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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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