Grinding in biblical times was a fundamental process in daily life, primarily associated with the preparation of grain for food. The act of grinding grain into flour was essential for making bread, a staple in the diet of ancient Near Eastern cultures, including the Israelites. The process of grinding is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Bible, symbolizing both the routine of daily life and deeper spiritual truths.

Tools and Methods

The primary tool for grinding grain was the millstone. Millstones were typically made of hard stone and came in pairs: the lower stone, known as the "bedstone," was stationary, while the upper stone, or "runner stone," was turned by hand or animal power. This process is vividly described in the book of Exodus, where it is stated, "Do not take a pair of millstones or even the upper one as security for a debt, because that would be taking a man's livelihood as security" (Exodus 22:26). This law underscores the essential nature of grinding in sustaining life.

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

Grinding is often used metaphorically in Scripture to convey themes of labor, judgment, and transformation. In Ecclesiastes, the decline of physical strength and vitality in old age is poetically described: "When the grinders cease because they are few, and those watching through the windows see dimly" (Ecclesiastes 12:3). Here, "grinders" symbolize teeth, and their cessation represents the frailty of old age.

In the New Testament, Jesus uses the imagery of grinding to illustrate the suddenness of His return: "Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other left" (Matthew 24:41). This passage highlights the unexpected nature of the end times, emphasizing the need for readiness and vigilance.

Judgment and Captivity

Grinding also appears in contexts of judgment and captivity. In the book of Judges, Samson, after being captured by the Philistines, is put to work grinding grain in prison: "Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and took him down to Gaza, binding him with bronze shackles. He was forced to grind grain in the prison" (Judges 16:21). This act of grinding in captivity symbolizes humiliation and subjugation.

Similarly, in the book of Lamentations, the suffering of Jerusalem is depicted with the imagery of grinding: "Young men toil at millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood" (Lamentations 5:13). This verse reflects the dire conditions and forced labor experienced during the Babylonian exile.

Cultural and Historical Context

Grinding was predominantly the work of women in ancient Israelite society, as indicated in various biblical narratives. The daily task of grinding grain was labor-intensive and time-consuming, often performed in the early morning hours. This routine aspect of life is captured in the book of Isaiah: "Take millstones and grind flour; remove your veil, strip off your skirt, bare your thigh, wade through the streams" (Isaiah 47:2). This passage, directed at Babylon, uses the imagery of grinding to depict impending humiliation and servitude.

In summary, grinding in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing the sustenance of life, the inevitability of aging, the reality of judgment, and the endurance of hardship. Through its literal and metaphorical uses, grinding provides insight into the daily lives and spiritual lessons of the biblical world.Grinding

[MILL]

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Grind.

2. (a. & n.) from Grind.

GRINDING

grind'-ing.

See CRAFTS.

1030. brugmos -- a biting, a gnashing of teeth
... a biting, a gnashing of teeth. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
brugmos Phonetic Spelling: (broog-mos') Short Definition: a grinding or gnashing ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1030.htm - 6k

3458. mulos -- a mill, a millstone
... millstone, mill. 3458 -- a hand-mill used for grinding grain with a stone,
ground against an stone that was turned. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3458.htm - 7k

229. aletho -- to grind
... Word Origin from the same as aleuron Definition to grind NASB Word Usage grinding
(2). grind. From the same as aleuron; to grind -- grind. see GREEK aleuron. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/229.htm - 6k

4917. sunthlao -- to crush together
... (3039 ). The verb was used of winnowing out the chaff and then of grinding to powder.
This is the fate of him on whom this Rejected Stone falls" (, 1, 172). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4917.htm - 7k

3459. mulon -- mill.
... Cognate: 3459 -- a mill; a building (mill) used to operate a grinding mill-stone
(it occurs only in Mt 24:41). See 3458 (). The old-styled, Eastern #NAME? ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3459.htm - 6k

2911a. techon -- grinding mill, hand mill
... 2911, 2911a. techon. 2911b . grinding mill, hand mill. Transliteration: techon
Short Definition: mill. Word Origin from tachan Definition ...
/hebrew/2911a.htm - 5k

2911. tchown -- grinding mill, hand mill
... 2910, 2911. tchown. 2911a . grinding mill, hand mill. Transliteration: tchown
Phonetic Spelling: (tekh-one') Short Definition: grind. to grind ...
/hebrew/2911.htm - 5k

2913. tachanah -- a mill
... Word Origin from tachan Definition a mill NASB Word Usage grinding mill (1). grinding.
From tachan; a hand mill; hence (figuratively) chewing -- grinding. ...
/hebrew/2913.htm - 6k

2912. tachan -- to grind
... Definition: grind. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to grind NASB Word Usage
grind (3), grinder (1), grinding (3), ground (1). grinder. A ...
/hebrew/2912.htm - 6k

The Conclusion of the Matter
... because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4. And
the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the conclusion of the matter.htm

Life in the Villages
... a common thing it is for wild beasts, wolves or leopards, to come down from the
hills, and steal children even as they play around the courtyard grinding-stone ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter v life in the.htm

Matt. xxiv. 33, 34
... "Then shall two be in the field; one shall be taken, and one left. Two women shall
be grinding at the mill, one shall be taken, and one left. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxvii matt xxiv 33.htm

Blessing and Cursing
... them. He is out of his place; and slowly, but irresistibly, they are grinding
him to powder, as the whole universe is grinding thee. ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xi blessing and cursing.htm

The Priest of the World and King of Men
... fully and for ever that strange craving, which, though it has been productive of
so many miseries and so many errors, though it has led to grinding tyranny and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the priest of the world.htm

The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn ...
... ranged under the sin of reaping, and that of rubbing them, which might be ranged
under sifting in a sieve, threshing, sifting out fruit, grinding, or fanning. ...
/.../chapter xxxv the two sabbath-controversies.htm

Appendix xvii. The Ordinances and Law of the Sabbath as Laid Down ...
... They are: sowing, ploughing reaping, binding sheaves, threshing, winnowing, sifting
(selecting), grinding, sifting in a sieve, kneading, baking; shearing the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xvii the ordinances and.htm

On the Advisableness of Improving Natural Knowledge.
... on its own axis, the inequalities and selenography of the moon, the several phases
of Venus and Mercury, the improvement of telescopes and grinding of glasses ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/i on the advisableness of.htm

Notes
... jaws are so marked a feature in the skull that it is not difficult to associate
them with the picture of old age."When the sound of the grinding is low, and ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/notes.htm

A Homily for Humble Folks
... the land of bliss. Perhaps some of you escape these agonies and know but
little of the grinding process. Will you therefore fear ...
/.../spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/a homily for humble folks.htm

Grinding (13 Occurrences)
... 2. (a. & n.) from Grind. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GRINDING. grind'-ing.
See CRAFTS. Multi-Version Concordance Grinding (13 Occurrences). ...
/g/grinding.htm - 10k

Mill (9 Occurrences)
... For grinding corn, mentioned as used in the time of Abraham (Genesis 18:6). That
used by the Hebrews consisted of two circular stones, each 2 feet in diameter ...
/m/mill.htm - 18k

Millstone (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One of two circular stones used for grinding grain
or other substance. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MILL; MILLSTONE. ...
/m/millstone.htm - 15k

Crafts (2 Occurrences)
... 2. Carpentering (Wood-Working) 3. Carving (Engraving) 4. Ceramics 5. Dyeing and
Cleansing 6. Embroidering (Needlework) 7. Glass-Making 8. Grinding 9. Mason ...
/c/crafts.htm - 30k

Weeping (237 Occurrences)
... the king said to the servants,'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw
him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth ...
/w/weeping.htm - 37k

Weep (97 Occurrences)
... the king said to the servants,'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw
him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth ...
/w/weep.htm - 37k

Teeth (50 Occurrences)
... the king said to the servants,'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw
him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth ...
/t/teeth.htm - 25k

Runner (5 Occurrences)
... (n.) A movable slab or rubber used in grinding or polishing a surface of stone. ...
(n.) A tool on which lenses are fastened in a group, for polishing or grinding. ...
/r/runner.htm - 9k

Powder (14 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding,
grinding, or triturating, or into which it falls by decay; dust. ...
/p/powder.htm - 12k

Pulverize (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To reduce of fine powder or dust, as by beating, grinding, or the like;
as, friable substances may be pulverized by grinding or beating, but to ...
/p/pulverize.htm - 7k

What is a millstone in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible mean when it refers to the gnashing of teeth? | GotQuestions.org

What does shabbat mean? | GotQuestions.org

Grinding: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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