Lexical Summary ur: Fire, light Original Word: אוּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fire, light From 'owr; flame; hence (in the plural) the East (as being the region of light) -- fire, light. See also 'Uwriym. see HEBREW 'owr see HEBREW 'Uwriym NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom or Definition a flame NASB Translation fire (4), light (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. אוּר noun masculine flame. לְכוּ בְאוּר אֶשְּׁכֶם walk in the flame of your fire Isaiah 50:11, & so fire itself, whose light & flame were seen Isaiah 44:16; Isaiah 47:14 — exile Isaiah + Isaiah 31:9 & Ezekiel 5:2 (Co אשׁ). Topical Lexicon Overview In the Old Testament אוּר appears six times, always in prophetic books and always connected with light or flame. The contexts show a unified theology in which literal fire becomes a powerful metaphor for the holiness of God, the futility of idolatry, and the purifying of His covenant people. Usage in Isaiah Isaiah concentrates five of the six occurrences, allowing several complementary ideas to surface: 1. Isaiah 24:15 sets אוּר in parallel with “coastlands of the sea,” forming an east-west merism that anticipates worldwide praise: “Therefore, glorify the LORD in the east; give glory to the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the coastlands of the sea”. The glow of dawn symbolizes the rising of global worship. 2. Isaiah 31:9 situates “fire in Zion” beside “furnace in Jerusalem,” teaching that God’s presence both comforts the remnant and consumes the proud enemy. 3. Isaiah 44:16 exposes the absurdity of idolatry: half of a log becomes an idol, half becomes cooking fuel—“Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.” The same אוּר that feeds the body cannot nourish the soul. 4. Isaiah 47:14 warns Babylon that her sorcerers “cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame.” Human wisdom, wealth, and security ignite like tinder before divine judgment. 5. Isaiah 50:11 rebukes self-reliant Israel: “Walk in the light of your fire… This is what you will receive from My hand: You will lie down in torment.” Man-made sparks fail where God alone supplies true light. Use in Ezekiel Ezekiel 5:2 commands the prophet to burn a third of his shaved hair “in the fire inside the city,” dramatizing Jerusalem’s coming siege. The burning hairs embody covenant curses (Leviticus 26:27-33) and announce judgment that nevertheless aims at restoration (Ezekiel 5:13). Theological Themes • Divine Presence and Holiness Fire is a long-standing emblem of Yahweh’s nearness—from the burning bush (Exodus 3) to Sinai (Exodus 19) and the pillar by night (Exodus 13:21-22). In Isaiah 31:9 the אוּר in Zion reaffirms that the LORD still dwells among His people despite Assyria’s threats. • Judgment and Purification Ezekiel’s acted parable and Isaiah’s oracles present אוּר as both destructive judgment and refining agent (cf. Malachi 3:2-3). The same holiness that consumes Babylon purges Israel for future glory (Isaiah 4:4-5). • Idolatry Exposed Isaiah 44:16 and Isaiah 47:14 display the impotence of idols and occultism before the true flame. The prophets ridicule those who seek warmth and security in what they themselves ignite. • False versus True Light Isaiah 50:11 contrasts human sparks with the authentic light of the Servant (Isaiah 50:10; ultimately fulfilled in John 8:12). Self-generated illumination leads to torment; trusting the LORD brings guidance and peace (Psalm 119:105). Christological Fulfillment Jesus Christ embodies the realities hinted at by אוּר. He is “the light of the world” who leads followers out of darkness (John 8:12). At Pentecost, “tongues as of fire” rest on the apostles (Acts 2:3), signaling both purification and the universal spread of praise foreshadowed in Isaiah 24:15. Final judgment is likewise pictured as flaming fire (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 20:14-15), completing the prophetic trajectory. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Worship: Encourage congregations to glorify the LORD from “east to west,” reflecting Isaiah 24:15’s vision of global adoration. • Holiness: Preach the necessity of sanctification, reminding believers that the God whose אוּר burns in Zion still purifies His church (Hebrews 12:29). • Evangelism: Contrast the empty warmth of idols—modern or ancient—with the true light found in Christ, calling hearers to abandon self-kindled sparks. • Hope amid Discipline: When God’s refining fire touches His people, Ezekiel 5:2 assures that the purpose is ultimately covenant faithfulness, not annihilation. Thus אוּר, though a small word, carries immense theological weight, illuminating God’s righteous judgment, redemptive purpose, and radiant glory from the prophets to the New Testament fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations א֖וּר א֥וּר אֽוּר׃ אור אור׃ בְּא֣וּר בָּא֤וּר בָּאֻרִ֖ים באור בארים ’ūr bā’ūr bā’urîm bā·’u·rîm bā·’ūr baUr bauRim bə’ūr bə·’ūr beUr urLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 24:15 HEB: עַל־ כֵּ֥ן בָּאֻרִ֖ים כַּבְּד֣וּ יְהוָ֑ה KJV: ye the LORD in the fires, [even] the name INT: and in the fires glorify the LORD Isaiah 31:9 Isaiah 44:16 Isaiah 47:14 Isaiah 50:11 Ezekiel 5:2 6 Occurrences |
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