or דּוֹשׁ; or דִּישׁ; a primitive root; to trample or thresh; break, tear, thresh, tread out (down), at grass (Jeremiah 50:11, by mistake for דֶּשֶׁא).
Transliteration:dûwsh
Pronunciation:doosh
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H1758}}` (דּוּשׁ, *dûwsh*), along with its variant forms דּוֹשׁ (*dôwsh*) and דִּישׁ (*dîysh*), is a primitive root primarily signifying "to thresh" or "to trample." Its foundational meaning is deeply rooted in ancient agricultural practices, specifically the process of separating grain from straw on a threshing floor, often by the treading of oxen or by means of a threshing sledge.
From this literal sense, the word extends metaphorically to denote forceful crushing, breaking, or tearing. It conveys the idea of overwhelming power applied to an object, resulting in its disintegration or subjugation. This semantic range encompasses both the constructive act of harvesting and the destructive act of conquering or oppressing. The note concerning [[Jeremiah 50:11]] in some lexicons indicates a potential textual misattribution or error, where the word was perhaps mistakenly associated with "grass" (דֶּשֶׁא `{{H1877}}`); however, the overwhelming evidence from other biblical occurrences confirms its primary meaning related to threshing and trampling.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb `{{H1758}}` appears in various contexts across the Old Testament, illustrating both its literal and metaphorical applications:
* **Literal Agricultural Use:**
* [[Deuteronomy 25:4]]: This well-known command, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," provides a clear literal context for *dûwsh* as the act of an ox threshing. It highlights the humane treatment of working animals and, by extension, laborers.
* [[Isaiah 28:27-28]]: Here, the prophet describes the detailed process of threshing different grains (dill, cumin, wheat, barley), using various implements, demonstrating the precise agricultural meaning of *dûwsh* in the context of wisdom and divine order in creation.
* [[Hosea 10:11]]: "Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh." This verse uses the literal image of a heifer threshing, but with a metaphorical nuance. Ephraim (Israel) preferred the easy, unyoked work of threshing (eating the grain as it worked) rather than the disciplined labor of plowing, symbolizing their spiritual reluctance to submit to God's discipline.
* **Metaphorical Use for Judgment, Oppression, and Conquest:**
* [[Isaiah 41:15]]: "Behold, I will make you a new sharp threshing sledge with teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff." This powerful metaphor portrays Israel, empowered by God, as an instrument of divine judgment, utterly destroying formidable obstacles (mountains, hills) representing nations or opposition.
* [[Amos 1:3]]: "Because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron." Here, *dûwsh* vividly describes the brutal and merciless oppression inflicted by Damascus upon Gilead, emphasizing the violence and cruelty of human sin and conquest.
* [[Micah 4:13]]: "Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; for I will make your horn iron, and your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples." Similar to [[Isaiah 41:15]], Zion is divinely empowered to conquer and destroy nations, symbolizing God's judgment executed through His people.
* [[Habakkuk 3:12]]: "You marched through the land in fury; You threshed the nations in anger." This depicts God Himself as the divine Warrior, powerfully and decisively judging and conquering nations in His wrath.
* [[Jeremiah 50:11]]: As noted in the Strong's entry, this verse's inclusion with `{{H1758}}` is problematic, as it is widely considered a textual error for דֶּשֶׁא (*deshe*, "grass" `{{H1877}}`). The context describes Babylonians "grown fat like a heifer at grass," which aligns with the meaning of *deshe* rather than *dûwsh*. Therefore, this verse does not genuinely contribute to the semantic range of `{{H1758}}`.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of `{{H1758}}` naturally intersects with several related Hebrew words and theological concepts:
* **Agricultural Terms:**
* גֹּרֶן (*gōren* `{{H1637}}`): "threshing floor," the physical location where *dûwsh* takes place.
* מֹץ (*mōṣ* `{{H4671}}`): "chaff," the worthless byproduct separated during threshing.
* דָּגָן (*dāgān* `{{H1715}}`): "grain," the valuable product of threshing.
* שׁוֹר (*shôr* `{{H7794}}`): "ox," the animal commonly used for threshing.
* מֹרַג (*mōrag* `{{H4173}}`): "threshing sledge," the implement used for threshing, often with teeth as mentioned in [[Isaiah 41:15]].
* **Verbs of Treading/Crushing:**
* דָּרַךְ (*dārak* `{{H1869}}`): "to tread," "to march," often used for treading grapes in a winepress or marching in battle, sharing a semantic overlap with the forceful action of *dûwsh*.
* רָצַץ (*rāṣaṣ* `{{H7533}}`): "to crush," "to oppress," which captures the destructive aspect of *dûwsh* when used metaphorically for violence or subjugation.
* **Theological Concepts:**
* **Divine Judgment:** The most prominent theological concept linked to *dûwsh* in its metaphorical usage. God "threshes" nations to execute His righteous judgment against their wickedness, demonstrating His sovereignty and power.
* **Oppression and Violence:** When human actors "thresh" others, it highlights the brutal reality of sin, injustice, and the suffering it inflicts.
* **Justice and Care:** The command in [[Deuteronomy 25:4]] underscores God's concern for justice and the well-being of all, including animals, a principle later applied by the Apostle Paul to human laborers (e.g., [[1 Corinthians 9:9]], [[1 Timothy 5:18]]).
* **Empowerment of God's People:** In instances like [[Isaiah 41:15]] and [[Micah 4:13]], God empowers His people to "thresh" their enemies, signifying their role in His redemptive plan and the ultimate triumph of His kingdom.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H1758}}` is multifaceted, drawing from its literal agricultural roots and its powerful metaphorical extensions.
Firstly, *dûwsh* serves as a vivid metaphor for **divine judgment and conquest**. God is portrayed as the ultimate Thresher, who decisively and powerfully crushes nations that oppose His will or oppress His people. This imagery underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His commitment to justice. The act of threshing separates the valuable from the worthless, mirroring God's discernment and ultimate separation of the righteous from the wicked.
Secondly, the command in [[Deuteronomy 25:4]] not to muzzle an ox while it threshes reveals a profound theological principle of **justice, fairness, and care for the laborer**. It reflects God's compassionate character and His expectation that those who work should partake of the fruit of their labor. This principle extends beyond animals to human dignity and equitable treatment, forming a foundational ethic for Israelite society and later Christian ethics.
Thirdly, the depiction of Israel (e.g., [[Isaiah 41:15]], [[Micah 4:13]]) as an instrument of threshing highlights their **divinely appointed role in God's plan**. This is not an endorsement of indiscriminate violence but rather a prophetic declaration of God empowering His people to execute His righteous judgments against the forces of evil and oppression, ultimately leading to the establishment of His kingdom. It speaks to the strength and might God bestows upon His chosen instruments.
Finally, the use of *dûwsh* to describe **human oppression** (e.g., [[Amos 1:3]]) serves as a stark reminder of the destructive nature of sin and injustice. It emphasizes the severity of actions that inflict suffering and highlights why such actions incur divine wrath.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb `{{H1758}}` (דּוּשׁ, *dûwsh*) is a robust term whose primary meaning is "to thresh" or "to trample." Rooted in the ancient agricultural practice of separating grain from straw, its semantic range extends powerfully to signify crushing, breaking, and conquering. Biblically, it is used literally to describe the humane treatment of working animals on the threshing floor ([[Deuteronomy 25:4]]) and the precise nature of agricultural work ([[Isaiah 28:27-28]]). More profoundly, *dûwsh* becomes a potent metaphor for divine judgment and conquest, where God or His empowered people "thresh" nations, signifying decisive victory and the execution of justice ([[Isaiah 41:15]], [[Micah 4:13]], [[Habakkuk 3:12]]). Conversely, it also describes the brutal oppression inflicted by human adversaries ([[Amos 1:3]]). The word thus encapsulates themes of divine sovereignty, righteous judgment, the consequences of human sin, and God's compassionate concern for justice, all conveyed through the vivid imagery of the threshing floor.
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