Lexical Summary kauma: Heat, burning heat Original Word: καῦμα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance heat. From kaio; properly, a burn (concretely), but used (abstractly) of a glow -- heat. see GREEK kaio NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kaió Definition heat NASB Translation heat (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2738: καῦμακαῦμα, καύματος, τό (καίω), heat: of painful and burning heat, Revelation 7:16; Revelation 16:9. (the Sept.; in Greek writings from Homer down.) Topical Lexicon Background and Imagery of Scorching Heat in the Ancient World In the arid climates of the Near East, the “burning heat” or “scorching heat” was more than a metaphor; it was a vivid, life-threatening reality. Desert winds such as the sirocco could raise temperatures suddenly, blistering skin and withering vegetation. Ancient hearers instinctively associated such heat with hardship, vulnerability, and, when invoked by prophets, divine displeasure. Strong’s Greek 2738 (καῦμα) captures this intense, blistering heat and appears twice in the New Testament, both times in the Apocalypse of John. Occurrences in Revelation 1. Revelation 7:16 presents καῦμα negatively yet within a promise of release and comfort: “Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.” Together these verses frame καῦμα as an eschatological boundary: for the redeemed, it is forever removed; for the rebellious, it intensifies as a final plague. Protection of the Redeemed Revelation 7 describes a vast multitude sealed by God. Their exemption from καῦμα signifies complete deliverance not merely from physical thirst or hunger but from every oppressive force associated with the present fallen order. The promise echoes Psalm 121:6, “The sun will not strike you by day,” and Isaiah 49:10, “They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them.” Thus καῦμα becomes a literary bridge uniting Old and New Testament assurances of divine shelter. Instrument of Divine Judgment In Revelation 16 the fourth bowl unleashes καῦμα as a plague on those who worship the beast. It intensifies rather than alleviates human rebellion, exposing hearts hardened against grace. Unlike the protective shadow promised in Psalm 91:1, those under judgment stand outside covenant shelter. Their refusal to repent despite suffering reveals sin’s obstinacy and vindicates God’s righteous wrath. Connections to Old Testament Prophecy The prophetic corpus frequently links blistering heat with covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:22), drought (Jeremiah 17:8), and purification (Malachi 4:1). Kauma in Revelation gathers these threads into an eschatological tapestry. The same Lord who warned Israel through climatic catastrophe now finalizes those warnings upon a global stage, demonstrating Scripture’s thematic unity. Theology of Divine Wrath and Mercy Καῦμα exposes two complementary attributes of God: The coexistence of these attributes underscores the gospel’s urgency: Christ endured judgment’s “heat” at Calvary (figuratively Isaiah 53:10) so that believers might dwell in everlasting shade. Pastoral Applications 1. Assurance in Suffering: Present trials may feel like a scorching wind, yet Revelation 7:16 assures believers that suffering is temporary and bounded by divine promise. Eschatological Hope Καῦμα helps demarcate the transition from the old order to the new. The new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1) will be free not only from death and mourning but from every climatic or environmental hazard. Thus creation itself participates in redemption, reversing Eden’s curse and fulfilling Romans 8:21’s promise of liberation from decay. Practical Implications for Christian Living • Perseverance: Knowing that God both limits and ultimately removes oppressive heat encourages steadfastness amid persecution. Conclusion Strong’s Greek 2738 functions in Revelation as a powerful dual symbol: divine judgment against hardened sin and divine comfort for the faithful. Its sparse New Testament usage heightens its impact, crystallizing a timeless pastoral truth—those in Christ are liberated from every destructive force, while those who resist His lordship face an unrelieved, scorching judgment. Forms and Transliterations καυμα καύμα καῦμα καύματι καύματος kauma kaûmaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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