Lexical Summary halón: Threshing floor Original Word: ἁλών Strong's Exhaustive Concordance floor. Probably from the base of heilisso; a threshing-floor (as rolled hard), i.e. (figuratively) the grain (and chaff, as just threshed) -- floor. see GREEK heilisso NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom halós (a threshing floor) Definition a threshing floor NASB Translation threshing floor (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 257: ἅλωνἅλων, (ωνος, ἡ (in the Sept. also ὁ, cf. Ruth 3:2; Job 39:12), equivalent to ἡ ἅλως, genitive ἅλω, a ground-plot or threshing-floor, i. e., a place in the field itself, made hard after the harvest by a roller, where the grain was threshed out: Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17. In both these passages, by metonymy of the container for the thing contained, ἅλων is the heap of grain, the flooring, already indeed threshed out, but still mixed with chaff and straw, like Hebrew גֹּרֶן, Ruth 3:2; Job 39:12 (the Sept. in each place ἅλωνα); (others adhere to the primary meaning. Used by Aristotle, de vent. 3, Works, 2:973{a} 14). Topical Lexicon Overview of the Threshing FloorThe threshing floor (Greek ἅλων, halōn) was a hard, level, often elevated space where harvested grain was separated from husks and straw. Animals or sledges crushed the stalks; the mixture was then tossed into the evening breeze so that kernels fell to the floor while chaff blew away. Because it lay open to public view, the threshing floor became a vivid stage upon which God taught Israel lessons of covenant, judgment, provision, and redemption. Threshing Floors in Israel’s Daily Life • Construction and Location: Usually circular and twenty-five to forty feet across, the floor was packed clay or bedrock located on hilltops to catch prevailing winds (Hosea 13:3). Old Testament Symbolism 1. Place of Atonement and Worship 2. Covenant Kindness and Redemption 3. Prophetic Judgment New Testament Usage of ἅλωνα Matthew 3:12 and Luke 3:17 record John the Baptist’s identical warning: “His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Key observations: • The Owner is Messiah. Authority over the floor belongs to Jesus Christ, not Rome, religion, or self. Christological and Eschatological Themes 1. Messianic Harvest 2. Pentecost Fulfillment 3. Temple Connection Practical Ministry Implications • Preaching: Gospel proclamation must retain the twin emphases of grace and coming judgment reflected in the threshing-floor metaphor. The imagery of the threshing floor, though occurring only twice in the Greek New Testament, weaves together the Bible’s narrative threads—creation, covenant, redemption, judgment, and consummation—centering all history and hope in Jesus Christ, Lord of the harvest. Forms and Transliterations άλω άλων αλωνα άλωνα ἅλωνα άλωνας άλωνες άλωνι άλωνος άλωνός alona alōna halona halōna hálona hálōnaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 3:12 N-AFSGRK: διακαθαριεῖ τὴν ἅλωνα αὐτοῦ καὶ NAS: and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather KJV: his floor, and INT: he will clear the threshing floor of him and Luke 3:17 N-AFS |
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