Topical Encyclopedia
IntroductionThe term "kindle" in the Bible often refers to the act of igniting or setting something on fire, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. It is used to describe the physical act of lighting a fire, as well as the stirring up of emotions, passions, or divine wrath. This entry explores the various contexts in which "kindle" appears in the Bible, providing insight into its spiritual and symbolic significance.
Old Testament Usage1.
Literal Fire: In the Old Testament, "kindle" is frequently used in the context of lighting a physical fire. For example, in
Exodus 35:3, the Israelites are instructed, "You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day." This command underscores the importance of rest and obedience to God's laws, even in the practical aspects of daily life.
2.
Divine Wrath: The term is also used metaphorically to describe the anger of God. In
Deuteronomy 32:22, it is written, "For a fire is kindled in My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol, devouring the earth and its produce and setting ablaze the foundations of the mountains." Here, "kindle" illustrates the intensity and consuming nature of God's righteous judgment against sin.
3.
Human Emotions and Actions: In
Isaiah 50:11, the prophet warns, "Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with firebrands, walk in the light of your fire and among the brands you have set ablaze. This you will have from My hand: You will lie down in torment." This passage uses "kindle" to describe human efforts to create their own light and guidance apart from God, leading to eventual suffering.
New Testament UsageWhile the New Testament does not frequently use the term "kindle," the concept is present in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, particularly in the context of spiritual fervor and the Holy Spirit.
1.
Spiritual Fervor: In
Luke 12:49, Jesus declares, "I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" This statement reflects Jesus' desire to see the world transformed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, igniting faith and zeal in the hearts of believers.
2.
The Holy Spirit: The imagery of fire is often associated with the Holy Spirit, as seen in
Acts 2:3, where "tongues of fire" appear over the heads of the apostles at Pentecost. This event signifies the kindling of the early church's mission and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.
Symbolic SignificanceThe act of kindling a fire in the Bible carries deep symbolic meaning. It represents the initiation of divine action, the purification of God's people, and the passionate pursuit of righteousness. Fire, once kindled, can spread rapidly, symbolizing the potential for both destruction and renewal. In a spiritual sense, believers are called to kindle their faith, allowing the Holy Spirit to ignite their hearts with love, zeal, and a commitment to God's purposes.
ConclusionThe concept of "kindle" in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for both divine judgment and spiritual awakening. Whether referring to the literal act of lighting a fire or the figurative stirring of emotions and divine presence, "kindle" underscores the transformative power of God's word and Spirit in the lives of His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t. & i.) To bring forth young.
2. (v. t.) To set on fire; to cause to burn with flame; to ignite; to cause to begin burning; to start; to light; as, to kindle a match, or shavings.
3. (v. t.) Fig.: To inflame, as the passions; to rouse; to provoke; to excite to action; to heat; to fire; to animate; to incite; as, to kindle anger or wrath; to kindle the flame of love, or love into a flame.
4. (v. i.) To take fire; to begin to burn with flame; to start as a flame.
5. (v. i.) Fig.: To begin to be excited; to grow warm or animated; to be roused or exasperated.
Greek
381. anapto -- tokindle... to
kindle. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anapto Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ap'-to) Short Definition: I
kindle, set on fire Definition: I
kindle, set on
...329. anazopureo -- tokindle afresh
... tokindle afresh. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anazopureo Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ad-zo-poor-eh'-o) Short Definition: I stir up the fire, fan the flame...
2545. kaio -- tokindle, burn
... tokindle, burn. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kaio Phonetic Spelling:
(kah'-yo) Short Definition: I ignite, light, burn Definition: I ignite, light...
1572. ekkaio -- tokindle, to be inflamed
... tokindle, to be inflamed. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekkaio Phonetic
Spelling: (ek-kah'-yo) Short Definition: I burn with lust Definition: I blaze...
681. hapto -- to fasten to, lay hold of
... to fasten to, lay hold of. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hapto Phonetic
Spelling: (hap'-to) Short Definition: Ikindle, light Definition: Ikindle, light...
4448. puroo -- to set on fire, ie to burn (pass.)
... From pur; tokindle, ie (passively) to be ignited, glow (literally), be refined
(by implication), or (figuratively) to be inflamed (with anger, grief, lust...
Strong's Hebrew
6919. qadach -- to be kindled,kindle... qadach. 6920 . to be kindled,
kindle. Transliteration: qadach Phonetic Spelling:
(kaw-dakh') Short Definition: kindled. Word Origin a prim.
... burn,
kindle.
...3341. yatsath -- tokindle, burn
... yatsath. 3342 . tokindle, burn. Transliteration: yatsath Phonetic Spelling:
(yaw-tsath') Short Definition: set.... burn up, be desolate, set on fire fire,kindle...
5400. nasaq -- burn,kindle
... nasaq. 5401 . burn,kindle. Transliteration: nasaq Phonetic Spelling: (naw-sak')
Short Definition: burn. Word Origin the same as salaq, qv. burn,kindle...
8026b. salaq -- tokindle, burn
... tokindle, burn. Transliteration: salaq Short Definition: burn.... root Definition to
kindle, burn NASB Word Usage burn (1), kindled (1), makes a fire (1)....
1197. ba'ar -- to burn, consume
... be brutish, bring put, take away, burn, cause to eat up, feed, heat,kindle,
A primitive root; tokindle, ie Consume (by fire or...
2787. charar -- to be hot or scorched, to burn
... Definition to be hot or scorched, to burn NASB Word Usage been charred (1), blow
fiercely (1), burn (1), burned (2), charred (1), glow (1),kindle (1), parched...
1814. dalaq -- to burn, hotly pursue
... to burn, hotly pursue NASB Word Usage burning (1), chased (1), chasing (1), fiery
shafts (1), hotly pursue (1), hotly pursued (1), inflame (1),kindle (1), set...
3857. lahat -- to blaze up, flame
... burn up, set on fire, flaming,kindle. A primitive root; properly, to lick, ie
(by implication) to blaze -- burn (up), set on fire, flaming,kindle....
6999. qatar -- to make sacrifices smoke
... 5), surely burn (1). burn incense, sacrifice upon, altar for incense,kindle,
offer incense, a sacrifice. A primitive root (identical...
3344. yaqad -- to be kindled, to burn
... be burning, from the hearth,kindle. A primitive root; to burn -- (be) burn(-ing),
X from the hearth,kindle. 3343, 3344. yaqad. 3345 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
A Coal From The Altar, ToKindle The Holy Fire of Zeale
A Coal From The Altar, ToKindle The Holy Fire of Zeale....
Behold all Ye thatKindle a Fire, that Compass Yourselves About...
... Behold all ye thatkindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk
in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled....
A Coal From The Altar, ToKindle The Holy Fire of Zeale
A Coal From The Altar, ToKindle The Holy Fire of Zeale. <.... Title Page.
A COAL FROM THE ALTAR, TOKINDLE THE holy fire of Zeale....
Revel. 3. 19. Be Zealous.
A Coal From The Altar, ToKindle The Holy Fire of Zeale. <....
A Coale from the Altar.
A Coal From The Altar, ToKindle The Holy Fire of Zeale. <....
The Fourth Part.
A Coal From The Altar, ToKindle The Holy Fire of Zeale. <....
First Part.
A Coal From The Altar, ToKindle The Holy Fire of Zeale. <....
A Burning and Shining Lamp.
... light. The air may be full of luminousness, but as yet it has found no
point on which tokindle and from which to irradiate. But...
Dedication
A Coal From The Altar, ToKindle The Holy Fire of Zeale. <....
The Eighth Book
... whatever evils and whatever punishments we bear daily are the censure of his divine
hand, which censure, indeed, we constantly arouse andkindle by our sins....
Thesaurus
Kindle (25 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) To set on fire; to cause to burn with flame; to ignite; to cause to begin
burning; to start; to light; as, to
kindle a match, or shavings.
...Fire (602 Occurrences)
... 10. (vt) To set on fire; tokindle; as, to fire a house or chimney; to fire a pile.
11.... (vt) To cauterize. 19. (vi) To take fire; to be kindled; tokindle. 20....
Palaces (37 Occurrences)
... not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter
in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; then will Ikindle a fire in...
Fortresses (45 Occurrences)
... not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter
in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; then will Ikindle a fire in...
Inflame (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To set on fire; tokindle; to cause to
burn, flame, or glow. 2. (vt) Fig.: Tokindle or intensify...
Environs (7 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 21:14 I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, says Yahweh;
and I willkindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is...
Devour (118 Occurrences)
... not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter
in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; then will Ikindle a fire in...
Flaming (40 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Isaiah 50:11 Behold, all ye thatkindle a fire, that gird yourselves with
firebrands, begone in the flame of your fire, and among the brands that ye have...
Quenched (22 Occurrences)
... not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter
in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; then will Ikindle a fire in...
Strongholds (44 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV). Jeremiah 49:27 I willkindle a fire in the wall
of Damascus, and it shall devour the palaces of Ben Hadad. (See RSV)....
Resources
What is the Key of Solomon? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is cultural relativism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon? | GotQuestions.orgKindle: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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