Lexical Summary kausón: Heat, scorching heat Original Word: καύσων Strong's Exhaustive Concordance burning heat. From kausoo; a glare -- (burning) heat. see GREEK kausoo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kaió Definition burning heat NASB Translation hot (1), scorching heat (1), scorching wind (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2742: καύσωνκαύσων, καύσωνος, ὁ; 1. burning heat of the sun: Matthew 20:12; Luke 12:55; James 1:11 (others refer all these passages to the next entry); (Isaiah 49:10; (Genesis 31:40 Alex.; cf. Judith 8:3); Sir. 18:16; Athen. 3, p. 73 b.). 2. Eurus, a very dry, hot, east wind, scorching and drying up everything; for קָדִים, Job 27:21; Hosea 12:1; ἄνεμος καύσων, Jeremiah 18:17; Ezekiel 17:10; Hosea 13:15: πνευαμ καύσων, Jonah 4:8 (cf. Hosea 12:1); (on this wind cf. Schleusner, Thesaurus ad Sept. iii., p. 297; Winers RWB (also BB. DD.) under the word Strong’s Greek 2742 denotes the oppressive, burning heat produced either by the blazing sun or by the hot, desert-like winds that sweep across the eastern Mediterranean. In Scripture this figure of “scorching heat” functions both literally and figuratively—literally describing the brutal climate of the Near East and figuratively portraying testing, judgment, and the fleeting quality of earthly pursuits. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Matthew 20:12 – In the Parable of the Vineyard Workers, the complaint “we have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day” highlights the harsh conditions endured by those who labored longest. The image intensifies the contrast between human merit and the master’s sovereign generosity. Connections with Old Testament Writings The Septuagint employs the same word family in passages such as Psalms 121:6 (“the sun will not strike you by day”) and Jonah 4:8, where God appoints a “scorching east wind” that exposes Jonah’s heart. These earlier texts prepare the theological soil, linking oppressive heat with divine testing, discipline, and dependence on the Lord for shade and preservation. Historical and Cultural Background First-century Palestine regularly experienced the sirocco—a dry, dust-laden wind that could raise temperatures dramatically and parch vegetation in hours. Laborers, travelers, and soldiers all feared it. By invoking kausōn, biblical authors tapped a vivid, shared experience: the searing blast that saps strength, bleaches grass, and leaves no shelter except what God provides. Symbolic and Theological Bearings • Trial and Refinement – Just as metal is proven in a furnace, believers are refined amid the “scorching heat” of adversity (compare 1 Peter 1:6-7). Ministry Implications and Application 1. Pastoral Care – Congregants enduring “hot winds” of trial may be reminded that God remains sovereign over the climate of their lives, using pressure to shape Christ-like character. Christological and Eschatological Dimensions Jesus, the true “shade at your right hand,” endured the full blaze of divine wrath so that believers might stand unscorched in the day of judgment (see Psalms 121:5-6; Galatians 3:13). Final eschatological scenes depict a renewed creation where “they will never again be scorched by the sun” (Revelation 7:16), completing the biblical arc from oppressive heat to everlasting shelter. Related Biblical Imagery Shade (Psalms 91:1), dew (Hosea 14:5), and living water (John 4:14) form deliberate contrasts to kausōn, emphasizing God’s provision amid hostile spiritual climates. Conclusion Strong’s 2742 gathers the full force of the Middle Eastern sun and wind to dramatize testing, judgment, and the fragility of earthly pursuits, while simultaneously magnifying the refreshing grace and protective shelter found in the Lord. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 20:12 N-AMSGRK: καὶ τὸν καύσωνα NAS: the burden and the scorching heat of the day.' KJV: the burden and heat of the day. INT: and the heat Luke 12:55 N-NMS James 1:11 N-DMS Strong's Greek 2742 |