A millstone in the Bible refers to a heavy stone used to grind grain into flour. The Bible mentions millstones frequently as an important part of daily life in ancient times. Here is an overview of the significance and symbolism of millstones in the Bible:
Literal Uses of Millstone in the Bible
Millstones were literally used to grind grain in Bible times. Some key verses that mention millstones being used to prepare flour include:
– “When the Philistine rulers saw her, they brought her before the people and they killed her. Then they took her, cut her open and used her intestines and feet to make their millstones work.” (Judges 16:21)
– “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:16-17)
– “Two women will be grinding together: One will be taken and the other left.” (Matthew 24:41)
– “And though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:32)
So millstones were a practical part of daily living and food preparation. Having two millstones (a lower and upper stone) allowed grain to be ground into edible flour.
Millstones for Execution
In several verses, capital punishment is prescribed using a heavy millstone to execute criminals and enemies:
– “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)
– “It will be like tying a stone to a man’s neck and throwing him into the sea.” (Luke 17:2)
– “Now the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” (Exodus 4:19)
The weight of the stone would quickly pull the criminal into the water to drown. This form of capital punishment was reserved for the most serious offenses like causing children to stumble spiritually.
Millstone as a Metaphor
The Bible also uses millstones metaphorically to convey important spiritual lessons:
1. **Heavy Burden**: Carrying a millstone is used to depict an extremely heavy burden. Jesus says “things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble” (Luke 17:1-2). The millstone drowning imagery conveys the inescapable nature and severity of punishment for causing spiritual harm.
2. **Grinding Hardship**: Being crushed by a millstone represents hardened suffering. Job laments “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder my words have been impetuous.” (Job 6:2-3). Like grain ground between stones, Job feels overwhelmed by anguish.
3. **Daily Necessity**: Jesus says no one can “add a single hour to your life” (Matthew 6:27) any more than they can “add one cubit to his stature” (Matthew 6:27). Just as necessary as food ground by a millstone, God controls lifespans.
4. **Judgment**: The vision of Babylon’s destruction says “the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in you.” (Revelation 18:22). Lack of a millstone’s sound represents lack of daily life and sustenance. This biblical metaphor conveys total judgment.
So millstones take on important symbolic meanings related to hardship, judgment, punishment, and daily provision.
Millstone Dangers and Warnings
The Bible also contains sober warnings about millstone dangers:
– Don’t take millstones as security for debts: “No one shall take a handmill or an upper millstone in pledge, for he would be taking a life in pledge.” (Deuteronomy 24:6) Why? Without the upper millstone, no grain could be ground to make food.
– Drowning death with a millstone as punishment: “And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6). This was a terrifying threat for those harming children spiritually.
– Sinking like a millstone in judgment: “Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.”” (Revelation 18:21). The sinking millstone imagery conveys the finality of destruction.
– Avoiding stumbling blocks: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.” (Luke 17:1). Causing others to stumble has severe millstone consequences.
So the Bible points to the millstone as a sobering symbol of judgment for those who stumble or cause others to stumble.
Descriptions of Millstones in the Bible
A few verses shed light on what millstones were actually like in biblical history:
– Large, heavy upper stone and lower stones: “And a millstone was hung around his neck, and he was thrown into the sea.” (Mark 9:42)
– Operated by two women: “Two women will be grinding with a mill; one will be taken and the other will be left.” (Matthew 24:41)
– Made of durable stone: “‘And though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will search and take them… And though they are hidden from My sight at the bottom of the sea, from there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them.” (Amos 9:3)
– Used daily to grind grain: “Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Luke 17:35)
So millstones were heavy, labor-intensive, and essential for daily food preparation using durable carved stones.
History of Millstones in the Ancient Near East
Understanding the history of millstones in the Ancient Near East illuminates their biblical context:
– *Early Origins*: Some of the earliest millstones date back as far as 7500 BC and were simply flat or concave stones for grinding grains.
– *Saddle Querns*: More advanced saddle querns consisting of a flat millstone and stone grinder became common around 3000 BC in the Near East. They required kneeling to operate, which was hard labor.
– *Rotary Querns*: Around 200 BC, rotary querns with a rotating upper millstone appeared in the Mediterranean and Middle East, improving grinding efficiency.
– *Animal and Water Mills*: From 200 BC-500 AD, animal and water mills gradually started replacing hand querns for grinding grains in the Near East.
– *Widespread Use*: By Jesus’ time in the first century AD, saddle and rotary hand querns were still very common in the Holy Land and used daily by women to grind flour.
So during most of biblical history, heavy manual labor with millstones was required to produce flour for bread-making. That makes the biblical imagery very relatable to readers in that culture.
Significance of Millstones in Jesus’s Teachings
Jesus used vivid millstone imagery in several impactful teachings:
– Causing Spiritual Harm: “It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble” (Luke 17:2). Jesus gave a sobering warning about influencing children negatively.
– Daily Provisions: “Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26). God cares even more than food ground by millstones.
– Judgment Day Surprises: “Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one left.” (Matthew 24:41). On the last day, some will be taken by judgment. Life will be going on as normal.
– Spiritual Blindness: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matthew 23:25). Jesus rebuked religious leaders for not caring about inward sins.
So millstone examples made Jesus’ teachings more memorable and impactful for people familiar with grinding grain.
Lessons Christians Can Learn from Millstones
What key lessons should Christians draw from biblical imagery involving millstones?
– Daily dependence on God, our provider and sustainer (Matthew 6:11)
– Avoid causing others to stumble spiritually (Luke 17:2)
– Do not harm or devalue children (Matthew 18:6)
– Warning of inescapable judgment for the unrepentant (Revelation 18:21)
– God can use hardships to refine our character (Job 6:2-3)
– Don’t compromise biblical standards or you’ll grind hardship for yourself (Matthew 18:6)
– Help carry others’ burdens during difficult trials (Galatians 6:2)
Millstones remind Christians to pursue purity, care for others, trust God’s provisions, and warn about certain judgment for the unrepentant.
Significance of Millstones for Christians Today
While millstones are not part of everyday life today, their biblical significance remains relevant:
– They remind us of humanity’s common need for God’s provision and warn against self-reliance. Just as people needed ground grain in Bible times, we all need God’s spiritual bread. “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
– The heaviness of millstones should warn Christians not to weigh people down with crushing spiritual burdens. “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” said Jesus (Matthew 11:30). We should make sure requirements for God’s people are not heavier than needed.
– The shared nature of millstone work reminds us that serving God often requires teamwork and unity. Women had to work together grinding grain. Likewise, Christians should collaborate in “grinding” out spiritual nourishment for others.
– The daily necessity of millstones parallels the habit of daily Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and worship Christians need to cultivate. Just as grain was ground every day, we need to “grind” out spiritual nourishment regularly.
While millstone technology is outdated today, their biblical symbolism still provides relevant warnings, wisdom and encouragement for Christians. Understanding their history and usage in the Bible times helps us relate to their imagery in Scripture. In summary, millstones in the Bible represent God’s provision, warnings about judgment for sinners and stumbling blocks, and the need for perseverance through hardships and daily dependence on God.
