Matthew 3:12
Whose 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.
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
διακαθαριεῖ
he will throughly purge
G1245
διακαθαριεῖ
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
συνάξει
gather
G4863
συνάξει
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)
αὐτοῦ
his
G846
αὐτοῦ
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
17 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
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
18 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 #:
19 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
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 up
G2618
κατακαύσει
he will burn up
Strong's:
G2618
Word #:
24 of 26
to burn down (to the ground), i.e., consume wholly
Cross References
Malachi 4:1For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.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.Luke 3:17Whose 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.Isaiah 41:16Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.Jeremiah 51:2And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.Psalms 1:4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.Matthew 13:41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;Jeremiah 7:20Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.John 15:2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.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.
Historical Context
Winnowing was the final stage of grain processing where grain was thrown into the air, allowing wind to separate heavier wheat from lighter chaff. This agricultural image would resonate with John's largely agrarian audience.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the imagery of wheat and chaff illustrate the doctrine of election and the final separation of believers and unbelievers?
- What does 'unquenchable fire' teach about the eternal conscious punishment of the wicked?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The winnowing fork imagery depicts Christ's separating work at judgment. Wheat represents the elect who will be gathered into God's barn (heaven), while chaff represents the reprobate who will be burned with 'unquenchable fire'—emphasizing the eternal, irreversible nature of hell. This agricultural metaphor was readily understood and highlights both election (the gathered wheat) and reprobation (the burned chaff).