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Selected Verse: Matthew 3:12 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Mt 3:12 |
Strong Concordance |
Whose [3739] fan [4425] is in [1722] his [846] hand [5495], and [2532] he will throughly purge [1245] his [846] floor [257], and [2532] gather [4863] his [846] wheat [4621] into [1519] the garner [596]; but [1161] he will burn up [2618] the chaff [892] with unquenchable [762] fire [4442]. |
|
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Whose fan--winnowing fan.
is in his hand--ready for use. This is no other than the preaching of the Gospel, even now beginning, the effect of which would be to separate the solid from the spiritually worthless, as wheat, by the winnowing fan, from the chaff. (Compare the similar representation in Mal 3:1-3).
and he will throughly purge his floor--threshing-floor; that is, the visible Church.
and gather his wheat--His true-hearted saints; so called for their solid worth (compare Amo 9:9; Luk 22:31).
into the garner--"the kingdom of their Father," as this "garner" or "barn" is beautifully explained by our Lord in the parable of the wheat and the tares (Mat 13:30, Mat 13:43).
but he will burn up the chaff--empty, worthless professors of religion, void of all solid religious principle and character (see Psa 1:4).
with unquenchable fire--Singular is the strength of this apparent contradiction of figures:--to be burnt up, but with a fire that is unquenchable; the one expressing the utter destruction of all that constitutes one's true life, the other the continued consciousness of existence in that awful condition.
Luke adds the following important particulars (Luk 3:18-20) :
Luk 3:18 :
And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people--showing that we have here but an abstract of his teaching. Besides what we read in Joh 1:29, Joh 1:33-34; Joh 3:27-36, the incidental allusion to his having taught his disciples to pray (Luk 11:1) --of which not a word is said elsewhere--shows how varied his teaching was.
Luk 3:19 :
But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done--In this last clause we have an important fact, here only mentioned, showing how thoroughgoing was the fidelity of the Baptist to his royal hearer, and how strong must have been the workings of conscience in that slave of passion when, notwithstanding such plainness, he "did many things, and heard John gladly" (Mar 6:20).
Luk 3:20 :
Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison--This imprisonment of John, however, did not take place for some time after this; and it is here recorded merely because the Evangelist did not intend to recur to his history till he had occasion to relate the message which he sent to Christ from his prison at MachÃ&brvbr;rus (Luk 7:18, &c.). |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
His fan - The word used here and rendered "fan" means a winnowing shovel instead. It was used for throwing the grain, after it was threshed, into the air, so that the chaff might be driven away by the wind. This mode of separating the grain from the chaff is still practiced in the East. It is not probable that the fan, as the term is now used, was known to the Orientals as an instrument for cleaning grain. See the notes at Isa 30:24.
His floor - The threshing-floor was an open space, or area, in the field, usually on an elevated part of the land, Gen 50:10. It had no covering or walls. It was a space of ground 30 or 40 paces in diameter, and made smooth by rolling it or treading it hard. A high place was selected for the purpose of keeping it dry, and for the convenience of winnowing the grain by the wind. The grain was usually trodden out by oxen. Sometimes it was beaten with flails, as with us; and sometimes with a sharp threshing instrument, made to roll over the grain and to cut the straw at the same time. See the notes at Isa 41:15.
Shall purge - Shall cleanse or purify. Shall remove the chaff, etc.
The garner - The granary, or place to deposit the wheat.
Unquenchable fire - Fire that shall not be extinguished, that will utterly consume it. By the floor, here, is represented the Jewish people. By the wheat, the righteous, or the people of God. By the chaff, the wicked. They are often represented as being driven away like chaff before the wind, Job 21:18; Psa 1:4; Isa 17:13; Hos 13:13. They are also represented as chaff which the fire consumes, Isa 5:24. This image is often used to express judgments, Isa 41:15; "Thou shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff." By the unquenchable fire is meant the eternal suffering of the wicked in hell, Th2 1:8-9; Mar 9:48; Mat 25:41. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Fan, floor (Wyc. has corn-floor)
The picture is of a farmer at his threshing-floor, the area of hard-beaten earth on which the sheaves are spread and the grain trodden out by animals. His fan, that is his winnowing-shovel or fork, is in his hand, and with it he throws up the mingled wheat and chaff against the wind in order to separate the grain.
Throughly cleanse (διακαθαριεῖ)
Throughly (retained by Rev.) obsolete form of thoroughly, is the force of the preposition διά (through). In that preposition lies the picture of the farmer beginning at one side of the floor, and working through to the other, cleansing as he goes.
The whole metaphor represents the Messiah as separating the evil from the good, according to the tests of his kingdom and Gospel, receiving the worthy into his kingdom and consigning the unworthy to destruction (compare Mat 13:30, Mat 13:39-43, Mat 13:48-50). |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Whose fan - That is, the word of the Gospel. His floor - That is, his Church, which is now covered with a mixture of wheat and chaff. He will gather the wheat into the garner - Will lay up those who are truly good in heaven. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Whose fan is in his hand - The Romans are here termed God's fan, as, in Mat 3:10, they were called his axe, and, in Mat 22:7, they are termed his troops or armies.
The winnowing fan of the Hindoos is square, made of split bamboo; and the corn is winnowed by waving the fan backwards with both hands - "Whose fan is in his hand."
His floor - Does not this mean the land of Judea, which had been long, as it were, the threshing-floor of the Lord? God says, he will now, by the winnowing fan (viz. the Romans) thoroughly cleanse this floor - the wheat, those who believe in the Lord Jesus, he will gather into his garner, either take to heaven from the evil to come, or put in a place of safety, as he did the Christians, by sending them to Pella, in Coelosyria, previously to the destruction of Jerusalem. But he will burn up the chaff - the disobedient and rebellions Jews, who would not come unto Christ, that they might have life.
Unquenchable fire - That cannot be extinguished by man. |
18 And [2532] the disciples [3101] of John [2491] shewed [518] him [846] of [4012] all [3956] these things [5130].
20 Added [4369] yet [2532] this [5124] above [1909] all [3956], that [2532] he shut up [2623] John [2491] in [1722] prison [5438].
20 For [1063] Herod [2264] feared [5399] John [2491], knowing [1492] that he [846] was a just [1342] man [435] and [2532] an holy [40], and [2532] observed [4933] him [846]; and [2532] when he heard [191] him [846], he did [4160] many things [4183], and [2532] heard [191] him [846] gladly [2234].
19 But [1161] Herod [2264] the tetrarch [5076], being reproved [1651] by [5259] him [846] for [4012] Herodias [2266] his [846] brother [80] Philip's [5376] wife [1135], and [2532] for [4012] all [3956] the evils [4190] which [3739] Herod [2264] had done [4160],
1 And [2532] it came to pass [1096], that, as [1722] he [846] was [1511] praying [4336] in [1722] a certain [5100] place [5117], when [5613] he ceased [3973], one [5100] of his [846] disciples [3101] said [2036] unto [4314] him [846], Lord [2962], teach [1321] us [2248] to pray [4336], as [2531] John [2491] also [2532] taught [1321] his [846] disciples [3101].
27 John [2491] answered [611] and [2532] said [2036], A man [444] can [1410] [3756] receive [2983] nothing [3762], except [3362] it be [5600] given [1325] him [846] from [1537] heaven [3772].
28 Ye [5210] yourselves [846] bear [3140] me [3427] witness [3140], that [3754] I said [2036], I [1473] am [1510] not [3756] the Christ [5547], but [235] that [3754] I am [1510] sent [649] before [1715] him [1565].
29 He that hath [2192] the bride [3565] is [2076] the bridegroom [3566]: but [1161] the friend [5384] of the bridegroom [3566], which [3588] standeth [2476] and [2532] heareth [191] him [846], rejoiceth [5463] greatly [5479] because [1223] of the bridegroom's [3566] voice [5456]: this [3778] my [1699] joy [5479] therefore [3767] is fulfilled [4137].
30 He [1565] must [1163] increase [837], but [1161] I [1691] must decrease [1642].
31 He that cometh [2064] from above [509] is [2076] above [1883] all [3956]: he that is [5607] of [1537] the earth [1093] is [2076] earthly [1537] [1093], and [2532] speaketh [2980] of [1537] the earth [1093]: he that cometh [2064] from [1537] heaven [3772] is [2076] above [1883] all [3956].
32 And [2532] what [3739] he hath seen [3708] and [2532] heard [191], that [5124] he testifieth [3140]; and [2532] no man [3762] receiveth [2983] his [846] testimony [3141].
33 He that hath received [2983] his [846] testimony [3141] hath set to his seal [4972] that [3754] God [2316] is [2076] true [227].
34 For [1063] he whom [3739] God [2316] hath sent [649] speaketh [2980] the words [4487] of God [2316]: for [1063] God [2316] giveth [1325] not [3756] the Spirit [4151] by [1537] measure [3358] unto him.
35 The Father [3962] loveth [25] the Son [5207], and [2532] hath given [1325] all things [3956] into [1722] his [846] hand [5495].
36 He that believeth [4100] on [1519] the Son [5207] hath [2192] everlasting [166] life [2222]: and [1161] he that believeth not [544] the Son [5207] shall [3700] not [3756] see [3700] life [2222]; but [235] the wrath [3709] of God [2316] abideth [3306] on [1909] him [846].
33 And I [2504] knew [1492] him [846] not [3756]: but [235] he that sent [3992] me [3165] to baptize [907] with [1722] water [5204], the same [1565] said [2036] unto me [3427], Upon [1909] whom [3739] [302] thou shalt see [1492] the Spirit [4151] descending [2597], and [2532] remaining [3306] on [1909] him [846], the same [3778] is [2076] he which baptizeth [907] with [1722] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151].
34 And I [2504] saw [3708], and [2532] bare record [3140] that [3754] this [3778] is [2076] the Son [5207] of God [2316].
29 The next day [1887] John [2491] seeth [991] Jesus [2424] coming [2064] unto [4314] him [846], and [2532] saith [3004], Behold [2396] the Lamb [286] of God [2316], which [3588] taketh away [142] the sin [266] of the world [2889].
18 And [2532] [3767] many [4183] other [2087] things [4183] [3303] in his exhortation [3870] preached [2097] he unto the people [2992].
18 And [2532] [3767] many [4183] other [2087] things [4183] [3303] in his exhortation [3870] preached [2097] he unto the people [2992].
19 But [1161] Herod [2264] the tetrarch [5076], being reproved [1651] by [5259] him [846] for [4012] Herodias [2266] his [846] brother [80] Philip's [5376] wife [1135], and [2532] for [4012] all [3956] the evils [4190] which [3739] Herod [2264] had done [4160],
20 Added [4369] yet [2532] this [5124] above [1909] all [3956], that [2532] he shut up [2623] John [2491] in [1722] prison [5438].
4 The ungodly [07563] are not so: but are like the chaff [04671] which the wind [07307] driveth away [05086].
43 Then [5119] shall the righteous [1342] shine forth [1584] as [5613] the sun [2246] in [1722] the kingdom [932] of their [846] Father [3962]. Who [3588] hath [2192] ears [3775] to hear [191], let him hear [191].
30 Let [863] both [297] grow together [4885] until [3360] the harvest [2326]: and [2532] in [1722] the time [2540] of harvest [2326] I will say [2046] to the reapers [2327], Gather ye together [4816] first [4412] the tares [2215], and [2532] bind [1210] them [846] in [1519] bundles [1197] to [4314] burn [2618] them [846]: but [1161] gather [4863] the wheat [4621] into [1519] my [3450] barn [596].
31 And [1161] the Lord [2962] said [2036], Simon [4613], Simon [4613], behold [2400], Satan [4567] hath desired [1809] to have you [5209], that he may sift [4617] you as [5613] wheat [4621]:
9 For, lo, I will command [06680], and I will sift [05128] the house [01004] of Israel [03478] among all nations [01471], like as corn is sifted [05128] in a sieve [03531], yet shall not the least grain [06872] fall [05307] upon the earth [0776].
1 Behold, I will send [07971] my messenger [04397], and he shall prepare [06437] the way [01870] before [06440] me: and the Lord [0113], whom ye seek [01245], shall suddenly [06597] come [0935] to his temple [01964], even the messenger [04397] of the covenant [01285], whom ye delight [02655] in: behold, he shall come [0935], saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].
2 But who may abide [03557] the day [03117] of his coming [0935]? and who shall stand [05975] when he appeareth [07200]? for he is like a refiner's [06884] fire [0784], and like fullers [03526] ' soap [01287]:
3 And he shall sit [03427] as a refiner [06884] and purifier [02891] of silver [03701]: and he shall purify [02891] the sons [01121] of Levi [03878], and purge [02212] them as gold [02091] and silver [03701], that they may offer [05066] unto the LORD [03068] an offering [04503] in righteousness [06666].
41 Then [5119] shall he say [2046] also [2532] unto them on [1537] the left hand [2176], Depart [4198] from [575] me [1700], ye cursed [2672], into [1519] everlasting [166] fire [4442], prepared [2090] for the devil [1228] and [2532] his [846] angels [32]:
48 Where [3699] their [846] worm [4663] dieth [5053] not [3756], and [2532] the fire [4442] is [4570] not [3756] quenched [4570].
8 In [1722] flaming [5395] fire [4442] taking [1325] vengeance [1557] on them that know [1492] not [3361] God [2316], and [2532] that obey [5219] not [3361] the gospel [2098] of our [2257] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547]:
9 Who [3748] shall be punished [1349] [5099] with everlasting [166] destruction [3639] from [575] the presence [4383] of the Lord [2962], and [2532] from [575] the glory [1391] of his [846] power [2479];
15 Behold, I will make [07760] thee a new [02319] sharp [02742] threshing [04173] instrument having [01167] teeth [06374]: thou shalt thresh [01758] the mountains [02022], and beat them small [01854], and shalt make [07760] the hills [01389] as chaff [04671].
24 Therefore as the fire [0784] devoureth [0398] the stubble [07179], and the flame [03956] [03852] consumeth [07503] the chaff [02842], so their root [08328] shall be as rottenness [04716], and their blossom [06525] shall go up [05927] as dust [080]: because they have cast away [03988] the law [08451] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], and despised [05006] the word [0565] of the Holy One [06918] of Israel [03478].
13 The sorrows [02256] of a travailing woman [03205] shall come [0935] upon him: he is an unwise [02450] son [01121]; for he should not stay [05975] long [06256] in the place of the breaking forth [04866] of children [01121].
13 The nations [03816] shall rush [07582] like the rushing [07588] of many [07227] waters [04325]: but God shall rebuke [01605] them, and they shall flee [05127] far off [04801], and shall be chased [07291] as the chaff [04671] of the mountains [02022] before [06440] the wind [07307], and like a rolling thing [01534] before [06440] the whirlwind [05492].
4 The ungodly [07563] are not so: but are like the chaff [04671] which the wind [07307] driveth away [05086].
18 They are as stubble [08401] before [06440] the wind [07307], and as chaff [04671] that the storm [05492] carrieth away [01589].
15 Behold, I will make [07760] thee a new [02319] sharp [02742] threshing [04173] instrument having [01167] teeth [06374]: thou shalt thresh [01758] the mountains [02022], and beat them small [01854], and shalt make [07760] the hills [01389] as chaff [04671].
10 And they came [0935] to the threshingfloor [01637] of Atad [0329], which is beyond [05676] Jordan [03383], and there they mourned [05594] with a great [01419] and very [03966] sore [03515] lamentation [04553]: and he made [06213] a mourning [060] for his father [01] seven [07651] days [03117].
24 The oxen [0504] likewise and the young asses [05895] that ear [05647] the ground [0127] shall eat [0398] clean [02548] provender [01098], which hath been winnowed [02219] with the shovel [07371] and with the fan [04214].
48 Which [3739], when [3753] it was full [4137], they drew [307] to [1909] shore [123], and [2532] sat down [2523], and gathered [4816] the good [2570] into [1519] vessels [30], but [1161] cast [906] the bad [4550] away [1854].
49 So [3779] shall it be [2071] at [1722] the end [4930] of the world [165]: the angels [32] shall come forth [1831], and [2532] sever [873] the wicked [4190] from [1537] among [3319] the just [1342],
50 And [2532] shall cast [906] them [846] into [1519] the furnace [2575] of fire [4442]: there [1563] shall be [2071] wailing [2805] and [2532] gnashing [1030] of teeth [3599].
39 [1161] The enemy [2190] that sowed [4687] them [846] is [2076] the devil [1228]; [1161] the harvest [2326] is [2076] the end [4930] of the world [165]; and [1161] the reapers [2327] are [1526] the angels [32].
40 As [5618] therefore [3767] the tares [2215] are gathered [4816] and [2532] burned [2618] in the fire [4442]; so [3779] shall it be [2071] in [1722] the end [4930] of this [5127] world [165].
41 The Son [5207] of man [444] shall send forth [649] his [846] angels [32], and [2532] they shall gather [4816] out of [1537] his [846] kingdom [932] all things [3956] that offend [4625], and [2532] them which do [4160] iniquity [458];
42 And [2532] shall cast [906] them [846] into [1519] a furnace [2575] of fire [4442]: there [1563] shall be [2071] wailing [2805] and [2532] gnashing [1030] of teeth [3599].
43 Then [5119] shall the righteous [1342] shine forth [1584] as [5613] the sun [2246] in [1722] the kingdom [932] of their [846] Father [3962]. Who [3588] hath [2192] ears [3775] to hear [191], let him hear [191].
30 Let [863] both [297] grow together [4885] until [3360] the harvest [2326]: and [2532] in [1722] the time [2540] of harvest [2326] I will say [2046] to the reapers [2327], Gather ye together [4816] first [4412] the tares [2215], and [2532] bind [1210] them [846] in [1519] bundles [1197] to [4314] burn [2618] them [846]: but [1161] gather [4863] the wheat [4621] into [1519] my [3450] barn [596].
7 But [1161] when the king [935] heard [191] thereof, he was wroth [3710]: and [2532] he sent forth [3992] his [846] armies [4753], and destroyed [622] those [1565] murderers [5406], and [2532] burned up [1714] their [846] city [4172].
10 And [1161] now [2235] also [2532] the axe [513] is laid [2749] unto [4314] the root [4491] of the trees [1186]: therefore [3767] every [3956] tree [1186] which bringeth [4160] not [3361] forth [4160] good [2570] fruit [2590] is hewn down [1581], and [2532] cast [906] into [1519] the fire [4442].