Bible Dictionary
Fan
A fan was a winnowing shovel or fork used to toss grain into the wind so that chaff and straw separated from the useful grain. Scripture also uses this agricultural image for judgment and purification.
Definition
A fan was a winnowing shovel or fork used to throw grain against the wind. The wind carried away broken straw and chaff while the useful grain remained.
Biblical Usage
The fan is used as an agricultural image in Scripture, especially for the separation of chaff from grain. The image is applied to cleansing and judgment.
Historical Background
The instrument could be a shovel or a large wooden fork. Winnowing depended on throwing the grain into the wind so that the lighter chaff and straw were separated.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
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.)
Smith's Bible Dictionary
a winnowing-shovel, with which grain was thrown up against the wind to be cleansed from the chaff and straw. (Isaiah 30:24; Matthew 3:12) A large wooden fork is used at the present day.