Millstone
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament [1]
(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 Septuagint Hosea 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.
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [2]
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 18:6 Mark 9:42 Luke 17:2 Revelation 18:22
"of a mill," occurs in Luke 17:2 (see above).
"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 [3]
(n.) One of two circular stones used for grinding grain or other substance.
King James Dictionary [4]
MILL'STONE, n. A stone used for grinding grain.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [5]
( 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).
