Lexical Summary aléthó: To speak the truth, to be truthful Original Word: ἀληθῶ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance grind. From the same as aleuron; to grind -- grind. see GREEK aleuron NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as aleuron Definition to grind NASB Translation grinding (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 229: ἀλήθωἀλήθω; (a common Greek form for the Attic ἀλέω, cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 151); to grind: Matthew 24:41; Luke 17:35. It was the custom to send women and female slaves to the mill-houses (?) to turn the hand-mills (Exodus 11:5), who were called by the Greeks γυναῖκες, ἀλετρίδες (Homer, Odyssey 20, 105); (cf. B. D. under the word Topical Lexicon Entry Title: ἀλέθω – Strong’s Greek 229Literal Background Grinding grain was one of the most ordinary yet indispensable tasks in the ancient Near East. Families used two circular stones—an upper hand-stone (the rider) worked against a lower stationary stone—to turn harvested grain into flour for daily bread. Though donkey-powered and larger village mills are attested, household grinding was typically performed by women at dawn and dusk, the rhythmic sound becoming a hallmark of settled life (Jeremiah 25:10). Because bread was the staple of every table, the action of grinding symbolized normalcy, routine, and the very continuity of community life. Occurrences in the New Testament The participle ἀλήθουσαι appears twice, both in prophetic discourse: In both settings Jesus describes the unexpected separation that will accompany His return. By choosing the mundane scene of women at a millstone, He underscores that final judgment will invade ordinary moments with no advance warning. Eschatological Emphasis The contrast “one taken … the other left” highlights divine sovereignty rather than human status. Grinding was a humble, repetitive duty shared by many; yet from within that sameness Christ distinguishes hearts. The passage complements the warnings of Matthew 24:36–39 that the days of Noah seemed routine until the flood came. Thus ἀλέθω becomes a vivid reminder that preparedness is spiritual, not circumstantial. Old Testament Echoes 1. Exodus 11:5 locates a servant girl “at the millstone” when the firstborn of Egypt die, foreshadowing a nighttime judgment that spared none but the protected. These texts form a scriptural backdrop in which grinding can signify both ordinary life and imposed servitude, intensifying Jesus’ warning that final separation will reach into every social stratum. Socio-Economic Significance Because grinding was daily and domestic, it represents the heartbeat of agrarian society. The verb therefore connotes: By inserting judgment into this sphere, Scripture teaches that salvation concerns those who labor unseen as much as kings and priests. Historical and Archaeological Notes Excavations in Galilee and Judea uncover basalt hand-mills in most first-century homes. Lower stones average 30–40 cm in diameter, their surfaces worn hollow by decades of use. Larger rotary mills appear in sites such as Capernaum, indicating village-level production. Such findings corroborate the realism of Jesus’ illustration; hearers would have pictured mothers, daughters, and servants crouched over these stones at dawn. Ministry Insights and Application 1. Readiness Amid Routine – Believers are called to watchfulness even while fulfilling everyday duties (1 Thessalonians 5:2–6). Typological Reflections Grain, once crushed, yields bread that sustains life; Christ, once “crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5), becomes the Bread of Life. The act of grinding therefore points both to human dependence and to the redemptive pattern of brokenness leading to provision. Related Themes and References • Daily Bread – Matthew 6:11; Exodus 16:4 Summary Strong’s Greek 229, though appearing only twice, invites contemplation of Christ’s return amid commonplace activity. Grinding grain epitomizes ordinary life, yet Scripture weaves this modest verb into its grand eschatological tapestry, affirming that in God’s economy no task is too small to serve as a stage for eternal consequence. Forms and Transliterations αληθουσαι αλήθουσαι ἀλήθουσαι αληθούσης αλήθων ήληθον alethousai alēthousai alḗthousaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 24:41 V-PPA-NFPGRK: δύο ἀλήθουσαι ἐν τῷ NAS: Two women [will be] grinding at the mill; KJV: Two [women shall be] grinding at INT: two [women] grinding at the Luke 17:35 V-PPA-NFP |
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