The winnowing-fan is an agricultural tool referenced in the Bible, primarily used in the process of separating grain from chaff. This tool is emblematic of judgment and purification, themes that resonate deeply within the biblical narrative.

Biblical References and Symbolism

The winnowing-fan is mentioned in the context of ancient agricultural practices, where it played a crucial role in the threshing process. After the grain was threshed, it was necessary to separate the edible part from the inedible husks. The winnowing-fan, or fork, was used to toss the grain into the air, allowing the wind to blow away the lighter chaff while the heavier grain fell back to the ground. This imagery is vividly captured in the Bible and is often used metaphorically to describe divine judgment and the separation of the righteous from the wicked.

In the New Testament, John the Baptist uses the imagery of the winnowing-fan to describe the coming judgment by the Messiah. In Matthew 3:12 , John declares, "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." This passage underscores the role of Christ as the ultimate judge who discerns and separates those who are faithful from those who are not.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, the winnowing-fan was an essential tool for farmers. The process of winnowing was typically conducted on a threshing floor, a flat surface where the grain could be spread out and processed. The use of the winnowing-fan required skill and understanding of the wind patterns to effectively separate the grain from the chaff.

The imagery of winnowing is not only practical but also deeply symbolic. It reflects the broader biblical theme of purification and refinement. Just as the winnowing process removes the useless chaff, so too does God's judgment purify His people, removing sin and refining their character.

Theological Implications

The winnowing-fan serves as a powerful metaphor for divine judgment throughout Scripture. It emphasizes the discernment and justice of God, who knows the hearts of individuals and separates the true believers from those who merely appear righteous. This imagery calls believers to self-examination and repentance, urging them to live lives that bear genuine fruit in keeping with repentance.

Furthermore, the winnowing-fan highlights the eschatological hope of the faithful. The separation of wheat from chaff points to the ultimate fulfillment of God's kingdom, where righteousness will prevail, and the faithful will be gathered into eternal life. This hope is a central tenet of Christian eschatology, encouraging believers to persevere in faith and righteousness.

In summary, the winnowing-fan is a significant biblical symbol that conveys themes of judgment, purification, and hope. Its use in Scripture serves as a reminder of God's justice and the call to live a life worthy of His kingdom.3039. likmao -- to winnow, to scatter
... Word Origin from likmos (a winnowing fan) Definition to winnow, to scatter NASB
Word Usage like dust (2), scatter...like dust (2). grind to powder. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3039.htm - 6k

The First Disciples.
... The question put by Jesus to the following disciples, "What seek ye?" was the first
breath of the winnowing fan which the Baptist had warned them the Messiah ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/iv the first disciples.htm

The Axe at the Root --A Testimony against Puseyite Idolatry
... Christ has the winnowing fan in his hand; he sits as a refiner; he is compared by
the prophet to the "refiner's fire" and to "fuller's soap;" and hence you see ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/the axe at the roota.htm

Perseverance in Holiness
... When the winnowing fan was used to chase away the chaff, some of the wheat felt
that it was none too heavy: the wind stirred it in its place, so as to make it ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/perseverance in holiness.htm

Exhortation to Abandon their Old Errors and Listen to the ...
... It chokes man, turns him away from truth, leads him away from life: custom
is a snare, a gulf, a pit, a mischievous winnowing fan. ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter xii exhortation to abandon their.htm

The Wedding Garment
... On the threshing floor of Zion the heap is not all pure wheat, the chaff is mingled
with the grain, and therefore the winnowing fan is wanted. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the wedding garment.htm

John's Doubts and Christ's Praise
... he had conceived it. Where were the winnowing fan, the axe laid to the
roots of the trees, the consuming fire? This gentle friend ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/johns doubts and christs praise.htm

If You Give a Grape to Him when Hungry...
... What, if you go on to ask what a wheel is, or a sledge, [3555] a winnowing-fan,
jar, tub, an oil-mill, ploughshare, or sieve, a mill-stone, ploughtail, or ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/23 if you give a.htm

For I am a Man of the Threshing-Floor of Christ...
... The winnowing-fan of this threshing-floor is not the tongue of Petilianus; and
hereby, whatever evil he may have uttered, even with. Footnotes: ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 12 13 for.htm

Petilianus Said: "And Again, Charity Suffereth Long...
... to consent to them, but yet to tolerate them if you could not prevent them, lest,
on account of the wicked who are to be separated by the winnowing-fan at the ...
/.../chapter 79 173 petilianus.htm

Petilianus Said: "By this Sentence, Again, the Apostle Places in ...
... latter are the grain. Let them wait for Christ, who bears the winnowing-
fan, that they may be separated from the chaff. Footnotes: ...
/.../chapter 108 244 petilianus.htm

Winnowing-fan (1 Occurrence)
Winnowing-fan. Winnowing, Winnowing-fan. Winnowing-shovel .
Multi-Version Concordance Winnowing-fan (1 Occurrence). ...
/w/winnowing-fan.htm - 6k

Winnowing (7 Occurrences)

/w/winnowing.htm - 9k

Winnowing-shovel (2 Occurrences)
Winnowing-shovel. Winnowing-fan, Winnowing-shovel. Winnows . Multi-Version
Concordance ... Winnowing-fan, Winnowing-shovel. Winnows . Reference Bible.
/w/winnowing-shovel.htm - 7k

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