millstone

Everyday

1. A millstone is one of a pair of large, round, flat stones used in a mill to grind grain into flour. tree →
2. A millstone (round your neck) is a heavy problem or responsibility you can't get rid of. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons on old mills and bread; in sayings and the Bible; in news: debt can be «a millstone round someone's neck».

Examples

• The millstone turned slowly and ground the wheat. tree →
• Old millstones are sometimes used in gardens. tree →
• The river turned the wheel that turned the millstone. tree →
• The debt was a millstone round his neck. tree →
• A millstone is very heavy. tree →
• Jesus spoke of a millstone in one of his warnings in the Gospels. tree →
• Four millstones formed his shield, and on a box-tree close by hung his giant sword. tree →

Note

Plural: millstones. The phrase is «a millstone round/around your neck». A «milestone» (an important stage) is a different word.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it is the upper stone of a hand-mill, which turns on the lower stone to grind grain. Elsewhere the Tanakh uses it for a hard heart "firm as the nether millstone", as a weapon (a woman threw one on Abimelech), and as grinding work done by captives.

Interpretation. It may not be taken as a pledge, since it is needed to make food. The law is read as protecting a person's livelihood; taking it is like taking his life. The story of Abimelech is read by tradition as a punishment that fitted his crime.

Examples

• No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone to pledge; for he taketh a man's life to pledge. (Torah DEU.24.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, firm as the nether millstone. (Writings JOB.41.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull. (Prophets JDG.9.53, JPS 1917) tree →
• Take the millstones, and grind meal; remove thy veil, strip off the train, uncover the leg, pass through the rivers. (Prophets ISA.47.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural: millstones. The phrase is «a millstone round/around your neck». A «milestone» (an important stage) is a different word.