In biblical times, mortars were essential tools used for grinding and mixing substances, primarily grains and spices. The mortar, along with its companion tool, the pestle, is mentioned in the Scriptures as a symbol of thoroughness and diligence in preparation.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 27:22 : "Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, you will not separate his foolishness from him." This verse uses the imagery of a mortar and pestle to illustrate the stubbornness of folly. Just as grinding grain in a mortar is a thorough process, the verse suggests that even the most rigorous attempts to remove foolishness from a fool may prove futile.

2. Numbers 11:8 : "The people walked around and gathered it, ground it on a handmill or crushed it in a mortar, then boiled it in a pot and made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil." This passage describes the preparation of manna, the miraculous food provided by God to the Israelites during their wilderness journey. The use of a mortar for crushing manna highlights the practical aspects of daily life and sustenance in ancient Israel.

Cultural and Historical Context:

Mortars were typically made from stone or metal, materials that could withstand the repeated impact of grinding. The process of using a mortar and pestle was labor-intensive, requiring physical effort and skill. This method of preparation was common in ancient Near Eastern cultures, where it was used not only for food preparation but also for the creation of medicinal compounds and incense.

In the context of Israelite society, the mortar and pestle were tools that facilitated the preparation of offerings and daily meals, underscoring the importance of diligence and care in both spiritual and mundane activities. The imagery of grinding in a mortar is used metaphorically in Scripture to convey the idea of thoroughness and the difficulty of changing inherent characteristics.

Symbolism:

The mortar and pestle symbolize the process of refinement and transformation. In a spiritual sense, they can represent the trials and tribulations that believers undergo to be molded and shaped according to God's will. Just as grains are crushed and refined to produce flour, believers may experience challenges that refine their character and faith.

Overall, the mention of mortars in the Bible serves as a reminder of the diligence required in both physical and spiritual endeavors, illustrating the thoroughness with which God works in the lives of His people.

Jesus Works his First Miracle at Cana in Galilee.
... The room is a rude chapel, and at one side stand two old stone mortars, one holding
about eight gallons and the other about ten, now used for immersing infants ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxii jesus works his first.htm

Waiting Only Upon God
... For several nights before the surrender, the darkness was ushered in with a tremendous
roar of guns and mortars, accompanied by the whizzing of those ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/waiting only upon god.htm

Storming the Battlements
... Fire your shells at it: send against it all the hot cannon balls that any of the
ten great mortars of the commandments can fire, and you cannot move it in the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/storming the battlements.htm

The First Theban Empire
... direction of the lodes to a depth of fifty-five to sixty-five yards; the masses
of quartz procured from them were broken up in granite mortars, pounded small ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

Mortars (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Mortars (1 Occurrence). Numbers 11:8 The people
went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat ...
/m/mortars.htm - 6k

Mortar (16 Occurrences)
...Mortars were used in the wilderness for pounding the manna (Numbers 11:8). It is
commonly used in Palestine at the present day to pound wheat, from which the ...
/m/mortar.htm - 14k

Morter (7 Occurrences)

/m/morter.htm - 8k

Oil-cakes (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 11:8 The people went about, and gathered it, and ground it with hand-mills,
or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it; and the ...
/o/oil-cakes.htm - 6k

Grind (12 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Numbers 11:8 The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills,
or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. ...
/g/grind.htm - 11k

Gomer (7 Occurrences)
... See Homer. 2. (n.) A conical chamber at the breech of the bore in heavy ordnance,
especially in mortars; -- named after the inventor. Int. ...
/g/gomer.htm - 11k

Tasted (18 Occurrences)
... Numbers 11:8 The people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or
beat it in mortars, and seethed it in pots, and made cakes of it; and the taste ...
/t/tasted.htm - 11k

Mills (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 11:8 The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat
it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. ...
/m/mills.htm - 6k

Pots (30 Occurrences)
... Numbers 11:8 The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat
it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. ...
/p/pots.htm - 15k

Boiled (15 Occurrences)
... Numbers 11:8 The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat
it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. ...
/b/boiled.htm - 11k

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