Meaning
These are the common words for fire, occurring very frequently. 'Ur, "light" (Isa 24:15 the King James Version; compare the Revised Version (British and American); Isa 31:9, and see FIRES), nur (Aramaic) (Da 3:22 ff) are found a few times, also 'eshshah (Jer 6:29), and be`erah (Ex 22:6), once each. Act 28:2, Act 28:3 has pura, "pyre," and Mar 14:54, Luk 22:56, phos, "light," the Revised Version (British and American) "in the light (of the fire)." "To set on fire," yatsath (2Sa 14:31), lahat (De 32:22, etc.), phlogizo (Jas 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 (Deu 12:31, 2Ki 17:31, Psa 106:37), and, although this was specially forbidden to the Israelites (Lev 18:21, Deu 12:31, Deu 18:10), they too often lapsed into the practice (2Ki 16:3, 2Ki 21:6, Jer 7:31, Eze 20:26, Eze 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 (Ge 15:17), in the burning bush. (Ex 3:2-4), in the pillar of fire (Ex 13:21), on Sinai (Ex 19:18), in the flame on the altar (Jud 13:20). Yahweh was "the God that answereth by fire" (1Ki 18:24, 1Ki 18:38). In the Law, therefore, sacrifices and offerings (including incense) were to be made by fire (Exo 12:8, Exo 12:9, Exo 12:10, Exo 12:1). Fire from Yahweh signified the acceptance of certain special and separate sacrifices (Jdg 6:21, 1Ki 18:38, 1Ch 21:26). In Le 9:24 the sacrificial fire "came forth from before Yahweh." The altar-fire was to be kept continually burning (Lev 6:12, Lev 6:13); offering by "strange fire" (other than the sacred altar-fire) was punished by "fire from before Yahweh" (Lev 10:1, Lev 10:2). Fire came from heaven also at the consecration of Solomon's Temple (2Ch 7:1).
According to /APC 2Macc 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" (10:3).
Fire was a frequent instrument of the Divine primitive wrath (Gen 19:24, Exo 9:23 (lightning); Num 11:1, Num 16:35, etc.; Ps 104:4, the American Standard Revised Version "Who maketh .... flames of fire his ministers"). Fire shall yet dissolve the world (2Pe 3:12). It was frequently used by the Israelites as a means of destruction of idolatrous objects and the cities of their enemies (Deu 7:5, Deu 7:25, Deu 12:3, Deu 13:16, Jos 6:24; Jgs, frequently); sometimes also of punishment (Lev 20:14, Lev 21:9, Jos 7:25; /APC 2Macc 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 (Ex 35:3). It was employed also for melting (Ex 32:24), and refining (Num 31:23, Num 3:2, Num 3:3, etc.). For the sacrificial fire wood was used as fuel (Gen 22:3, Gen 22:1, Lev 6:12); for ordinary purposes, also charcoal (Pro 25:22, Isa 6:6, the Revised Version, margin "or hot stone"; Hab 3:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "fiery bolts," margin "or burning coals"; Joh 21:9, "a fire of coals" the Revised Version, margin "Gr, a fire of charcoal"; Ro 12:20); branches (Num 15:32, 1Ki 17:12); thorns (Psa 58:9, Psa 118:12, Ecc 7:6, Isa 33:12); grass and other herbage (Mat 6:30, Luk 12:28).
2. Figurative Use:
Fire was an emblem
(1) of Yahweh in His glory (Da 7:9);
(2) in His holiness (Isa 6:4);
(3) in His jealousy for His sole worship (Deu 4:24, Heb 12:29, Psa 79:5; perhaps also Isa 33:14);
(4) of His protection of His people (2Ki 6:17, Zec 2:5);
(5) of His righteous judgment and purification (Zec 13:9, Mal 3:2, Mal 3:3, 1Co 3:13, 1Co 3:15);
(6) of His wrath against sin and punishment of the wicked (Deu 9:3, Psa 18:8, Psa 89:46, Isa 5:24, Isa 30:33, "a Topheth is prepared of old"; Mat 3:10-12, Mat 5:22, the Revised Version (British and American) "the hell of fire," margin "Greek, Gehenna of fire"; see Isa 30:33, Jer 7:31, Mat 13:40, Mat 13:42, Mat 25:41, "eternal fire"; Mr 9:45-49; see Isa 66:24, 2Th 1:7, Heb 10:27, Jdg 1:7);
(7) of the word of God in its power (Jer 5:14, Jer 23:29);
(8) of Divine truth (Psa 39:3, Jer 20:9, Luk 12:49);
(9) of that which guides men (Isa 50:10, Isa 50:11);
(10) of the Holy Spirit (Ac 2:3);
(11) of the glorified Christ (Re 1:14);
(12) of kindness in its melting power (Ro 12:20);
(13) of trial and suffering (Psa 66:12, Isa 43:2, 1Pe 1:7, 1Pe 4:12);
(14) of evil (Pro 6:27, Pro 16:27, Isa 9:18, Isa 65:5); lust or desire (Ho 7:6; /APC Wisdom of Sirach 23:16, 1Co 7:9); greed (Pr 30:16);
(15) of the tongue in its evil aspects (Jas 3:5, Jas 3:6);
(16) of heaven in its purity and glory (Re 15:2; see also Rev 21:22, Rev 21:23).
W. L. Walker
