H7347 H7347
handmill, millstones (dual form for the paired grinding stones)
The Hebrew dual form denotes the pair of flat stones used for grinding grain, a ubiquitous household implement in ancient Israel. Exodus 11:5 places it behind the maidservant grinding at the mill. Numbers 11:8 describes the Israelites grinding manna in millstones. Deuteronomy 24:6 forbids taking millstones as pledge because that would seize a family's livelihood. Isaiah 47:2 humiliates fallen Babylon by commanding her to take up the millstones like a slave. Jeremiah 25:10 lists the sound of the mill among the everyday noises that will cease in judgment.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A pair of grinding stones forming a hand-operated mill for processing grain, always in dual form reflecting the two-stone mechanism. Spanish 'molino' and English 'millstones'/'handmill' capture the implement. The word carries strong associations with daily domestic life and women's labor (Exod 11:5; Isa 47:2). Deuteronomy 24:6 treats it as essential to survival, prohibiting its seizure as debt collateral. Jeremiah 25:10 makes its sound a metonym for normal communal life that judgment silences. 5×
AR["الرَّحَى", "بِ-الرَّحَى", "رَحًى", "رَحَى"]·ben["-যাঁতায়", "জাঁতা", "যাঁতা", "যাঁতার"]·DE["[רחים]", "der-millstones", "handmill", "in-der-millstones"]·EN["handmill", "in-the-millstones", "millstones", "the-millstones"]·FR["[רחים]", "dans-le-millstones", "handmill", "le-millstones"]·heb["ב-ה-ברחים", "ה-ריחיים", "רחיים", "ריחיים"]·HI["चक्की", "चक्की-की", "चक्की-के", "चक्की-में"]·ID["batu-kilangan", "dengan-gilingan"]·IT["[רחים]", "handmill", "il-millstones", "in-il-millstones"]·jav["lumpang", "panggilingan", "watu-giling", "watu-gilingan", "wonten-ing-giling"]·KO["그-맷돌의", "맷돌을", "맷돌의", "에서-맷돌들"]·PT["as-mós", "mó", "mós", "nos-moinhos"]·RU["в-жерновах", "жернова", "жерновами", "жерновов"]·ES["el-molino", "en-molinos", "molino", "molinos", "piedras-de-molino"]·SW["jiwe-la-kusagia", "kwa-jiwe-la-kusagia", "mawe-ya-kusagia"]·TR["-de-değirmen", "degirmen-taslari", "değirmeni", "değirmenin"]·urd["چکی", "چکی-میں", "چکی-کی", "چکی-کے"]
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H8504 1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [רֵחֶה] n.[m.], only du. רֵחַיִם (hand-)mill (prob. = 8);—ר׳ abs., common household utensil, turned by maids, Ex 11:5 (הָרֵחָ֑יִם; J), female slaves Is 47:2 (c. טָחַן, q.v.); טָחַן בָּר׳ Nu 11:8 (J); ר׳ וָרָ֑כֶב Dt 24:6 (v. רכב); קוֹל ר׳ as sound of family life Je 25:10.