Fire
Fire [1]
fı̄r ( אשׁ , 'ēsh ; πῦρ , púr ): These are the common words for fire, occurring very frequently. 'Ūr , "light" ( Isaiah 24:15 the King James Version; compare the Revised Version (British and American); Isaiah 31:9 , and see Fires ), nūr (Aramaic) ( Daniel 3:22 ) are found a few times, also 'eshshāh ( Jeremiah 6:29 ), and be‛ērāh ( Exodus 22:6 ), once each. Acts 28:2 , Acts 28:3 has purá , "pyre," and Mark 14:54; Luke 22:56 , phō̇s , "light," the Revised Version (British and American) "in the light (of the fire)." "To set on fire," yācath ( 2 Samuel 14:31 ), lāhaṭ ( Deuteronomy 32:22 , etc.), phlogı́zō ( James 3:6 ).
Fire was regarded by primitive peoples as supernatural in origin and specially Divine. Molech, the fire-god, and other deities were worshipped by certain Canaanitish and other tribes with human sacrifices ( Deuteronomy 12:31; 2 Kings 17:31; Psalm 106:37 ), and, although this was specially forbidden to the Israelites ( Leviticus 18:21; Deuteronomy 12:31; Deuteronomy 18:10 ), they too often lapsed into the practice ( 2 Kings 16:3; 2 Kings 21:6; Jeremiah 7:31; Ezekiel 20:26 , Ezekiel 20:31 ). See Molech; Idolatry .
1. Literal Usage
Fire in the Old Testament is specially associated with the Divine presence, e.g. in the making of the Covenant with Abraham ( Genesis 15:17 ), in the burning bush. ( Exodus 3:2-4 ), in the pillar of fire ( Exodus 13:21 ), on Sinai ( Exodus 19:18 ), in the flame on the altar ( Judges 13:20 ). Yahweh was "the God that answereth by fire" ( 1 Kings 18:24 , 1 Kings 18:38 ). In the Law, therefore, sacrifices and offerings (including incense) were to be made by fire ( Exodus 12:8 , Exodus 12:9 , Exodus 12:10; Lev 1). Fire from Yahweh signified the acceptance of certain special and separate sacrifices ( Judges 6:21; 1 Kings 18:38; 1 Chronicles 21:26 ). In Leviticus 9:24 the sacrificial fire "came forth from before Yahweh." The altar-fire was to be kept continually burning ( Leviticus 6:12 , Leviticus 6:13 ); offering by "strange fire" (other than the sacred altar-fire) was punished by "fire from before Yahweh" ( Leviticus 10:1 , Leviticus 10:2 ). Fire came from heaven also at the consecration of Solomon's Temple ( 2 Chronicles 7:1 ).
According to 2 Macc 1:19-22, at the time of the Captivity priests hid the sacred fire in a well, and Nehemiah found it again, in a miraculous way, for the second Temple. Later, Maccabeus is said to have restored the fire by "striking stones and taking fire out of them" ( Nehemiah 10:3 ).
Fire was a frequent instrument of the Divine primitive wrath ( Genesis 19:24; Exodus 9:23 (lightning); Numbers 11:1; Numbers 16:35 , etc.; Psalm 104:4 , the American Standard Revised Version "Who maketh ... flames of fire his ministers"). Fire shall yet dissolve the world ( 2 Peter 3:12 ). It was frequently used by the Israelites as a means of destruction of idolatrous objects and the cities of their enemies ( Deuteronomy 7:5 , Deuteronomy 7:25; Deuteronomy 12:3; Deuteronomy 13:16; Joshua 6:24; Jgs, frequently); sometimes also of punishment ( Leviticus 20:14; Leviticus 21:9; Joshua 7:25; 2 Macc 7:5).
The domestic use of fire was, as among other peoples, for heating, cooking, lighting, etc., but according to the Law no fire could be kindled on the Sabbath day ( Exodus 35:3 ). It was employed also for melting ( Exodus 32:24 ), and refining ( Numbers 31:23; Numbers 3:2 , Numbers 3:3 , etc.). For the sacrificial fire wood was used as fuel ( Genesis 22:3 , Genesis 22:1; Leviticus 6:12 ); for ordinary purposes, also charcoal ( Proverbs 25:22; Isaiah 6:6 , the Revised Version, margin "or hot stone"; Habakkuk 3:5 , the Revised Version (British and American) "fiery bolts," margin "or burning coals"; John 21:9 , "a fire of coals" the Revised Version, margin "Gr, a fire of charcoal"; Romans 12:20 ); branches ( Numbers 15:32; 1 Kings 17:12 ); thorns ( Psalm 58:9; Psalm 118:12; Ecclesiastes 7:6; Isaiah 33:12 ); grass and other herbage ( Matthew 6:30; Luke 12:28 ).
2. Figurative Use
Fire was an emblem (1) of Yahweh in His glory ( Daniel 7:9 ); (2) in His holiness ( Isaiah 6:4 ); (3) in His jealousy for His sole worship ( Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29; Psalm 79:5; perhaps also Isaiah 33:14 ); (4) of His protection of His people ( 2 Kings 6:17; Zechariah 2:5 ); (5) of His righteous judgment and purification ( Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:2 , Malachi 3:3; 1 Corinthians 3:13 , 1 Corinthians 3:15 ); (6) of His wrath against sin and punishment of the wicked ( Deuteronomy 9:3; Psalm 18:8; Psalm 89:46; Isaiah 5:24; Isaiah 30:33 , "a Topheth is prepared of old"; Matthew 3:10-12; Matthew 5:22 , the Revised Version (British and American) "the hell of fire," margin "Greek, Gehenna of fire"; see Isaiah 30:33; Jeremiah 7:31; Matthew 13:40 , Matthew 13:42; Matthew 25:41 , "eternal fire"; Mark 9:45-49; see Isaiah 66:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Hebrews 10:27; Judges 1:7 ); (7) of the word of God in its power ( Jeremiah 5:14; Jeremiah 23:29 ); (8) of Divine truth ( Psalm 39:3; Jeremiah 20:9; Luke 12:49 ); (9) of that which guides men ( Isaiah 50:10 , Isaiah 50:11 ); (10) of the Holy Spirit ( Acts 2:3 ); (11) of the glorified Christ ( Revelation 1:14 ); (12) of kindness in its melting power ( Romans 12:20 ); (13) of trial and suffering ( Psalm 66:12; Isaiah 43:2; 1 Pet 17; 1 Peter 4:12 ); (14) of evil ( Proverbs 6:27; Proverbs 16:27; Isaiah 9:18; Isaiah 65:5 ); lust or desire ( Hosea 7:6; Sirach 23:16; 1 Corinthians 7:9 ); greed ( Proverbs 30:16 ); (15) of the tongue in its evil aspects ( James 3:5 , James 3:6 ); (16) of heaven in its purity and glory ( Revelation 15:2; see also Revelation 21:22 , Revelation 21:23 ).
