Lexical Summary kathash: To crush, to beat, to bruise Original Word: כָּתַשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bray A primitive root; to butt or pound -- bray. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to pound, pound fine, bray NASB Translation pound (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [כָּתַשׁ] verb pound, pound fine, bray (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic כְּתַשׁ; Syriac  is strive, contend; Zinjirli כתש break in pieces, shatter, DHMSendsch. 58); — Qal Imperfect אִםתִּֿכְתּוֺשׁ אֶתהָֿאֱוִיל בַּמַּכְתֵּשׁ Proverbs 27:22 if thou shouldest bray the fool in the mortar. Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting and Usage The verb כָּתַשׁ appears a single time in the Old Testament, Proverbs 27:22: “Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not leave him”. The action depicted is labor-intensive, deliberate crushing in a mortar—an everyday image in ancient households where grain was prepared by hand. Solomon employs this vivid scene to teach that folly is not merely a behavioral glitch; it is a stubborn moral condition rooted in the heart (Proverbs 4:23). Cultural and Historical Background Mortars and pestles were indispensable tools in Israelite kitchens (Numbers 11:8). The process of pounding grain was noisy, repetitive, and thorough—symbolizing complete disintegration of the kernels. By likening a fool to grain subjected to such relentless force, the proverb underlines the hardness of entrenched folly. Even after exhaustive external pressure, the essential character of the fool remains unchanged unless the heart is regenerated (Jeremiah 17:9; Ezekiel 36:26). The Nature of Folly in Proverbs 1. Moral Insensitivity: The fool resists wisdom, correction, and discipline (Proverbs 17:10). Theological Significance Crushing imagery elsewhere highlights both judgment and redemption. The Messiah is “pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5), revealing that only divine intervention can remove sin’s grip. Human effort—symbolized by pounding—cannot produce spiritual transformation; grace must create a new heart (John 3:3; Titus 3:5). Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Discipleship: Spiritual leaders should recognize the limits of punitive measures. Discipline serves a purpose (Hebrews 12:11), but the Holy Spirit must bring true change. Comparative Scriptures Job 6:30; Psalm 94:8-11; Proverbs 18:2; Ecclesiastes 10:3—all expose the futility of folly. Each passage complements Proverbs 27:22 by affirming that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). Christological Lens Where human crushing fails, Christ’s voluntary crushing secures redemption. His atoning death not only pays the penalty for sin but also breaks its power, achieving what relentless human effort cannot (Romans 8:3-4). Conclusion The solitary occurrence of כָּתַשׁ stands as a memorable admonition: no amount of external pressure can extract folly from an unregenerate heart. Lasting transformation flows from God’s sovereign work, prompting believers to depend on the gospel rather than mere human effort in the pursuit of wisdom and holiness. Forms and Transliterations תִּכְתּֽוֹשׁ־ תכתוש־ tichtoosh tiḵ·tō·wōš- tiḵtōwōš-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 27:22 HEB: אִ֥ם תִּכְתּֽוֹשׁ־ אֶת־ הָאֱוִ֨יל ׀ NAS: Though you pound a fool in a mortar KJV: Though thou shouldest bray a fool INT: Though pound A fool A mortar 1 Occurrence |
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