σινιάζω (siniazō)
siniazō
to sift
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb siniazō means to sift or shake in a sieve. It comes from the word for a fine mesh basket used to separate grain from chaff. In Scripture, this physical action becomes a metaphor for intense spiritual testing. The image is one of vigorous shaking to expose what is weak or impure.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 22:31. Jesus tells Simon Peter that Satan has asked to "sift" him like wheat. The context shows this is not a gentle refinement but a severe trial designed to test faith to its breaking point. The verb captures the violence of the pressure applied to the believer’s resolve.
Translators usually render it as "sift," keeping the agricultural image intact. Unlike words for peaceful purification, siniazō implies external force and agitation. It reminds readers that spiritual testing can feel like being tossed in a mesh until only what is solid remains.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word siniazō paints a vivid picture of intense pressure. In ancient agriculture, sifting wheat meant shaking it vigorously in a mesh basket to separate the valuable grain from the useless chaff. When Jesus used this term for Peter, He described a trial that felt violent and overwhelming. It was not a gentle process of growth, but a severe test where every part of one’s faith was shaken to see what would remain.
Yet, even in this harsh imagery, there is hope. Jesus did not leave Peter to the sifting alone. He prayed for him, ensuring that his faith would not fail completely. This tells us that while we may face moments where our resolve feels like it is being torn apart, God’s prayer and presence hold us together. The shaking exposes what is weak, but it also reveals the strength of God’s sustaining grace.
When you feel like your life is being shaken to its core, remember that this testing has a purpose. It is not meant to destroy you, but to refine your trust in Christ. You are held by One who knows your limits and prays for your steadfastness. In the midst of the storm, your faith can emerge stronger, grounded not in your own power, but in His faithful love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to sift1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σινιάσαι1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 22:31
The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have all of you, that he might sift you as wheat,
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where Jesus uses the agricultural image of sifting wheat to describe Satan’s attempt to break Peter’s faith through intense persecution.