Understanding ἄχυρον (achyron) Strong’s G892: The Worthless Chaff Separated from God’s Precious Wheat

Pronunciation Guide: ah-KHÜ-ron (with the ‘kh’ pronounced as in Scottish ‘loch’)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G892: ἄχυρον (achyron) refers to the chaff or straw that is separated from wheat during the threshing process. In Biblical usage, it represents that which is worthless, useless, and destined to be burned—often symbolizing the fate of the unrighteous or those who reject God. The word vividly illustrates the divine sorting process where the valuable (wheat/grain) is separated from the worthless (chaff).

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Noun (neuter)
• Root Word: From a primitive root meaning “to be useless” or “without substance”
• Language Origin: Koine Greek, with cognates in classical Greek literature
• Primary Usage: Found primarily in narrative and teaching passages, particularly in contexts of judgment and separation
• Grammatical Note: Usually appears in plural form in the New Testament

ἄχυρον Morphology:

• ἄχυρον (nominative/accusative singular) – chaff
• ἀχύρου (genitive singular) – of chaff
• ἀχύρῳ (dative singular) – with/by chaff
• ἄχυρα (nominative/accusative plural) – pieces of chaff/straw
• ἀχύρων (genitive plural) – of pieces of chaff
• ἀχύροις (dative plural) – with pieces of chaff

Origin & History

The term ἄχυρον has ancient agricultural roots in Greek language, appearing in classical Greek texts as early as the 5th century BCE. Aristotle, in his “Historia Animalium,” uses the term when discussing how certain animals feed on different agricultural byproducts, distinguishing between the grain itself and the ἄχυρον (chaff). The word was firmly established in agricultural contexts long before its metaphorical usage in Biblical literature.

In the Septuagint (LXX), ἄχυρον appears in passages such as Job 21:18 and Isaiah 17:13, where it translates the Hebrew מֹץ (mots) or קַשׁ (qash), terms referring to chaff blown away by the wind. The early Church Father Origen, in his “Contra Celsum,” expands on this imagery to distinguish between the substance of faith (wheat) and empty philosophical arguments (chaff), showing how the agricultural metaphor was embraced in early Christian theological discourse.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Agricultural Byproduct – The lightweight, insubstantial husks separated from grain during threshing
• Symbol of Worthlessness – That which has no intrinsic value or substance
• Object of Divine Judgment – Material specifically identified as destined for burning/destruction
• Metaphor for the Unrighteous – Those separated from the righteous in divine judgment

ἄχυρον Translation Options:

• Chaff – Best captures both the agricultural context and metaphorical meaning of worthlessness; appropriate in most contexts
• Straw – Sometimes used but lacks the specific connotation of the lightweight, airborne nature of chaff
• Husks – Emphasizes the covering aspect more than the worthless, discarded nature
• Stubble – Captures the idea of the leftover agricultural waste but typically refers to what remains in the field rather than what is separated during threshing

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἄχυρον appears only twice, both times in parallel passages describing John the Baptist’s prophecy about the Messiah’s coming judgment. The imagery is powerful—the winnowing fork separating the valuable wheat from the worthless chaff, with the chaff destined for the unquenchable fire. This agricultural metaphor would have been immediately understood by the first-century audience familiar with threshing practices in ancient Israel.

The limited but significant usage of ἄχυρον highlights its specialized metaphorical purpose in Scripture. While the word itself is rare, the concept it represents—divine separation and judgment—appears throughout the Bible in various forms. The vivid image of chaff being separated and burned underscores the finality and completeness of divine judgment.

• “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff [ἄχυρον] with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12
• “His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff [ἄχυρον] with unquenchable fire.” Luke 3:17
• “The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff [מֹץ/ἄχυρον in LXX] which the wind drives away.” Psalm 1:4 (LXX usage)
• “Like chaff [מֹץ/ἄχυρον in LXX] before the wind, and like a tumbling thing before the whirlwind.” Isaiah 17:13 (LXX usage)
• “Are they as straw [תֶּבֶן/ἄχυρον in LXX] before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?” Job 21:18 (LXX usage)

Cultural Insights

In ancient Israel, threshing and winnowing were community activities that often took place on elevated platforms called threshing floors, typically located on hilltops to catch the prevailing winds. After the grain was threshed by animals treading over it, farmers would use winnowing forks to toss the mixture into the air. The heavier grain would fall back down, while the lighter chaff would be blown away by the wind. This agricultural practice formed the backdrop for powerful spiritual metaphors about separation and judgment.

The practice was so fundamental to ancient Near Eastern life that threshing floors often served as public gathering places and even legal venues. King David purchased the threshing floor of Araunah (Ornan) the Jebusite, which later became the site for Solomon’s Temple. This connection between threshing floors and sacred space adds deeper significance to the ἄχυρον imagery—the place of separating wheat from chaff became the place of meeting between God and humanity, suggesting that the process of separation is integral to divine-human relationship.

Theological Significance

The imagery of ἄχυρον reveals profound truths about God’s holiness and justice. As the divine winnower, Yahweh’s perfect discernment separates that which has genuine substance and value from that which is merely superficial. This demonstrates God’s commitment to truth and righteousness—He will not allow the worthless to be confused with the valuable indefinitely. There is coming a day when all things will be revealed for what they truly are.

This separation imagery also illuminates the Messiah’s role as judge. When John the Baptist speaks of Yeshua (Jesus) having “His winnowing fork in His hand,” he presents the Messiah as One who executes divine judgment with perfect precision. This challenges superficial understandings of the Messiah as merely a compassionate teacher; He is also the One who definitively separates truth from falsehood, righteous from unrighteous. Yet even in this judgment, we see God’s mercy—He does not destroy indiscriminately but carefully preserves that which has value while removing only what is truly worthless.

Personal Application

The imagery of ἄχυρον invites us to examine our own lives with honest discernment. What aspects of our character, priorities, and activities have genuine substance that will endure God’s winnowing process? What elements are merely chaff—impressive perhaps from a distance but lacking true substance? This imagery challenges us to invest our limited time and energy in developing qualities and pursuing goals that have eternal value rather than temporary impressiveness.

For believers facing persecution or feeling marginalized in society, the winnowing metaphor offers profound comfort. The world’s value system often elevates the flashy and superficial while dismissing the humble and substantial. But God’s winnowing process reverses these judgments, revealing the true value of what the world might consider worthless. Those who feel like they’re being “blown away” by society’s winds can take comfort that God recognizes their true worth.

Related Words

• σῖτος (sitos) (SEE-tos) – wheat, grain; the valuable produce that is separated from the chaff; represents what is genuine and valuable in God’s sight. See G4621
• λικμάω (likmao) (lik-MAH-oh) – to winnow, separate the grain from the chaff; the process of divine separation and judgment. See G3039
• πτύον (ptyon) (PTOO-on) – winnowing fork or shovel; the implement used in the winnowing process; symbol of Messiah’s authority to judge. See G4425
• ἅλων (halon) (HAL-ohn) – threshing floor; the location where grain is separated from chaff; often has sacred significance in Scripture. See G257
• κατακαίω (katakaio) (ka-ta-KAI-oh) – to burn up completely; describes the fate of the chaff; represents the finality of divine judgment. See G2618

Did You Know?

• In ancient Israel, farmers would sometimes store chaff as animal bedding or fuel for fires, but never as food—a practice that reinforces the biblical metaphor of chaff representing that which cannot provide spiritual nourishment. In times of severe famine, the desperate might try to consume chaff, but it provided no nourishment and could cause severe digestive distress—a powerful physical illustration of the spiritual emptiness of a life without God.
• The Greek word ἄχυρον has survived into modern Greek (άχυρο) with the same basic meaning, showing the enduring nature of this agricultural concept. In modern Greek, the word is still frequently used in proverbial expressions about distinguishing the valuable from the worthless, such as “ξεχωρίζω την ήρα από το στάρι” (separating the wheat from the weeds)—a testament to the lasting power of this metaphor.
• The winnowing process that separates wheat from chaff required specific weather conditions—it needed enough wind to blow away the chaff but not so much that it would blow away the wheat as well. Farmers would often pray for “winnowing winds,” and the timing of this agricultural activity was seen as somewhat providential. This adds depth to the metaphor of divine judgment—God brings judgment at precisely the right time and with exactly the right measure to accomplish His purposes.

Remember This

ἄχυρον reminds us that God’s winnowing fork ultimately reveals what is genuine in our hearts—and while His judgment is certain, it is also precise, preserving everything of true value while removing only what would ultimately harm us.