# winnow, sift

## Definition:

The terms “winnow” and “sift” mean to separate grain from unwanted materials. In the Bible, both words can also be used to refer to separating or dividing people.

* To “winnow” means to separate grain from the unwanted parts of the plant by tossing both the grain and chaff into the air, allowing the wind to blow the chaff away.
* The word “sift” refers to shaking the winnowed grain in a sieve to get rid of any remaining unwanted materials, such as dirt or stones.
* In the Old Testament, “winnow” and “sift” are used figuratively to describe hardship that separates the righteous people from the unrighteous people.
* Jesus also used the term “sift” in this figurative way when he was telling Simon Peter about how he and the other disciples would be tested in their faith.
* To translate these terms, use the words or phrases in the project language that refer to these activities; possible translations might be “shaking” or “fanning.” If winnowing or sifting are not known, then these terms could be translated by a term that refers to a different method of separating grain from chaff or dirt, or by describing this process.

(See also: [How to Translate Unknowns](rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown))

(See also: [chaff](../other/chaff.md), [grain](../other/grain.md))

## Bible References:

* [Isaiah 21:10](rc://en/tn/help/isa/21/10)
* [Luke 22:31](rc://en/tn/help/luk/22/31)
* [Matthew 3:12](rc://en/tn/help/mat/03/12)
* [Proverbs 20:8](rc://en/tn/help/pro/20/08)
* [Ruth 3:2](rc://en/tn/help/rut/03/02)

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H2219, H5128, H5130, G4425, G4617