Lexical Summary diakatharizo: To thoroughly cleanse, to purify completely Original Word: διακαθαρίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance thoroughly purge. From dia and katharizo; to cleanse perfectly, i.e. (specially) winnow -- thoroughly purge. see GREEK dia see GREEK katharizo HELPS Word-studies 1245 diakatharízō (from 1223 /diá, "thoroughly," which intensifies 2511 /katharízō, "cleanse") – properly, thoroughly cleanse (literally, "purge back-and-forth, all the way across"). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1245: διακαθαίρω[διακαθαίρω: 1 aorist διεκαθαρα (un-Attic and later form; cf. Moeris, edition Piers., p. 137; Lob. ad Phryn., p. 25; Veitch, under the word καθαίρω), infinitive διακαθᾶραι; to cleanse (thoroughly, cf. διά, C. 2 i. e.) thoroughly: Luke 3:17 T WH L marginal reading Tr marginal reading; for R G διακαθαρίζω. (From Aristophanes and Plato down.) STRONGS NT 1245: διακαθαρίζωδιακαθαρίζω: future διακαθαριω (Buttmann, 37 (32); Winers Grammar, § 13, 1 c.; WHs Appendix, p. 163); to cleanse thoroughly, (Vulg.permundo): τήν ἅλωνα, Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17 (T WH etc. διακαθᾶραι, which see). (Not found in secular authors, who use διακαθαίρω, as τήν ἅλω, Alciphron, epistles 3, 26.) The verb translated “to thoroughly cleanse” or “to winnow” paints the picture of a farmer standing on a threshing floor, pitching mixed grain and chaff into the air so the breeze carries the chaff away while the heavier kernels fall to the ground. Scripture employs this everyday scene to convey the Messiah’s decisive, searching work of judgment and purification. New Testament Usage Only twice does the word appear, both on the lips of John the Baptist when he heralds the coming Christ: Each occurrence stands within an announcement of impending judgment, linked to the promise of a baptism “with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” The Messiah will not merely separate; He will also preserve and secure what is genuine. Underlying Old Testament Imagery 1. Threshing Floors – Places of decisive divine activity (2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Chronicles 21:18; Ruth 3:2). John’s language gathers these strands, declaring that the long-awaited purifier is now present. Messiah’s Threshing Floor The threshing floor imagery underscores four realities: Repentance, Baptism, and Fire John frames the warning with a call to repentance (Matthew 3:2) and a promise of Spirit-fire baptism (Luke 3:16). The same Christ who judges also grants cleansing power. Those who heed the call are refined, not consumed (Acts 2:3–4). Thus the Baptist’s proclamation unites mercy and severity (Romans 11:22). Eschatological Harvest The two references anticipate the final harvest motif found elsewhere: Diakatharízō therefore foreshadows the climactic separation that will consummate history. Personal and Corporate Sanctification Believers experience an ongoing, gracious winnowing: The verb’s force calls every generation to welcome the Spirit’s searching work, discarding doctrinal and moral chaff. Historical and Theological Reflection Early church writers (e.g., Chrysostom) saw in the term a comfort for the faithful and a warning to the careless. Reformers linked it to the necessity of continual reformation within the church. Modern missions literature often employs the same image when stressing revival, purity, and doctrinal fidelity. Practical Exhortation Because the Lord of the harvest holds the winnowing fork, disciples are summoned to: 1. Pursue heartfelt repentance (James 4:8). Englishman's Concordance Matthew 3:12 V-FIA-3SGRK: αὐτοῦ καὶ διακαθαριεῖ τὴν ἅλωνα NAS: is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; KJV: and he will throughly purge his INT: of him and he will clear the threshing floor Luke 3:17 V-ANA Strong's Greek 1245 |
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