In biblical terminology, "fanners" refers to individuals or instruments used for winnowing grain, a process that separates the chaff from the wheat. This imagery is employed in the Bible to symbolize judgment and purification, where the righteous are separated from the wicked.

Biblical References:

1. Jeremiah 51:2 : "I will send strangers to Babylon to winnow her and to empty her land; for they will come against her from every side in the day of disaster." In this passage, God declares His intention to send "fanners" against Babylon. The fanners are symbolic of foreign invaders who will sift through the land, bringing judgment and destruction. This metaphor highlights the thoroughness of God's judgment, ensuring that nothing unworthy remains.

2. Isaiah 41:16 : "You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel." Here, the act of winnowing is used to describe the victory and purification that God's people will experience. The enemies of Israel are likened to chaff, easily blown away by the wind, signifying their ultimate defeat and the triumph of the faithful.

3. Matthew 3:12 : "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." John the Baptist uses the imagery of winnowing to describe the coming ministry of Jesus Christ. The winnowing fork represents Christ's discerning judgment, separating the true believers (wheat) from the unrepentant (chaff), who will face eternal punishment.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

The concept of fanners and winnowing in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for divine judgment and the process of purification. It underscores the idea that God discerns the hearts of individuals, distinguishing between those who are faithful and those who are not. The righteous are preserved and gathered, while the wicked are cast away, much like chaff in the wind.

In a broader theological context, the imagery of fanners can be seen as a call to repentance and spiritual readiness. Believers are encouraged to live lives that bear fruit, aligning themselves with God's will to avoid being cast away like chaff. The process of winnowing, therefore, is not only a depiction of judgment but also an invitation to holiness and commitment to God's covenant.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In ancient agrarian societies, winnowing was a common practice during the harvest. After threshing, the grain was tossed into the air using a winnowing fork or fan. The lighter chaff would be blown away by the wind, while the heavier grain would fall back to the ground. This practical agricultural process provided a vivid illustration for biblical writers to convey spiritual truths about judgment and separation.

The role of fanners, whether as individuals or as symbolic agents of God's judgment, reflects the biblical theme of divine sovereignty and justice. It serves as a reminder of God's ultimate authority over nations and individuals, emphasizing the importance of living in accordance with His righteous standards.

Questions and Answers--Sorrowful Cases--Testimonies from those who ...
... large personal experience, that the placing of several thousands of these young,
sturdy, willing workers in the homes of our Canadian fanners, through this ...
/.../lowe/gods answers/chapter ix questions and answerssorrowful.htm

The First Year --Society and Climate.
... For years machines resembling the fanners so much used by farmers in former days,
with scented grass on each side and a hut of scented grass over them, on ...
/.../chapter vi the first yearsociety.htm

Of the True Church. Duty of Cultivating Unity with Her, as the ...
... Let them hear, in fine, that it is a thrashing-floor in which the collected wheat
lies concealed under the chaff, until, cleansed by the fanners and the sieve ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 1 of the true.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

The Prophet Amos.
... and by the occurrence of the same figure in so many passages of Scripture; compare,
eg, Jeremiah 51:2; "I will send against Babylon fanners that shall fan her ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm

Fanners (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Fanners (1 Occurrence). Jeremiah 51:2 And will
send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall ...
/f/fanners.htm - 6k

Fanner
... American Standard Revised Version. In Jeremiah 51:2, the Revised Version (British
and American) substitutes "strangers" for "fanners.". ...
/f/fanner.htm - 7k

Fan (8 Occurrences)
... In Jeremiah 51:2, the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "strangers"
for "fanners.". Multi-Version Concordance Fan (8 Occurrences). ...
/f/fan.htm - 12k

Fanned (2 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 51:2 And I have sent to Babylon fanners, And they have fanned it, and they
empty its land, For they have been against it, Round about -- in the day of ...
/f/fanned.htm - 7k

Fanning (1 Occurrence)

/f/fanning.htm - 6k

Foreigners (76 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 51:2 And I have sent to Babylon fanners, And they have fanned it, and they
empty its land, For they have been against it, Round about -- in the day of ...
/f/foreigners.htm - 29k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus