Original Word: מְדֹכָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mdokah
Pronunciation: meh-do-KAH
Phonetic Spelling: (med-o-kaw')
Definition: a mortar
Meaning: A mortar, a vessel in which substances are crushed or ground with a pestle.

Word Origin: Derived from the root דָּכַךְ (dakah), meaning "to crush" or "to pulverize."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • While there is no direct Greek equivalent for the Hebrew מְדֹכָה, the concept of a mortar can be related to Greek terms used for similar tools or processes, such as "ὑποκάτω" (hypokatō) for "under" or "beneath," which may imply the action of grinding or crushing from above. However, specific Greek terms for mortar-like tools are not directly listed in Strong's Concordance.

Usage: The term מְדֹכָה is used in the context of grinding or crushing substances, typically for culinary or medicinal purposes. It appears in the Hebrew Bible to describe a physical object used in the preparation of materials.

Context: • The Hebrew word מְדֹכָה refers to a mortar, a common household and laboratory tool in ancient times. It is a bowl-shaped vessel used for grinding or crushing substances with a pestle. The mortar and pestle were essential tools in ancient culinary practices, as well as in the preparation of incense, spices, and medicinal compounds.
• In the Bible, the mortar is mentioned in Proverbs 27:22: "Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him." (BSB) This verse uses the imagery of a mortar to illustrate the stubbornness of folly, suggesting that even intense efforts to remove foolishness may prove ineffective.
• The use of a mortar in biblical times reflects the broader cultural practices of the ancient Near East, where grinding and crushing were necessary for daily life. Mortars were typically made from stone or metal, durable materials capable of withstanding repeated use.
• The metaphorical use of the mortar in Proverbs highlights the tool's significance beyond its physical function, serving as a symbol of transformation and the challenges of changing inherent traits or behaviors.

Word Origin
from the same as duk
Definition
mortar
NASB Translation
mortar (1).

מְדֹכָה noun feminine mortar, Numbers 11:8.

mortar

From duwk; a mortar -- mortar.

see HEBREW duwk

בַּמְּדֹכָ֔ה במדכה bam·mə·ḏō·ḵāh bammedoChah bamməḏōḵāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts