### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mizreh**, represented by `{{H4214}}`, is defined as a **winnowing shovel** or **fan**. Derived from the root `{{H2219}}` which means to scatter, this term describes a tool used to toss grain into the air to separate it from the lighter chaff. It is a rare word, appearing only **2 times** in **2 unique verses** in the Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two uses of `{{H4214}}` illustrate its literal and metaphorical applications. In Isaiah, it is a literal agricultural tool used in a scene of peace and abundance, where even the **oxen** and **young asses** eat choice **provender** that has been winnowed with the shovel and the **fan** [[Isaiah 30:24]]. In contrast, Jeremiah employs the word as a powerful metaphor for divine judgment. God declares, "I will fan them with a **fan** in the gates of the land," signifying his intent to scatter and **destroy** His **people** for their unrepentant **ways** [[Jeremiah 15:7]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help to clarify the meaning and context of **mizreh**:
* `{{H2219}}` **zârâh**: This is the primitive root from which **mizreh** is derived, meaning to toss about, scatter, or **winnow**. It is used as a verb in both verses where `{{H4214}}` appears, describing the action of fanning or winnowing ([[Jeremiah 15:7]], [[Isaiah 30:24]]).
* `{{H7371}}` **rachath**: A **shovel** or winnowing-fork. This tool is mentioned alongside the **fan** in Isaiah's prophecy, indicating they were used together in the process of cleaning grain [[Isaiah 30:24]].
* `{{H5971}}` **ʻam**: Meaning a **people** or nation. This word identifies the object of God's metaphorical fanning in Jeremiah's warning, where God's **people** are scattered in judgment [[Jeremiah 15:7]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4214}}` is demonstrated through its contrasting imagery of provision and judgment.
* **Divine Provision:** In its literal context, the fan is an instrument that produces clean, high-quality food. Its use points to a time of blessing and abundance, where even working animals are well cared for [[Isaiah 30:24]].
* **Instrument of Judgment:** Metaphorically, the fan becomes a symbol of God’s power to separate and scatter. It is used to execute judgment upon a disobedient people, resulting in bereavement and destruction [[Jeremiah 15:7]].
* **The Act of Separation:** The core function of a winnowing fan is to separate valuable grain from worthless chaff. This action serves as a stark illustration of God’s discernment and his response to a people who "return not from their ways" [[Jeremiah 15:7]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4214}}` is a term with a specific, dual-faceted application in Scripture. While it literally refers to an agricultural **fan** used to prepare food in times of prosperity, it is also powerfully repurposed as a metaphor for God's scattering judgment against His unrepentant people. The word encapsulates the biblical principle of separation, whether in the mundane act of winnowing grain or the divine act of judging a nation.
TRV