טַחֲנָה (ta.cha.nah)
ta.cha.nah
mill
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun tachanah refers to a mill, specifically the device used for grinding grain into flour. In the Hebrew Bible, this word appears only once, in Ecclesiastes 12:4, where it serves as part of a vivid description of the physical decline that accompanies old age.
The context describes how "the grinders cease because they are few," using the quieting of the mill to symbolize the slowing down of bodily functions and energy. This single usage grounds the word in the daily reality of ancient life, where milling was essential labor, while elevating it to a metaphor for the inevitable fading of human vitality.
Because the term is so rare, its meaning is tightly bound to this specific literary image. It does not carry abstract theological weight outside of this passage but remains a concrete reminder of the physical processes that define human existence and their eventual cessation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tachanah refers to a mill, the simple tool used for grinding grain into flour. In Ecclesiastes 12:4, it appears in a poignant list of changes that mark old age. The text notes that "the sound of the grinding is low," painting a picture of daily rhythms slowing down as the body ages.
This image invites us to view aging not merely as loss, but as a natural shift in pace. Just as the mill’s work quiets, our own energy may wane, allowing space for reflection and rest. It reminds us that physical decline is part of the human experience, shared by all who walk this earth.
Understanding this word helps us approach the later years with grace. We can find peace in the slowing down, recognizing it as a time to listen more closely to God’s voice rather than striving against our changing limits.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ grinding mill1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַֽ/טַּחֲנָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
Ecclesiastes 12:4
and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
This is the only occurrence of the word, where the quieting of the mill symbolizes the physical decline and slowing of bodily functions in old age.