In the general sense of the word, chaff is the husk of wheat; in itself useless, and only intended to form a covering for the pure seed. But in Scripture language, it is used figuratively, to denote the uselessness and folly of a name to live, while virtually dead before God. Hence the Lord, speaking of the preciousness of his word to that of the invention of men, thus expresseth "What is the chaff to the wheat, saith the Lord?" (Jeremiah 23:28) And the sacred writers, under the same Almighty authority, describe the wicked as chaff, which the wind scattereth, and the storm carrieth away; and which the Lord will burn up in the end, with unquenchable fire. (See Job 21:18; Psalms 1:4; Hosea 13:3; Matthew 3:12)