Winnow
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Winnow in the Bible?
Winnowing is the agricultural process of separating grain from chaff using wind. This was typically achieved by tossing the mixture into the air with a shovel to allow the breeze to carry away the lighter husks.
SIGNIFICANCE
This practice provides essential context for agrarian metaphors in ancient texts regarding judgment and purification. It illustrates the daily labor and environmental dependencies of the ancient Near East.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Winnow. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Winnow in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Winnow 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
"Winnow." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/winnow/