Lexical Summary
nur: To shine, to give light, to be luminous
Original Word:נוּר
Part of Speech:Noun
Transliteration:nuwr
Pronunciation:noor
Phonetic Spelling:(noor)
KJV: fiery, fire
NASB:fire
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) from an unused root (corresponding to that ofH5216 (נִיר נִר נֵיר נֵר נֵרָה - lamps)) meaning to shine]
1. fire
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
fiery, fire
(Aramaic) from an unused root (corresponding to that ofniyr) meaning to shine; fire -- fiery, fire.
see HEBREWniyr
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to source of
nerDefinitiona fire
NASB Translationfire (16).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
17Daniel 3:6Daniel 7:9 ( Syriac; see √ Biblical Hebrew); — absoluteDaniel 3:27;Daniel 7:9 (twice in verse);Daniel 7:10; emphaticDaniel 3:6 12t. 3.
Topical Lexicon
Summary of Biblical Usageנוּר appears exclusively in the Aramaic sections of Daniel, serving two distinct but complementary themes: the literal furnace of persecution inDaniel 3 and the transcendent fire surrounding the Ancient of Days inDaniel 7. Together these passages frame fire as both a hostile weapon wielded by human authorities and a holy element radiating from God’s throne.
The Fiery Furnace—Trial and Testimony (Daniel 3)
1. Imperial Threat (Daniel 3:6, 3:11, 3:15)
Nebuchadnezzar uses the furnace to enforce idolatry, declaring, “Who is the god who can deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15).
2. Resolute Faith (Daniel 3:17)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego testify, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king”.
3. Divine Presence (Daniel 3:24-25)
Nebuchadnezzar exclaims, “Look! I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!” Theophanic presence turns the place of intended destruction into a sanctuary.
4. Complete Preservation (Daniel 3:27)
“The fire had no power over their bodies; not a hair of their heads was singed; their robes were unharmed, and no smell of fire was upon them.” Total deliverance underscores God’s sovereignty over physical elements and imperial decrees alike.
5. Evangelistic Impact (Daniel 3:28-30)
Nebuchadnezzar blesses the God of Israel and promotes the faithful servants, revealing how steadfast witness amid persecution advances God’s fame among the nations.
The Throne of the Ancient of Days—Holiness and Judgment (Daniel 7:9-10)
Daniel’s vision contrasts earthly furnaces with the heavenly court:
• “His throne was flaming with fire, its wheels were all ablaze” (Daniel 7:9).
• “A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence” (Daniel 7:10).
Here נוּר communicates God’s unapproachable purity and righteous judgment. The same element that could not harm the faithful inDaniel 3 now streams from the throne to judge the proud kingdoms of the earth.
Theological and Ministry Significance
1. Assurance in Persecution
Believers facing coercion can trust that God remains Lord over every “furnace” (Psalm 66:10;1 Peter 4:12-13).Daniel 3 transforms fire from a symbol of annihilation into an emblem of covenant faithfulness.
2. Christological Foreshadowing
The “fourth man” walking amid the flames prefigures the incarnate Son who enters human suffering (Isaiah 43:2;Hebrews 13:5-6).
3. Eschatological Hope
Daniel 7 links present trials to future vindication. The fire that refines the righteous will consume rebellion when “the court convenes and dominion is taken away” (Daniel 7:26).
4. Holiness and Worship
The vision of a fiery throne invites reverent worship. Churches proclaim God’s holiness not as distant terror but as the radiant environment where redeemed saints will dwell (Hebrews 12:28-29).
5. Pastoral Application
• Encourage persecuted believers: God can either deliver from fire or through fire, but never abandons His own.
• Teach eschatology: God’s burning holiness guarantees final justice.
• Inspire evangelism: As with Nebuchadnezzar, public fidelity to God opens doors for gospel proclamation.
Conclusion
נוּר in Daniel frames every flame—whether earthly or heavenly—within the larger narrative of God’s redemptive purposes. The word invites confidence that the Lord who governs the furnace of affliction is the same Lord whose throne blazes with eternal glory.
Forms and Transliterations
נ֔וּר נ֗וּר נ֥וּר נוּרָ֔א נוּרָ֖א נוּרָ֜א נוּרָ֣א נוּרָ֥א נוּרָ֧א נוּרָֽא׃ נוּרָא֙ נור נורא נורא׃ nū·rā Nur nūr nuRa nūrā
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