Lexical Summary katanaliskó: To consume, to destroy Original Word: καταναλίσκω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance consume. From kata and analisko; to consume utterly -- consume. see GREEK kata see GREEK analisko HELPS Word-studies 2654 katanalískō (from 2596 /katá, "down, according to," intensifying 355 /analískō, "consume") – properly, consume all the way ("up to down"), i.e. exactly (decisively, conclusively). 2654 (katanalískō) means "to consume utterly, wholly (kata, intensive)" (Vine, Unger, White, NT, 125) and only occurs in Heb 12:29. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kata and analiskó Definition to use up NASB Translation consuming (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2654: καταναλίσκωκαταναλίσκω; (see ἀναλίσκω, and κατά, III. 4); to consume: of fire, Hebrews 12:29 after Deuteronomy 4:24; Deuteronomy 9:3. (In Greek writings from Xenophon, and Plato down; the Sept. several times for אָכַל.) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery The verb translated “consuming” in Hebrews 12:29 depicts a fire that utterly devours whatever it touches. The picture is not of a gentle flame but of an all-engulfing blaze that leaves nothing unchanged. When applied to God, the word conveys His uncompromising holiness and His power to remove every trace of sin and impurity. Old Testament Background The writer of Hebrews borrows directly from Deuteronomy 4:24, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God”. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, fire often accompanies divine self-revelation—whether at the burning bush (Exodus 3:2), on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18), or in the fiery cloud that led Israel (Exodus 13:21-22). Such scenes combine awe, holiness, and covenant loyalty. Fire judges the wicked (Numbers 11:1-3; Psalm 97:3) yet purifies the people of God (Malachi 3:2-3). Context in Hebrews 12 Hebrews 12 contrasts Mount Sinai’s terror with the believer’s joyful approach to “Mount Zion… the city of the living God” (Hebrews 12:22). Yet the same holy God still confronts His people. After urging readers to gratitude and reverent worship, the author concludes, “for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). The exhortation weds privilege to responsibility: those who receive an unshakable kingdom must respond with awe-filled obedience, lest they despise the grace that purchased their access. God’s Holiness and Judgment To call God a consuming fire is to affirm both His moral perfection and His active opposition to evil. Divine love is not sentimental; it is fervent, jealous, and purifying. Scripture repeatedly links fire with judgment—Genesis 19:24; Isaiah 66:15-16; Ezekiel 22:21-22; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 20:9-10. In each case, the flame eradicates rebellion and vindicates righteousness. Hebrews’ single use of the verb therefore warns against treating the new covenant lightly (cf. Hebrews 10:26-31). Purification and Refinement God’s consuming nature is also redemptive. Just as a refiner’s furnace removes dross from gold (Proverbs 17:3), so divine fire sanctifies believers, burning away self-reliance and sin (1 Peter 1:6-7; James 1:2-4). Discipline described earlier in Hebrews 12:5-11 is not punitive alone but transformative, aiming to yield “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Eschatological Dimension The New Testament extends the theme to final judgment. Works will be tested “with fire” to reveal their quality (1 Corinthians 3:13). The heavens and earth will be exposed to fiery renewal (2 Peter 3:7, 10-12). God’s consuming fire ensures that the coming kingdom will be wholly purified, free of corruption and death. Historical Interpretation Early church fathers (e.g., Chrysostom) saw the phrase as a call to persevere in holiness amid persecution. Reformers such as John Calvin viewed it as a corrective to complacency, emphasizing that grace never excuses irreverence. Evangelical commentators continue to treat the image as both comforting and sobering: comforting, because God will ultimately eradicate evil; sobering, because He begins that work in His own household (1 Peter 4:17). Practical Ministry Application • Worship: Corporate gatherings should reflect reverence and gratitude, recognizing the divine presence that still “consumes” flippant hearts. Related Biblical Themes Holiness (Isaiah 6:1-7), Jealousy (Exodus 34:14), Divine Wrath (Nahum 1:2-6), Refining Fire (Zechariah 13:9), Eternal Judgment (Matthew 25:41), Reverent Worship (John 4:24). In Hebrews 12:29 the single use of the verb underscores a timeless truth: the God who graciously grants an unshakable kingdom is the same God whose holy fire consumes all that opposes His will. Forms and Transliterations καταναλισκον καταναλίσκον καταναλώθη καταναλωθήσεται καταναλώσει καταναλώση καταναλώσουσιν κατηνάλωσε katanaliskon katanalískonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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