Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, the fan used for winnowing grain was an essential agricultural tool. This implement, often made of wood, was used to separate the chaff from the grain after threshing. The process of winnowing involved tossing the threshed grain into the air so that the wind could blow away the lighter chaff, leaving the heavier, valuable grain to fall back to the ground. This method was crucial for ensuring the purity and quality of the harvested crop.The fan is mentioned in several passages of Scripture, symbolizing judgment and purification. In Isaiah 41:16 , the prophet speaks of God’s power to winnow His enemies: "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 imagery of winnowing conveys the idea of divine judgment, where the wicked are separated and removed like chaff in the wind. In the New Testament, John the Baptist uses the metaphor of winnowing to describe the coming ministry of Jesus Christ. 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 highlights the role of Christ as the righteous judge who discerns and separates the faithful from the unfaithful, gathering the former into His kingdom while the latter face destruction. The fan used for winnowing grain thus serves as a powerful symbol in biblical literature, representing both the physical act of separating grain from chaff and the spiritual act of divine judgment and purification. The imagery underscores the importance of righteousness and the ultimate accountability of all individuals before God. Nave's Topical Index Isaiah 30:24The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which has been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. Nave's Topical Index Jeremiah 15:7 Jeremiah 51:2 Matthew 3:12 Library The Draw Net Let Down into the Sea Perseverance in Holiness Petilianus Said: "By this Sentence, Again, the Apostle Places in ... A Treatise to Prove that no one Can Harm the Man who Does not ... Prosperity under Persecution The Chaff Driven Away The Wedding Garment Resources What does the Bible say about toxic relationships? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a Christian view sports / athletics? | GotQuestions.org Who was Billy Sunday? | GotQuestions.org Fan: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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