### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **kâthash**, represented by `{{H3806}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to butt or pound; bray**. This potent and descriptive verb is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, making its single usage highly significant.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H3806}}` is in [[Proverbs 27:22]], where it creates a powerful and visceral image. The verse states, "Though thou shouldest **bray** a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him." Here, **kâthash** describes the intense, forceful action of pounding or grinding, typically used to process grain. By applying this action to a fool, the proverb illustrates the utter futility of trying to forcibly remove foolishness from someone committed to it. The imagery suggests that a fool's folly is so integral to their nature that not even a violent, crushing process can separate it from them.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its context in [[Proverbs 27:22]] illuminate the meaning of `{{H3806}}`:
* `{{H191}}` **ʼĕvîyl** (fool): This is the subject of the futile braying. An **ʼĕvîyl** is not merely ignorant but is defined as a silly or perverse person who actively despises wisdom [[Proverbs 1:7]] and is considered foolish by God [[Jeremiah 4:22]].
* `{{H4388}}` **maktêsh** (mortar): This is the vessel in which the braying occurs. As a **mortar**, it is the container for a forceful, transformative process, highlighting the extremity of the action being described.
* `{{H5940}}` **ʻĕlîy** (pestle): This word, meaning **a pestle (as lifted)**, is the instrument used to perform the action of `{{H3806}}`. It works in tandem with the mortar to crush and pound.
* `{{H200}}` **ʼivveleth** (foolishness): This is the quality that cannot be removed from the fool. This **silliness** or folly is shown to be bound in the heart [[Proverbs 22:15]] and is inherently destructive [[Proverbs 14:1]].
* `{{H5493}}` **çûwr** (depart): This verb describes the result that fails to occur. The fool's foolishness will not **depart** or be removed, establishing the core lesson of the proverb about the permanence of a fool's character.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3806}}` is contained entirely within its single, vivid application in wisdom literature.
* **The Incorrigibility of Folly:** The act of braying `{{H3806}}` represents the most extreme corrective measure imaginable. Its failure to separate the fool `{{H191}}` from his foolishness `{{H200}}` serves as a stark warning that some individuals are so set in their ways that they are beyond correction.
* **Metaphor for Futile Effort:** The scene in [[Proverbs 27:22]] uses `{{H3806}}` to create a lasting metaphor for any attempt to change the essential nature of a person who rejects wisdom. It powerfully illustrates that external pressure cannot fix an internal, spiritual problem.
* **The Nature of True Change:** By showing the failure of this violent physical process, the verse implicitly points toward the idea that change must come from within. A fool's foolishness will not **depart** `{{H5493}}` by force, contrasting with the promise that God can take away a "stony heart" and give a new one [[Ezekiel 36:26]].
### Summary
In summary, **kâthash** `{{H3806}}` is a singular but impactful word in the biblical lexicon. Its sole use to mean "bray" or "pound" provides one of the most memorable images in the book of Proverbs. It defines the absolute limit of corrective action when applied to a committed fool, illustrating that a person's core character of foolishness cannot be beaten out of them. The word serves as a powerful anchor for the proverb's lesson on the futility of trying to force change upon those who refuse wisdom.
TRV