Brief Overview of ἅλων (G257)

ἅλων (halōn) is a Greek noun that primarily refers to a “threshing floor.” In ancient agricultural practice, a threshing floor was a flat, often circular area where grain was separated from the chaff. The term can be used both literally and metaphorically in biblical texts:

1. Literal Meaning:

• Threshing Floor: The primary meaning is the flat area used for threshing grain. Threshing floors were typically located outside of settlements and were used during the harvest season.

1. Metaphorical Use:

• Metaphor for Judgment: In biblical texts, the threshing floor can symbolize a place of judgment or separation, reflecting the process of separating grain from chaff.

Detailed Overview with Concordances

1. BDAG (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature):

• BDAG defines ἅλων as “threshing floor,” noting its role in agricultural practice where grain is separated from the husks. BDAG also highlights its metaphorical use in the New Testament, such as in Matthew 3:12, where it symbolizes a place of judgment and purification.

2. LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones Greek-English Lexicon):

• LSJ provides a definition of ἅλων as “threshing floor” and mentions its use in various ancient Greek texts. The lexicon notes the term’s significance in agricultural settings and its metaphorical applications in literature and biblical texts.

3. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:

• Thayer describes ἅλων as “a threshing floor,” emphasizing its use in the New Testament. Thayer explains that the term is used literally to refer to the place where grain is threshed and metaphorically to represent a place of judgment or separation in biblical contexts.

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4. Strong’s Concordance:

• Strong’s Concordance defines ἅλων as “a threshing floor.” It provides references to passages in the Bible where the term is used both literally and metaphorically, including its symbolic meaning related to judgment and separation.

Summary:
ἅλων refers primarily to a “threshing floor,” a place where grain is separated from chaff. In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to represent judgment and separation. BDAG, LSJ, Thayer, and Strong’s Concordance all acknowledge the term’s dual usage, both literal and metaphorical, reflecting its significance in agricultural and biblical contexts.