Luke 3:17
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Original Language Analysis
οὗ
Whose
G3739
οὗ
Whose
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
1 of 26
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
2 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
χειρὶ
hand
G5495
χειρὶ
hand
Strong's:
G5495
Word #:
6 of 26
the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by hebraism) a means or instrument)
αὐτοῦ
his
G846
αὐτοῦ
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
7 of 26
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
8 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
διακαθᾶριεῖ
he will throughly purge
G1245
διακαθᾶριεῖ
he will throughly purge
Strong's:
G1245
Word #:
9 of 26
to cleanse perfectly, i.e., (specially) winnow
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἅλωνα
floor
G257
ἅλωνα
floor
Strong's:
G257
Word #:
11 of 26
a threshing-floor (as rolled hard), i.e., (figuratively) the grain (and chaff, as just threshed)
αὐτοῦ
his
G846
αὐτοῦ
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
12 of 26
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
13 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
συναξεῖ
will gather
G4863
συναξεῖ
will gather
Strong's:
G4863
Word #:
14 of 26
to lead together, i.e., collect or convene; specially, to entertain (hospitably)
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
17 of 26
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτοῦ
his
G846
αὐτοῦ
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
20 of 26
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
21 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κατακαύσει
he will burn
G2618
κατακαύσει
he will burn
Strong's:
G2618
Word #:
24 of 26
to burn down (to the ground), i.e., consume wholly
Cross References
Matthew 13:30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.Jeremiah 15:7And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways.Micah 4:12But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.Psalms 1:4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.Isaiah 30:24The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.Matthew 3:12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Historical Context
Winnowing was familiar to agricultural listeners—grain thrown in air, wind blowing away light chaff while heavy wheat fell to the floor. This vivid imagery depicted Christ's separating righteous from wicked. The unquenchable fire warned of eternal judgment, not temporary punishment.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the winnowing imagery teach about Christ's thorough judgment?
- How does Christ simultaneously save His people while judging the wicked?
- What does 'unquenchable fire' teach about the eternality of hell?
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Analysis & Commentary
The agricultural metaphor—'Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor'—describes Christ's separating work in judgment. The 'fan' (winnowing fork) tosses grain allowing wind to separate wheat from chaff. That the fan is 'in his hand' indicates Christ's active, present work of separation. 'Throughly purge' emphasizes complete, exhaustive separation—Christ's judgment is thorough, not partial. The result: 'gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable'—eternal separation of saved (wheat) and lost (chaff). This teaches Christ's dual role: gathering His people to safety while judging the wicked with eternal fire. The unquenchable fire indicates hell's eternality.