### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun `{{H1786}}` (דַּיִשׁ, *dayish*) derives from the verb `{{H1758}}` (דּוּשׁ, *dûsh*), meaning "to tread" or "to thresh." Consequently, dayish refers primarily to the "threshing-time" or the "act of threshing" itself. It encapsulates the agricultural process by which grain is separated from the straw and chaff, typically by treading animals or a threshing sledge on a threshing floor. The term thus denotes both the specific period dedicated to this vital post-harvest activity and the physical action involved in processing the harvested crops for consumption. Its semantic range is tightly bound to the agrarian rhythms of ancient Israelite life, signifying a period of intensive labor and the culmination of the harvest.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H1786}}` appears in two distinct contexts within the Hebrew Bible, each shedding light on its specific nuance:
1. **[[Leviticus 26:5]]**: "Your threshing (*dayish*) shall reach to the vintage, and the vintage shall reach to the sowing time; and you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely."
In this passage, part of the covenant blessings promised for obedience, dayish refers to the *duration* or *abundance* of the threshing season. The implication is that the harvest will be so bountiful that the threshing process will extend continuously until the grape harvest (vintage), and the vintage will similarly extend until the time for sowing new crops. This signifies an extraordinary period of agricultural productivity and divine provision, ensuring food security and prosperity. The extended *dayish* is a tangible sign of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises.
2. **[[Job 39:12]]**: "Will you trust him that he will bring home your seed, and gather it into your threshing-floor (*dayish*)?"
Here, the context is a rhetorical question posed by God to Job concerning the untamed wild ox (re'em). The question highlights the wild ox's unsuitability for agricultural labor, contrasting it with domesticated animals used for threshing. In this instance, dayish seems to refer metonymically to the *threshing-floor* itself, or the place where the threshing process occurs and grain is gathered. It underscores the vital role of this processed grain ("your seed") as the foundation of human sustenance, and the necessity of controlled labor to achieve it. The wild ox, by its nature, cannot be relied upon for such a critical task.
These occurrences demonstrate dayish's direct link to the essential agricultural cycle, emphasizing both the blessing of abundant yield and the practicalities of processing food.
### Related Words & Concepts
The understanding of `{{H1786}}` is enriched by its relationship to several other Hebrew terms and agricultural concepts:
* **`{{H1758}}` (דּוּשׁ, *dûsh*)**: The verbal root from which dayish is derived, meaning "to tread" or "to thresh." This verb describes the action itself, often involving animals or implements.
* **`{{H1637}}` (גֹּרֶן, *goren*)**: "Threshing-floor." This is the designated, often hardened, circular area where the dayish (threshing) typically takes place. The *goren* is the physical space for the *dayish*.
* **`{{H7105}}` (קָצִיר, *qatsir*)**: "Harvest." This term refers to the broader act of reaping the crops, preceding the dayish.
* **`{{H2232}}` (זֶרַע, *zera'*)**: "Seed" or "sowing." This refers to the grain itself, both before planting and after threshing, when it is prepared for storage or future sowing.
* **`{{H8467}}` (תְּבוּאָה, *tĕbû'â*)**: "Produce," "yield," or "harvest." This term often refers to the outcome or fruit of the agricultural labor, of which threshing is a crucial part.
* **Agricultural Cycle**: dayish is an integral part of the annual agricultural calendar, following the harvest and preceding the storage and sowing seasons. It represents a period of intense, communal labor.
* **Divine Provision**: The success of the dayish is ultimately dependent on God's blessing of rain and fertility, highlighting His role as the ultimate provider.
### Theological Significance
The term `{{H1786}}` carries significant theological weight, primarily through its association with divine blessing, human labor, and the sustenance of life.
1. **Divine Blessing and Covenant Faithfulness**: As seen in [[Leviticus 26:5]], a prolonged dayish is a direct manifestation of God's blessing upon an obedient Israel. It symbolizes abundant provision, agricultural prosperity, and the security that comes from living in accordance with God's covenant. The very act of threshing, which transforms raw produce into usable food, becomes a testament to God's faithfulness in sustaining His people.
2. **Human Labor and God's Sovereignty**: The process of dayish requires diligent human effort and the application of skill and tools. However, as suggested in [[Job 39:12]], the effectiveness and yield of this labor are ultimately under God's sovereign control. God provides the conditions for growth and the animals suitable for the task. This dynamic illustrates the biblical principle that human industry, while necessary, is always dependent on and blessed by divine grace.
3. **Sustenance and Life**: Threshing is the critical step that makes grain edible and storable, directly linking dayish to the very sustenance of life. In an agrarian society, the success of the dayish determined the community's ability to survive and thrive. Theologically, this points to God as the giver of "daily bread," providing the means for physical existence.
4. **Metaphorical Potential (Indirect)**: While dayish itself does not directly function as a metaphor for judgment, its root `{{H1758}}` (דּוּשׁ) often does, referring to the "treading down" or "crushing" of enemies (e.g., [[Isaiah 25:10]]). The separation of grain from chaff during threshing also serves as a powerful biblical metaphor for the separation of the righteous from the wicked, or divine judgment (e.g., [[Matthew 3:12]]). Although dayish specifically refers to the beneficial agricultural process, it exists within a semantic field where the act of treading can also signify divine justice.
### Summary
The Hebrew term `{{H1786}}` (דַּיִשׁ, *dayish*) precisely denotes the "threshing-time" or the "act of threshing," a crucial stage in the ancient Israelite agricultural cycle. Derived from the verb `{{H1758}}` (*dûsh*, "to tread/thresh"), it refers to the process of separating grain from chaff and straw. Its limited biblical occurrences in [[Leviticus 26:5]] and [[Job 39:12]] highlight its significance: in Leviticus, a prolonged dayish symbolizes abundant divine blessing and covenant faithfulness, indicating extraordinary agricultural productivity. In Job, it refers metonymically to the threshing-floor or the process itself, emphasizing the necessity of controlled labor for sustenance. Theologically, dayish underscores God's role as the ultimate provider, His covenant faithfulness in ensuring sustenance, and the interplay between human labor and divine sovereignty in the provision of daily bread. It is a humble yet profound term, deeply embedded in the lifeblood of an agrarian society and reflecting fundamental truths about God's relationship with His creation and His people.
TRV