What does טָחַן (ṭāḥan) mean in the Bible?
טָחַן (ṭāḥan): Grinding grain as servile labor metonymically extends to describe the debased social status of concubines.
Hebrew · H2912
טָחַן
To grind meal; hence, to be a concubine (that being their employment)
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טָחַןH2912
Pronunciationṭāḥan
What does טָחַן (ṭāḥan) mean in the Bible?
טָחַן (ṭāḥan): Grinding grain as servile labor metonymically extends to describe the debased social status of concubines.
Full entry for טָחַן (H2912) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2912?
The BSB source-word alignment has 8 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and grind (2), [and] ground (1), grind [grain] (1), ground [it] (1), ground it (1).
Where does טָחַן (ṭāḥan) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 32:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (2), Deuteronomy (1), Ecclesiastes (1), Exodus (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand grind2×Isaiah 3:15, Isaiah 47:2
[and] ground1×Deuteronomy 9:21
grind [grain]1×Job 31:10
ground [it]1×Exodus 32:20
ground it1×Numbers 11:8
to grind1×Judges 16:21
when those grinding1×Ecclesiastes 12:3
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 32:20וַיִּטְחַ֖ןtoground [it]Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 11:8וְטָחֲנ֣וּtoground itConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralDeuteronomy 9:21טָחוֹן֙to[and] groundVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteJudges 16:21טוֹחֵ֖ןtoto grindVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularJob 31:10תִּטְחַ֣ןtogrind [grain]Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularEcclesiastes 12:3הַטֹּֽחֲנוֹת֙towhen those grindingArticle | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine pluralIsaiah 3:15תִּטְחָ֑נוּtoand grindVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralIsaiah 47:2וְטַ֣חֲנִיtoand grindConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 32:20
Aligned rows8
Books represented7
Exodus1Numbers1Deuteronomy1Judges1Job1Ecclesiastes1Isaiah2
Source forms
הַטֹּֽחֲנוֹת֙1xhaṭ·ṭō·ḥă·nō·wṯEcclesiastes 12:3
וְטָחֲנ֣וּ1xwə·ṭā·ḥă·nūNumbers 11:8
וְטַ֣חֲנִי1xwə·ṭa·ḥă·nîIsaiah 47:2
וַיִּטְחַ֖ן1xway·yiṭ·ḥanExodus 32:20
טוֹחֵ֖ן1xṭō·w·ḥênJudges 16:21
טָחוֹן֙1xṭā·ḥō·wnDeuteronomy 9:21
תִּטְחַ֣ן1xtiṭ·ḥanJob 31:10
תִּטְחָ֑נוּ1xtiṭ·ḥā·nūIsaiah 3:15
Parsing patterns
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural1xEcclesiastes 12:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural1xNumbers 11:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xExodus 32:20
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular1xIsaiah 47:2
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural1xIsaiah 3:15
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular1xJob 31:10
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute1xDeuteronomy 9:21
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular1xJudges 16:21
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Grinding grain as servile labor metonymically extends to describe the debased social status of concubines.
Source Gloss
to grind meal; hence, to be a concubine (that being their employment)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Grinding grain as servile labor metonymically extends to describe the debased social status of concubines.
to grind meal; hence, to be a concubine (that being their employment) BDB: grind Usage: grind(-er).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms4
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense4×
ImperfectIsa 3:15 · Job 31:102×
Infinitive absoluteDeut 9:211×
Participle activeJudg 16:211×
Word Origins
טָחַן is a primitive root - no further derivation.