Millstone

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

(μύλος; in Revelation 18:21 Textus Receptus, following B, has μύλον; L WH[Note: H Westcott-Hort’s Greek Testament.], following A, have μύλινον; C has μυλικόν; Lat. mola )

The mill of the ancients (as of many Syrians to-day) was a quern-two circular stones, of which the upper and smaller rotated upon the other. The hard and monotonous labour of grinding was imposed on women; in wealthier houses, on female slaves (Exodus 11:5, Matthew 24:41). If the upper stone was small, it was turned by one person; if it was of greater size, two, three, or even four slaves required to work together at the task. The heavy toil was often somewhat lightened with a song. The writer of the Revelation alludes to these things in two successive verses. A great millstone flung impetuously (ὁρμήματι, ‘with a rush,’ or ‘indignantly’; see SeptuagintHosea 5:10) into the sea, to rise no more, is his image of the overthrow of Imperial Rome (Revelation 18:21). So complete is the desolation he foresees, that the sound of the mill (φωνὴ μύλου, the ᾠδὴ ἐπιμύλιος of the classics; cf. Septuagintφωνὴ τῆς ἀληθούσης in Ecclesiastes 12:4), the familiar murmur of domestic life, will never be heard again in the ruined city, which will have become a city of death (Revelation 18:22).

Literature.-J. Yates, article‘Mola’ in Smith’s DGRA [Note: GRA Dict. of Greek and Roman Antiquities.]2; G. M. Mackie, Bible Manners and Customs 2, 1903; W. Carslaw, article‘Mill, Millstone’ in Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols)  ; A. R. S. Kennedy, article‘Mill, Millstones’ in Encyclopaedia Biblica  ; C. M. Doughty, Travels in Arabia Deserta , 1888, ii. 179.

James Strahan.

King James Dictionary

MILL'STONE, n. A stone used for grinding grain.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: Μύλος (Strong'S #3458 — Noun Masculine — mulos — moo'-los )

denotes "a handmill," consisting of two circular stones, one above the other, the lower being fixed. From the center of the lower a wooden pin passes through a hole in the upper, into which the grain is thrown, escaping as flour between the stones and falling on a prepared material below them. The handle is inserted into the upper stone near the circumference. Small stones could be turned by one woman (mill-grinding was a work deemed fit only for women and slaves; cp. Judges 16:21 ); larger ones were turned by two (cp. Matthew 24:41 , under MILL), or more.

Matthew 18:6Mark 9:42 Luke 17:2Revelation 18:22

B — 1: Μυλικός (Strong'S #3457 — Adjective — mulikos — moo-lee-kos' )

"of a mill," occurs in Luke 17:2 (see above).

B — 2: Μύλος (Strong'S #3458 — Noun Masculine — mulinos — moo'-los )

"made of millstone," is used with lithos, "a stone;" and with the adjective megas, "great," in the best mss. in Revelation 18:21 (some have the word mulos; see A).

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) One of two circular stones used for grinding grain or other substance.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mil´stōn . See Mill .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(רֶכֶב, re'keb, usually a chariot, hence the "upper millstone" or rider, Deuteronomy 24:6; more fully. כֶּלִח רֶכֶב, Judges 9:53; 2 Samuel 11:21; in Job 41:24 there is no Hebrew word corresponding; in Isaiah 47:2; Jeremiah 25:10, רֵחִיַם; elsewhere rendered " mill;" Gr. μύλος ). (See Mill).