Brief Overview of ἄχυρον (G892: achyron)

1. Brief Overview
The Greek word ἄχυρον (achyron), transliterated as “achyron,” primarily refers to “chaff” or the husks of grain separated during the threshing process. This term is emblematic in both agricultural and metaphorical contexts, symbolizing that which is worthless or insubstantial.

2. Detailed Lexical Analysis
BDAG defines ἄχυρον as the husks of wheat or barley that are discarded after threshing, emphasizing its metaphorical use to denote something of no value. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon corroborates this meaning and discusses its symbolic significance in scriptural narratives. Vines Expository Dictionary notes its use in parables to represent the transient and superficial aspects of something in contrast to its valuable core. The LSJ extends this usage to non-biblical texts, where ἄχυρον can also describe any kind of refuse or waste material. In the Bible, ἄχυρον is notably mentioned in Matthew 3:12: “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff (ἄχυρον) with unquenchable fire.”

3. Classical Greek Usage
In classical Greek literature, ἄχυρον appears less frequently but maintains a similar connotation:

• In Hesiod’s works, it is used to describe the by-products of agricultural processing.
• In agricultural treatises attributed to Xenophon, ἄχυρον is discussed in the context of crop management and animal feed.
• Philosophical texts occasionally use ἄχυρον metaphorically to discuss the separation of useful from useless knowledge or traits.

4. Summary
ἄχυρον (G892) is a Greek word meaning “chaff,” representing the disposable by-products of grain processing. It is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts to highlight the contrast between what is valuable and what is not. The usage of ἄχυρον in biblical texts as a symbol for the worthless underscores its importance in conveying moral and spiritual lessons, particularly in the context of judgment and purification. This overview highlights ἄχυρον’s role as a symbol of impermanence and insubstantiality in both ancient agricultural practices and literary metaphors.