from the same as אֶבֶן; a pair of stones (only dual); a potter's wheel or a midwife's stool (consisting alike of two horizontal disks with a support between); wheel, stool.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼôben**, represented by `{{H70}}`, describes an object made of a pair of stones, such as a potter's wheel or a midwife's stool. Its definition indicates it is constructed of two horizontal disks with a support between them. This specific term appears only **2 times** in **2 unique verses** in the Bible, but each instance carries significant contextual meaning.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two uses of `{{H70}}` appear in very different settings. In Exodus, it refers to the **stools** of the midwives. Pharaoh commands them that when they see the Hebrew women upon the **stools**, they are to kill any male child born [[Exodus 1:16]]. Here, the object is a place associated with childbirth and a decree of death. In contrast, Jeremiah sees a potter who wrought a work on the **wheels** [[Jeremiah 18:3]]. In this passage, the same word describes a craftsman's tool used for shaping and creating.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the contexts in which `{{H70}}` is found:
* `{{H3205}}` **yâlad**: This root word for bearing young or begetting is used in Exodus to describe the midwives' task, as they "do the office of a midwife" [[Exodus 1:16]].
* `{{H3335}}` **yâtsar**: This word means to mould or form, especially as a **potter**. It is central to the imagery in Jeremiah, where God's relationship with Israel is compared to that of a **potter** and his clay [[Jeremiah 18:6]].
* `{{H1004}}` **bayith**: Meaning **house**, this word establishes the setting for Jeremiah's vision. The prophet is told to go down to the potter's **house** to witness the work being done on the wheels [[Jeremiah 18:3]].
* `{{H4191}}` **mûwth**: This verb, meaning to **kill** or die, is the terrible instruction given by Pharaoh concerning the male children seen on the stools in Exodus [[Exodus 1:16]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H70}}` comes from its powerful symbolic uses in its two appearances.
* **A Place of Life and Death:** In Exodus, the midwife's **stools** `{{H70}}` represent a critical moment where human authority attempts to subvert God's plan for His people. It is a place where a decree of death stands in opposition to the act of birth [[Exodus 1:16]].
* **A Tool for Sovereign Creation:** In Jeremiah, the potter's **wheels** `{{H70}}` become a profound metaphor for God's sovereignty. The **potter** `{{H3335}}` at his wheels demonstrates the Lord's absolute authority to shape and remake the **house** of Israel, just as the potter fashions the clay in his hand ([[Jeremiah 18:3]], [[Jeremiah 18:6]]).
* **Instrument of Purpose:** The dual meaning highlights how a simple object can serve different, profound purposes. Whether for assisting in childbirth or for shaping pottery, the tool is defined by the user's intent, illustrating a broader principle of divine and human agency.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H70}}` is a rare but potent biblical term. Though it literally means a pair of stones functioning as a stool or wheel, its significance is elevated by its context. It marks the scene of Pharaoh's deadly decree against the infant sons of Israel, and it serves as the central image in Jeremiah's illustration of God's absolute sovereignty and creative power over His people. The word **ʼôben** shows how everyday objects are used in Scripture to convey profound truths about life, death, and divine authority.
TRV