ἄχυρον (achuron)
achuron
chaff
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word achuron refers to the dry, worthless husks left over after grain is threshed. In the ancient agricultural process, this material was light and useless for food or building, destined to be swept away by the wind rather than gathered into the barn.
This image appears in the preaching of John the Baptist, who uses it to describe the fate of those who do not produce genuine fruit (Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17). The contrast is stark between the valuable wheat stored safely and the chaff burned up. The term emphasizes a final separation, where the worthless elements are removed entirely.
Its root meaning likely connects to shedding or casting forth, reflecting how the husks are discarded during processing. Translators consistently render it as "chaff" to preserve this vivid picture of judgment and purification found in both Gospel accounts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word achuron describes the dry husks separated from grain during harvest. These light, worthless pieces are swept away by the wind and burned. John the Baptist uses this image to show that God’s judgment is clear and final. He contrasts the valuable wheat with the chaff to highlight a real difference in spiritual fruit.
For your faith, this offers both warning and comfort. It reminds us that genuine life produces visible results, not just outward appearance. The promise is that what matters most—your relationship with Christ—is gathered safely into God’s care. The rest is removed, leaving only what endures.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the chaff1×
- chaff1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἄχυρον2×
Key Verses
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Matthew 3:12
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
This verse places the word in John’s prophecy about Jesus’ role as judge who separates true believers from those lacking genuine faith.
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Luke 3:17
His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Here Luke records the same imagery, emphasizing that the chaff is consumed by unquenchable fire, underscoring the seriousness of spiritual readiness.