BDB793 [H784 H799]

1. fire, of conflagration, e.g. in briers, endangering or destroying crops תֵּצֵא אֵשׁ וּמָֽצְאָה קֹצִים Exod 22:5 compare Exod 3:2 הַסְּנֶה בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ (both E); more often of deliberate destruction by fire, especially שָׂרַף בָּאֵשׁ (בָּ with qam. preton.) object golden calf Exod 32:20 (J), other idols Deut 7:5; Deut 7:25, Asherim Deut 12:3, chariots Josh 11:6; Josh 11:9; 2Kgs 23:1, house Judg 12:1; Judg 14:15, tower Judg 9:52, city-gates Neh 1:3; Neh 2:3; Neh 2:13; Neh 2:17, city Josh 6:24; Judg 18:27 compare Isa 1:7 +; also שִׁלַּח אֵשׁ בְּ Amos 1:4; Amos 1:7; Amos 1:10 +; שִׁלַּח אֶתהָֿעִיר בָּאֵשׁ Judg 1:8; Judg 20:48 compare 2Kgs 8:12 הִצִּית אֶתהָֿעִיר בָּאֵשׁ Josh 8:8; Josh 8:19; Jer 17:27 +, compare Judg 9:49; 2Sam 14:30; 2Sam 14:31 (of field, compare Exod 22:5 above)

2. of supernatural fire, attending theophany Exod 3:2; Exod 19:18 (both J E) Deut 4:11; Deut 4:12; Deut 4:15; Deut 4:33; Deut 4:36 +; specifically עַמּוּד (הָ)אֵשׁ Exod 13:21; Exod 13:22; Exod 14:24 (all J E) Neh 9:12; Neh 9:19 compare Deut 1:33 (see מַרְאֵהאֵֿשׁ Num 9:15; Num 9:16 P); of destructive fire from ׳י Num 11:1; Num 11:2; Num 11:3 (J) Num 26:10 (P) Lev 10:2 (P); compare אֹכֶלָת ׳א in simile of Yahweh's glory Exod 24:17 (E) Deut 4:24; Deut 9:3 see also 1Kgs 18:24; 1Kgs 18:38; 2Kgs 1:10 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 1:12 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 1:14; Job 1:16 (perhaps lightning intended), compare further of lightning Exod 9:23; Exod 9:24 (JE) Ps 18:13; Ps 18:14; Ps 148:8 etc.

3. fire for cooking, roasting, parching, etc. צְלִי אֵשׁ roasted at a fire Exod 12:8; Exod 12:9 (P) compare Lev 2:14; 2Chr 35:13; Isa 44:16; Isa 44:19 of tinder for lighting fire Gen 22:6; Gen 22:7 (E); of fire for melting (gold for the idolatrous calf) Exod 32:24 for refining Jer 6:29, where read with Qr מֵאֵשׁ תַּם עֹפֶרֶת; compare Mal 3:2 (simile of purifying work of messenger of cov't).

4. especially of altar-fire Lev 1:7 (twice in verse); Lev 6:2; Lev 6:3; Lev 6:5; Lev 6:6 +; in offering incense Lev 10:1, also אֵשׁ זָרָה strange fire, i.e. an incense not commanded, offered presumptuously Lev 10:1; Num 3:4; Num 26:61 fire from ׳י consuming sacrifice (compare 2) Lev 9:24; 2Chr 7:1; 2Chr 7:3 of fire in child-sacrifice (usually הֶעֱבִיר בֵּן בָּאֵשׁ (לְׅ) 2Kgs 16:3; 2Kgs 21:6 compare 2Kgs 17:17; 2Kgs 23:10; 2Chr 33:6 also ׳שׂרף בָּא 2Kgs 17:31, ׳בער בָּא 2Chr 28:3.

5. figurative of Yahweh's anger Ps 89:47 (simile) compare Nah 1:6; Lam 2:4 אֵשׁעֶֿבְרָתִי Ezek 21:36; Ezek 22:31; Ezek 38:19, אֵשׁקִֿנְאָתִי Ezek 36:5 see also Isa 66:15; Ps 79:5; Ps 89:47 etc.; of word of ׳י Jer 23:29 figurative of outbursting emotion Ps 39:4 of flagrant wickedness Isa 9:17, etc:

6. in various combinations, לַפִּיד אֵשׁ Gen 15:17 (J) a torch of fire (compare Di); לַבַּתאֵֿשׁ Exod 3:2 flame of fire, לַהַב אֵשׁ Joel 2:5, לַפִּידֵי אֵשׁ (in simile) Dan 10:6 compare Zech 12:6, לַהֲבוֺת אֵשׁ Ps 29:7 לַהֲבֵי אֵשׁ Isa 66:15 compare לְהָבוֺת ׳א Ps 105:32, לָהָבָה ׳נֹגַהּ א Isa 4:5 compare Hos 7:6 שְׁבִיב אִשּׁוֺ spark of his fire Job 18:5 compare כִּידוֺדֵי אֵשׁ Job 41:11 תַּנּוּר אֵשׁ Ps 21:10 oven of fire, כִּיּוֺר אֵשׁ Zech 12:6 אוֺר אֵשׁ light of fire Ps 78:14 אֵשׁ לֹהֵט flaming fire Ps 104:4 לְשׁוֺן אֵשׁ Isa 5:24 tongue of fire, גַּחֲלֵי אֵשׁ Ezek 1:13 coals of fire, so Ezek 10:2, compare רִשְׁפֵּי אֵשׁ Song 8:6 on אַבְנֵי אֵשׁ Ezek 28:14; Ezek 28:16 see אֶבֶן; אֵשׁ דַּת Deut 33:2, literally fire of a law, or fire was a law, but דָּת law is Persian & late; read perhaps דֹת[לַפִּ] אֵשׁ compare Exod 20:18 or דֶת [יֹקֶ] אֵשׁ compare Isa 65:5.