מִזְרֶה
𐤌𐤆𐤓𐤄
mizreh
H4214 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A winnowing fork or shovel, specifically an agricultural implement used to toss grain into the air so that the wind may separate the lighter chaff from the heavier kernels. The term refers to a tool used in grain processing, focusing on the act of scattering or throwing up grain for winnowing.
Semantic Range
winnowing fork, winnowing shovel, agricultural implement for tossing grain, tool for separating grain from chaff
Root / Etymology
From the root זרה (z-r-h), meaning 'to scatter, winnow.' The noun מִזְרֶה derives as an instrument noun, indicating 'that which scatters,' hence 'winnowing shovel' or 'fork.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In ancient Israelite agrarian society, the מִזְרֶה was an essential tool during the harvest season for processing grain. It appears in contexts discussing the separation of grain from chaff, notably in prophetic and agricultural imagery (cf. Isaiah 30:24; Jeremiah 15:7). The tool would be used after threshing to throw grain and chaff into the air, so the wind could carry away the lighter chaff, leaving the grain to fall back for collection. The noun is rare, used only a few times in the Hebrew Bible. While English translations sometimes use 'fan,' this reflects older usage where 'fan' meant 'winnowing implement,' not the modern notion of a device to produce airflow. Modern English 'winnowing fork' or 'shovel' better captures its function. The term must be distinguished from other instruments such as מַגְרֵפָה (magrephah), which can refer to a general shovel, and מִרְפֶּתֶת (mirpeṯeṯ), which may indicate a separate agricultural implement. In later periods, this term is largely replaced or supplemented by other words as agricultural technology and terminology evolved.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from זָרָה; a winnowing shovel (as scattering the chaff); fan.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זרה (z-r-h) — to scatter, to winnow, to disperse
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2219 | זָרָה | in your being scattered |
| H2239 | זֶרֶת | in the hand-span |
| H4215 | מְזָרֶה | and from scatterers |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4214-01 |
בְּ/מִזְרֶ֖ה | bemizereh | HR/Ncmsa |
with a winnowing fork | with a winnowing shovel | 1 |
H4214-02 |
וּ/בַ/מִּזְרֶֽה | uvamizereh | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and-with-fork | and with the winnowing shovel | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4214-02 |
Isaiah 30:24 | וּ/בַ/מִּזְרֶֽה | uvamizereh | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and-with-fork | and with the winnowing shovel |
H4214-01 |
Jeremiah 15:7 | בְּ/מִזְרֶ֖ה | bemizereh | HR/Ncmsa |
with a winnowing fork | with a winnowing shovel |