mel.qach denotes a paired implement used with lamps and, in Isaiah’s vision, to take a glowing stone from the altar.

The attested uses present a paired implement among lampstand equipment, repeatedly listed with lamps and censers and made of pure gold; Isaiah 6:6 shows it being used to take a glowing stone from the altar. The construct forms occur in the lampstand inventories, while absolute forms occur both in those inventories and in the action described in Isaiah.

1. Paired lampstand implement · dominant

   In Exodus 25:38 and Exodus 37:23, the construct form is listed with the lampstand’s lamps and censers, which the APB renders as “Its tongs and its censers” and “its tongs, and its censers.” Numbers 4:9 likewise includes the construct form among the lampstand, lamps, censers, and service utensils; 1 Kings 7:49 and 2 Chronicles 4:21 list the absolute form among gold flowers and lamps.

   Exodus 25:38Exodus 37:23Numbers 4:91 Kings 7:492 Chronicles 4:21
2. Implement used to take from the altar · rare

   In Isaiah 6:6, the absolute dual form is in the clause describing a Seraph taking a glowing stone from the altar; the APB renders the action as taking it “with tongs from the altar.”

   Isaiah 6:6

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across all six verses, the APB presents the item as “tongs.” In the equipment lists it is grouped with lamps and censers, while Isaiah 6:6 presents it in the act of taking a glowing stone from the altar.