition
The Hebrew verb טָחַן (ṭâchan) primarily means 'to grind,' specifically referring to the process of grinding grain into meal or flour using a hand mill. This literal sense is seen in passages like Exodus 32:20, where Moses grinds the golden calf into powder. A secondary, metaphorical meaning arises from the cultural role of grinding as a menial task; it can signify degradation, servitude, or being reduced to a state of powerlessness, as when Samson is forced to grind in prison (Judges 16:21). In some contexts, such as Isaiah 47:2, the imagery of grinding is used poetically to depict the humiliation of a conquered people.
Biblical Usage
טָחַן is used eight times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative, legal, prophetic, and wisdom literature. Its literal usage describes food preparation, as in Numbers 11:8 where manna is ground to make cakes. The metaphorical usage emphasizes subjugation and loss of status. For example, Job 31:10 uses grinding as a metaphor for servitude in a curse, and Ecclesiastes 12:3 employs it in the allegory of old age, where 'the grinders cease' symbolizes failing strength. The word appears in contexts of judgment (Isaiah 3:15) and conquest (Isaiah 47:2).
Etymology
טָחַן is a primitive root in Hebrew. It is related to the noun טַחֲנָה (ṭaḥănâ, H7347), meaning 'a hand mill' or 'millstone.' Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic (ṭaḥana) and Aramaic, with the core meaning of 'to grind' or 'pulverize.' The development from the concrete action to a metaphor for servitude is based on the cultural association of grinding grain as a low-status, labor-intensive task typically performed by women, prisoners, or slaves.
Semantic Range
This word enriches the biblical portrayal of judgment, humiliation, and the reversal of fortunes. The act of grinding, when applied to people (like Samson or Babylon in Isaiah 47:2), illustrates God's justice in humbling the proud and powerful. In Ecclesiastes 12:3, it contributes to the poignant reflection on human mortality and the decay that comes with age. Understanding this Hebrew term deepens appreciation for how physical labor is used to convey spiritual truths about consequence, servitude, and the fragility of human life before God.
In ancient Israel, grinding grain was a daily, essential, and arduous task performed primarily by women using two millstones—a stationary lower stone and a mobile upper stone. It was so fundamental that taking a person's millstone as a pledge was forbidden (Deuteronomy 24:6). Being forced to grind, especially for a man like Samson, represented ultimate defeat and enslavement, as it was a task beneath a warrior's status. The association of grinding with female servants or concubines (as noted in some lexicons) stems from this being one of their typical domestic duties.
כָּתַשׁ (kāṯaš, H3807) — to pound or beat in a mortar, often for spices; a more forceful crushing. שָׁחַק (šāḥaq, H7833) — to pulverize, grind to dust; often used for reducing something to fine particles.
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.
Full methodology & sources →