Fan
FAN
An instrument used for winnowing grain. In the East, fans are of two kinds: one a sort of fork, having three or four prongs, and a handle four feet long; with this they throw up the grain to the wind, that the chaff may be blown away: the other sort of fan is formed to produce wind when the air is calm, Isa 30:24 . This process illustrates the complete separation which Christ the Judge will effect between the righteous and the wicked, Jer 15:7 Mat 3:12 . See THRESHING.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Fan
(, mizreh’, ), a winsowing-shovel, with which grain was thrown up against the wind, in order to cleanse it from the brokensstraw and chaff (Isa 30:24; Jer 15:7; Mat 3:12 ; Luk 3:17). SEE AGRICULTURE. At the present day in Syria, the instrument used is a largee wooden fork. (See Robinson’s Researches, 2:277, 371; Smith’s Dict. of Class., Antiq. s.v. Pala). Both kinds of instruments are delineated on the Egyptian monuments (Wilkinson, 2:4046). SEE WINNOWING.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Fan
a winnowing shovel by which grain was thrown up against the wind that it might be cleansed from broken straw and chaff (Isa. 30:24; Jer. 15:7; Matt. 3:12). (See AGRICULTURE)
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Fan
A long-handled wooden spade, a “winnowing shovel,” used in the East to throw up grain in the air so that the chaff may be separated from the wheat (Mat 3:12).
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Fan
FAN.The fan ( mizreh, the of Mat 3:12 and Luk 3:17) was an implement used in the winnowing of grain (Isa 30:24 [where it is mentioned along with the rahath, Authorized and Revised Versions shovel]). It was either a wooden shovel (Hasting’s Dictionary of the Bible i. 51a; Smith, DB [Note: Dictionary of the Bible.] i. 31; van Lennep, Bible Lands, p. 83) or a pitchfork (Hasting’s Dictionary of the Bible iv. 509a; Encyc. Bibl. i. 84: Mackie, Bible Manners and Customs, p. 42). The balance of probability is in favour of the latter.
We get no help from LXX Septuagint and Vulgate. LXX Septuagint omits the word; the Vulgate renders by ventilabrum, which was, according to some, a shovel (Ramsay, Roman Antiquities, p. 482), and, according to others, a fork (Smith, Lat. English Dict. s.v.). Pesh. has raphsho, which means shovel. There is, however, the significant fact that down to the present day two winnowing implements are used in Palestine which bear practically the same names as those which occur in Isa 30:24. These are the mir and the raht, and there is no substantial reason for doubting that they correspond respectively to the mizrch and the rahath. The mir, which we accordingly identify with the fan of Scripture, is a simple wooden fork about six feet long. It has from five to seven prongs, which are set in separately and bound together with a wrapping of fresh hide. The natural shrinkage of the hide renders it a very effective ligature. The raht is a wooden shovel about five feet in length.
The winnowing of the mixed mass of grain, chaff, and short straw produced by threshing is begun by tossing it into the air with the mir. This process frees most of the chaff and straw, which are carried away by the wind (see Agriculture, p. 40), but a good deal still remains mingled with the pile of grain. A second winnowing is therefore needed, and for this the raht is used. See also Chaff.
Literature.On the meaning of Christs winnowing-fan see Seeley, Ecce Homo, ch. vi.
Hugh Duncan.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Fan
FAN.The fan of Scripture (Isa 30:24, Mat 3:12, Luk 3:17) is the five- or six-pronged wooden winnowing-fork, for which see Agriculture, 3. The corresponding verb is rendered winnow, Isa 30:24, Rth 3:2, but fan elsewhere (Amer. RV [Note: Revised Version.] has winnow throughout); the fanners of Jer 51:2 (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] , RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] and Versions) are the winnowers, as Amer. RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] . Fanning or winnowing is a frequent figure for the Divine sifting and chastisement, Jer 4:11; Jer 15:7 etc.
A. R. S. Kennedy.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Fan
Used for winnowing grain.
Isa 30:24; Jer 15:7; Jer 51:2; Mat 3:12
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Fan
Fan. An instrument used to separate the chaff from the grain. Isa 30:24; Jer 15:7; Mat 3:12; Luk 3:17. The shovel in Isaiah is probably something used to separate the grain from the straw. It was perhaps a broad scoop by which the corn was thrown against the wind, often, doubtless, during the evening breeze, Rth 3:2, in order that the chaff might be blown away. The word translated “fan” in the first place above referred to has been thought to mean something of a similar kind, as a fork, which is still used in Palestine. It was possibly a measure or basket, in which to receive the grain. “Very little use,” says Dr. Thomson, “is now made of the fan; but I have seen it employed to purge the floor of the refuse dust, which the owner throws away as useless.”
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Fan
Fan. A winnowing-shovel, with which grain was thrown up against the wind to be cleansed from the chaff and straw. Isa 30:24; Mat 3:12. A large wooden fork is used at the present day.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Fan
denotes “a winnowing shovel or fan,” with which grain is thrown up against the wind, in order to separate the chaff, Mat 3:12; Luk 3:17.
Fuente: Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words
Fan
Isa 41:16 (a) GOD would use Israel to blow away their enemies and to have the victory over those who oppressed them.
Jer 4:11 (a) This is not a constructive wind, as when the chaff is fanned out from the wheat, but it is a destructive wind to increase the damage, as when a wind causes the fire to scatter through the forest or to spread from house to house. The enemy would destroy Jerusalem.
Jer 15:7 (b) This represents the great power of GOD’s destructive wrath. As one fans a fire in order to make it burn more brightly, so the Lord will watch over His wrath to make it burn more fiercely upon those who forsake Him.
Jer 51:2 (a) The process of punishment is reversed in this Scripture and the enemies of the Jews are being punished themselves. Babylon is conquered and scattered by her enemies. GOD really did wipe out that great city with a destroying wind. (See Jer 51:1).
Luk 3:17 (b) This is descriptive of a farmer who, with his fan and the wind produced by it, separates the chaff from the wheat. So CHRIST will separate those who are His from those who are not, in the great day of judgment. (See also Mat 3:12). The chaff referred to in this passage are those folk who are of no value at all to GOD. (See under “CHAFF”).