Skip to content

Fire

Easton's Bible Dictionary

1

For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chr 7:1, 3). The expressions “fire from heaven” and “fire of the Lord” generally denote lightning, but sometimes also the fire of the altar was so called (Exod 29:18; Lev 1:9; 2:3; 3:5, 9).

Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise than from the altar was called “strange fire” (Lev 10:1, 2; Num 3:4).

The victims slain for sin offerings were afterwards consumed by fire outside the camp (Lev 4:12, 21; 6:30; 16:27; Heb 13:11).

2

For domestic purposes, such as baking, cooking, warmth, etc. (Jer 36:22; Mark 14:54; John 18:18). But on Sabbath no fire for any domestic purpose was to be kindled (Exod 35:3; Num 15:32-36).

3

Punishment of death by fire was inflicted on such as were guilty of certain forms of unchastity and incest (Lev 20:14; 21:9). The burning of captives in war was not unknown among the Jews (2 Sam 12:31; Jer 29:22). The bodies of infamous persons who were executed were also sometimes burned (Josh 7:25; 2 Kgs 23:16).

4

In war, fire was used in the destruction of cities, as Jericho (Josh 6:24), Ai (8:19), Hazor (11:11), Laish (Judg 18:27), etc. The war-chariots of the Canaanites were burnt (Josh 11:6, 9, 13). The Israelites burned the images (2 Kgs 10:26; R.V., “pillars”) of the house of Baal. These objects of worship seem to have been of the nature of obelisks, and were sometimes evidently made of wood.

Torches were sometimes carried by the soldiers in battle (Judg 7:16).

5

Figuratively, fire is a symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the instrument of his power (Exod 14:19; Num 11:1, 3; Judg 13:20; 1 Kgs 18:38; 2 Kgs 1:10, 12; 2:11; Isa 6:4; Ezek 1:4; Rev 1:14, etc.).

God’s word is also likened unto fire (Jer 23:29). It is referred to as an emblem of severe trials or misfortunes (Zech 12:6; Luke 12:49; 1 Cor 3:13, 15; 1 Pet 1:7), and of eternal punishment (Matt 5:22; Mark 9:44; Rev 14:10; 21:8).

The influence of the Holy Ghost is likened unto fire (Matt 3:11). His descent was denoted by the appearance of tongues as of fire (Acts 2:3).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fir ('esh; pur):

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) (Dan 3:22 ff) are found a few times, also 'eshshah (Jer 6:29), and be`erah (Exod 22:6), once each. Acts 28:2; Acts 28:3 has pura, "pyre," and Mark 14:54; Luke 22:56, phos, "light," the Revised Version (British and American) "in the light (of the fire)." "To set on fire," yatsath (2 Sam 14:31), lahat (Deut 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 (Deut 12:31; 2 Kgs 17:31; Ps 106:37), and, although this was specially forbidden to the Israelites (Lev 18:21; Deut 12:31; Deut 18:10), they too often lapsed into the practice (2 Kgs 16:3; 2 Kgs 21:6; Jer 7:31; Ezek 20:26; Ezek 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 (Gen 15:17), in the burning bush. (Exod 3:2-4), in the pillar of fire (Exod 13:21), on Sinai (Exod 19:18), in the flame on the altar (Judg 13:20). Yahweh was "the God that answereth by fire" (1 Kgs 18:24; 1 Kgs 18:38). In the Law, therefore, sacrifices and offerings (including incense) were to be made by fire (Exod 12:8; Exod 12:9; Exod 12:10; Exod 12:1). Fire from Yahweh signified the acceptance of certain special and separate sacrifices (Judg 6:21; 1 Kgs 18:38; 1 Chr 21:26). In Lev 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 (2 Chr 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; Exod 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 (2 Pet 3:12). It was frequently used by the Israelites as a means of destruction of idolatrous objects and the cities of their enemies (Deut 7:5; Deut 7:25; Deut 12:3; Deut 13:16; Josh 6:24; Jgs, frequently); sometimes also of punishment (Lev 20:14; Lev 21:9; Josh 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 (Exod 35:3). It was employed also for melting (Exod 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 (Prov 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"; John 21:9, "a fire of coals" the Revised Version, margin "Gr, a fire of charcoal"; Rom 12:20); branches (Num 15:32; 1 Kgs 17:12); thorns (Ps 58:9; Ps 118:12; Eccl 7:6; Isa 33:12); grass and other herbage (Matt 6:30; Luke 12:28).

2. Figurative Use:

Fire was an emblem

(1) of Yahweh in His glory (Dan 7:9);

(2) in His holiness (Isa 6:4);

(3) in His jealousy for His sole worship (Deut 4:24; Heb 12:29; Ps 79:5; perhaps also Isa 33:14);

(4) of His protection of His people (2 Kgs 6:17; Zech 2:5);

(5) of His righteous judgment and purification (Zech 13:9; Mal 3:2; Mal 3:3; 1 Cor 3:13; 1 Cor 3:15);

(6) of His wrath against sin and punishment of the wicked (Deut 9:3; Ps 18:8; Ps 89:46; Isa 5:24; Isa 30:33, "a Topheth is prepared of old"; Matt 3:10-12; Matt 5:22, the Revised Version (British and American) "the hell of fire," margin "Greek, Gehenna of fire"; see Isa 30:33; Jer 7:31; Matt 13:40; Matt 13:42; Matt 25:41, "eternal fire"; Mark 9:45-49; see Isa 66:24; 2 Thess 1:7; Heb 10:27; Jude 1:7);

(7) of the word of God in its power (Jer 5:14; Jer 23:29);

(8) of Divine truth (Ps 39:3; Jer 20:9; Luke 12:49);

(9) of that which guides men (Isa 50:10; Isa 50:11);

(10) of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3);

(11) of the glorified Christ (Rev 1:14);

(12) of kindness in its melting power (Rom 12:20);

(13) of trial and suffering (Ps 66:12; Isa 43:2; 1 Pet 1:7; 1 Pet 4:12);

(14) of evil (Prov 6:27; Prov 16:27; Isa 9:18; Isa 65:5); lust or desire (Hos 7:6; /APC Sirach 23:16; 1 Cor 7:9); greed (Prov 30:16);

(15) of the tongue in its evil aspects (Jas 3:5; Jas 3:6);

(16) of heaven in its purity and glory (Rev 15:2; see also Rev 21:22; Rev 21:23).

W. L. Walker

Kilde: Easton's Bible Dictionary (M.G. Easton, 1897) og International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (red. James Orr, 1915/1939), public domain. Translated into Danish with AI and not yet proofread (fully or partially). Links to people and places: Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0).