Mill — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Two circular stones (millstones) used in the grinding of grain. The grinding of grain as depicted in ancient art is attested in archaeological excavations in the Middle East from at least the Neolithic period (c. 8300–4500 BC) in the shape of various concave stones with flat grinding pieces accompanying them. These were essentially handmills. Over the centuries improvements in technique took place. But two elements were always necessary, the lower one on which the grain was spread and the upper one, which was moved over the surface of the lower one under pressure, to grind the grain into flour. The Hebrew term for “mill” is grammatically a dual—that is, it refers to two elements.

The earliest mill, the saddle quern, consisted of a rough base stone, slightly concave, and a convex rubbing stone. The base stone varied from 18 to 30 inches (45.7 to 76.2 centimeters) across with one end a little thicker than the other. It was known in Hebrew as “the underneath portion” (Jb 41:24). The upper stone, called the “rider portion” (Jgs 9:53; 2 Sm 11:21), varied from 6 to 15 inches (15.2 to 38.1 centimeters) in length and was flat on one side and convex on the other. It could be held easily in the hand. Grinding was done by pushing the upper stone backward and forward over the grain, which lay on the lower stone. Only a small quantity of grain could be ground at one time using this method (Gn 18:6).

Show passage in OET: JOB 41:24

OET-RV JOB 41:24

24 His chest is hard like stone—
⇔ yes, as solid as the bottom mill-stone.

OET-LV JOB 41:16

16  His/its_heart is_hard like a _stone and_it_is_hard like_a _mill-stone lower.

Show passage in OET: JDG 9:53

OET-RV JDG 9:53

53 but a woman threw an upper millstone down onto Avimelek’s head and it crushed his skull.

OET-LV JDG 9:53

53 And_ a _woman one _she _threw a _mill-stone _of an _upper _mill-stone on the _head _of ʼAⱱīmelek and_she _crushed DOM skull _of_his.

Show passage in OET: SA2 11:21

OET-RV SA2 11:21

21 Wasn’t Yerubeshet’s son Avimelek killed by a woman in Tevets when she threw a millstone down from the wall? Why did you approach the wall?’ Then you should say, ‘Your servant Uriyah the Hiti is also dead.’ ”

OET-LV SA2 11:21

21 Who did _he _strike _down DOM ʼAⱱīmelek the _son _of Jerub-Besheth am_not a _woman did _she _throw on/upon/above_him/it a _mill-stone _of an _upper _mill-stone from_under the_wall and_he/it _died in_Tēⱱēʦ to/for_what did _you(pl)_draw _near to the_wall and_you _will _say also servant _of_your ʼŪriy^yāh the_Ḩittiy he _has _died.

Show passage in OET: GEN 18:6

OET-RV GEN 18:6

6 So Avraham hurried into the tent and told Sarah, “Quickly, grind three measures of fine flour and knead it and make some bread.”

OET-LV GEN 18:6

6 And_ ʼAⱱrāhām _he _hurried to_the_tent to Sārāh and_he/it _said bring _quickly three seahs flour fine _flour knead_it and_make bread _cakes.

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A second type of handmill consisted of two round stones. The lower one could be either convex or concave on top and the upper one was either concave or convex so as to fit nearly over the lower stone. Some examples of this type of mill have a funnel-shaped hole in the center of the top stone through which grain was poured. The upper mill was turned on the lower one by means of a wooden peg inserted on its outside edge. As the grain was crushed, it escaped along the edges of the upper stone. Commonly the stone used was black basalt because its rough and porous surface provided good cutting edges. The normal type of handmill could be operated by one person, but sometimes two persons were required (Mt 24:41).

Show passage in OET: MAT 24:41

OET-RV MAT 24:41

41 Two people will be grinding grain—one will be taken and one left behind.

OET-LV MAT 24:41

41 Two grinding at the grinding _stone, one is _being _taken, and one is _being _left.

Jump to OET MAT 24:41 section.

So important was the handmill in the life of the people that it was prohibited by law to take a man’s millstone as a pledge against the payment of a debt, for this would deprive his family of the means of making flour for bread (Dt 24:6). These stones were heavy enough to kill a man when thrown on his head, as in the case of Abimelech (Jgs 9:53; cf. 2 Sm 11:21).

Show passage in OET: DEU 24:6

OET-RV DEU 24:6

6 If someone borrows money, the lender mustn’t take their millstone for grinding grain as a pledge, because they need it to stay alive.

OET-LV DEU 24:6

6 Not anyone _will _take _as _pledge a _hand-mill and_an _upper _grinding _stone if/because a _life it is_taking _as _pledge.

Jump to OET DEU 24:6 section.

Normally, the grinding of grain was the task of servants (Ex 11:5) or of women (Is 47:2). The noise of grinding could be heard each day in every village in Palestine. When that sound ceased, the village had come to an end (Jer 25:10).

Show passage in OET: EXO 11:5

OET-RV EXO 11:5

5 and every oldest son in Mitsrayim will die, from the oldest son of Par’oh who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of the slave girl who lives behind the mill, as well as every oldest male offspring of your livestock.

OET-LV EXO 11:5

5 And_ every _of firstborn _he _will _die in_land of _Miʦrayim from_the _firstborn _of Parˊoh who_sits on throne _of_his unto the _firstborn _of the _maidservant who is_behind the_hand-mill and_all/each/any/every firstborn _of livestock.

Show passage in OET: ISA 47:2

OET-RV ISA 47:2

2 Turn those millstones and grind flour.
⇔ Remove your veil and strip off your skirt.
⇔ Uncover your legs to wade through rivers.

OET-LV ISA 47:2

2 Take a _hand-mill and_grind flour uncover veil _of_your strip _off a _skirt uncover a _leg pass _through rivers.

Show passage in OET: JER 25:10

OET-RV JER 25:10

10 I’ll put an end to the sounds of gladness and celebration, the sounds of brides and grooms, and the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp.

OET-LV JER 25:10

10 And_I _will _destroy from_them the_sound _of joy and_the_sound _of gladness the_sound _of a _bridegroom and_the_sound _of a _bride the_sound _of a _hand-mill and_the_light _of a _lamp.

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There seems to have been larger community mills that required animal power. A heavy round stone, perhaps four to five feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) in diameter, was rolled on its edge by means of a pole through its center. This pole rotated around a vertical post in much the same way as one finds in some Eastern lands even today. It may have been a large mill of this type that Samson was forced to use to grind grain for the Philistines (Jgs 16:21).