Bible Dictionary
Winnowing
Winnowing is the agricultural process of separating grain from chaff by wind or a fan. Scripture uses this familiar work as an image of purification, judgment, and the separation of the righteous from the wicked.
Definition
Winnowing is the agricultural process of separating grain from chaff by moving air. The grain is distinguished from lighter refuse through the action of wind or a fan. It is associated with the related agricultural activities of threshing and the use of a fan.
Biblical Usage
The supplied material identifies winnowing with the biblical subjects of agriculture, the fan, and threshing. These associations present it as an ordinary farming operation used to separate useful grain from chaff.
Historical Background
No additional historical background is supplied beyond the connection of winnowing with ancient agricultural practice, threshing, and the fan used in the separation process.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
[Agriculture]
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>win'-o-ing.</p><p>See AGRICULTURE; FAN; THRESHING.</p>