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Fan, Fanner

Artifacts

What is the meaning of Fan, Fanner in the Bible?

The term 'fan' or 'fanner' refers to a winnowing fork, an agricultural tool used in ancient Syria to separate grain from chaff. This instrument appears three times in the American Standard Revised Version of the Bible, corresponding to the Hebrew verb 'zarah,' which means to winnow.

SIGNIFICANCE

Recognizing the fan as a winnowing fork allows readers to grasp the agricultural imagery behind biblical metaphors for divine judgment and purification, where the separation of grain from chaff symbolizes the distinction between the righteous and the wicked.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Physical & Symbolic Reality: Physical objects and natural elements like Fan, Fanner were everyday realities for biblical writers, frequently used as living metaphors for spiritual truths.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Fan, Fanner in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Fan, Fanner clarify?

Source Attribution

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.

How to Cite This Entry

"Fan, Fanner." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/fan-fanner/
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