מְדֻשָּׁה
𐤌𐤃𐤔𐤄
mᵉdushshâh
H4098 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Threshing-place, or the condition of being threshed; a space or entity characterized by the process of threshing, or metaphorically, by subjection to crushing or oppression. In agricultural contexts, it refers to an area or state where threshing occurs. Figuratively, it can denote a people or community subjected to harsh treatment or oppression, likened to grain being threshed.
Semantic Range
threshing-place, instance of threshing, state of being threshed, place or object trampled, figuratively: people subjected to oppression or devastation
Root / Etymology
From the root דּוּשׁ (dūsh), meaning 'to tread, thresh, trample.' The word is a feminine noun form, derived from the passive participle pattern, indicating 'that which is or has been threshed' or 'the place where threshing was done.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
מְדֻשָּׁה appears in poetic and prophetic texts, such as Isaiah 41:15, often with strong metaphorical usage. The term draws on the familiar agricultural imagery of threshing — the process by which grain is separated from chaff through trampling or beating. In historical Israelite society, threshing was both a literal activity and a metaphor for hardship or divine judgment. The figurative sense—describing people as 'threshed'—does not connote ethnic identity but rather the experience of collective suffering or devastation. English translations sometimes render the term as 'threshing,' 'threshing-floor,' or 'down-trodden,' but these do not always convey the full nuance of the Hebrew, especially where the emphasis is on the process or condition, not merely the location. Its use is relatively rare and context-dependent. In post-exilic usage, the threshing metaphor continues but often expands to broader symbolic application in apocalyptic and prophetic literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from דּוּשׁ; a threshing, i.e. (concretely and figuratively) down-trodden people; threshing.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דושׁ (d-w-sh) — to tread, to thresh, to trample
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4098-01 |
מְדֻשָׁתִ֖/י | medushati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
O my threshed one | my threshed-one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4098-01 |
Isaiah 21:10 | מְדֻשָׁתִ֖/י | medushati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
O my threshed one | my threshed-one |