מְדֹכָה (me.do.khah)
me.do.khah
mortar
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun medōkhah refers to a mortar, a deep bowl used for pounding or grinding substances. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 11:8, describing the physical process by which manna was prepared for consumption.
In this context, the Israelites gathered the substance, ground it in mortars, and baked it into cakes. The word highlights the tangible, everyday labor involved in sustaining life during their journey through the wilderness. It serves as a concrete detail that grounds the miraculous provision of food in the reality of human effort and routine.
While the term is rare, its singular usage anchors the narrative in sensory experience. Readers encounter not just the divine gift itself, but the ordinary tools and actions required to make it part of daily sustenance. This brief mention connects the supernatural event to the practical needs of a community on the move.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word medōkhah describes a simple tool: a heavy bowl used for pounding grain or spices. In Numbers 11, it appears when the Israelites process manna, the bread from heaven. They gathered the substance, pounded it in these mortars, and baked cakes. This detail reminds us that God’s miracles often meet human effort halfway.
Divine provision does not erase our daily tasks. Instead, it sanctifies them. The mortar represents the ordinary work of preparing what we receive. Whether you are cooking a meal or finishing a project, your labor participates in God’s care for your needs. He provides the gift; you prepare it with your hands.
This connection between heaven and earth offers comfort. You do not have to wait for a supernatural moment to experience God’s presence. It is found in the faithful use of everyday tools and routines. Your steady work, combined with His grace, sustains life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in <the>/ mortar1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ/מְּדֹכָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 11:8
The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. Its taste was like the taste of fresh oil.
This verse identifies the specific tool used to process manna, grounding the miraculous food in the tangible reality of human labor.