Lexical Summary nitsots: Spark, gleam Original Word: נִיצוֹץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance spark From natsats; a spark -- spark. see HEBREW natsats NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom natsats Definition a spark NASB Translation spark (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נִיצוֺץ noun [masculine] spark; — Isaiah 1:31 (figurative). Topical Lexicon Meaning within Isaiah’s Oracle The term appears exclusively in Isaiah 1:31, where the prophet declares, “The strong man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to extinguish them” (Berean Standard Bible). The single “spark” underlines the ease with which God’s judgment can be ignited: all human strength and achievement, apart from covenant fidelity, are but dry kindling awaiting the smallest divine ignition. Immediate Literary Context Isaiah 1 opens the book with a courtroom scene in which the covenant-breaking nation is summoned, indicted, and offered cleansing (Isaiah 1:2-20). Verses 21-31 form the climax: Jerusalem, once faithful, has become corrupt; judgment will fall, yet a purified remnant will emerge. The “spark” functions as the catalytic agent of that judgment, linking human sin (“his work”) to inevitable ruin. Broader Biblical Motif of Fire and Spark Scripture regularly employs fire imagery to convey judgment, purification, or zeal. Although other Hebrew or Greek words are used, the conceptual parallel is clear: • Job 5:7 – troubles arise naturally for fallen humanity “as sparks fly upward.” Together these references show how small beginnings unleash outsized consequences, a principle Isaiah applies to rebellion against God. Theology of Judgment and Refinement 1. Human deeds contain the seeds of their own destruction. The “work” of the strong man is not neutral; it is combustible material. Historical and Cultural Background Isaiah ministered during the eighth century B.C. Assyria’s ascendancy threatened Judah, while moral decay threatened from within. The prophet’s reference to a spark would resonate in an agrarian society well acquainted with how a single cinder could devastate fields and homes. The image is thus both pastoral and prophetic, speaking to citizens who kindled daily fires for warmth and cooking. Christological and Eschatological Dimensions The New Testament adopts similar fire imagery to describe the final judgment (2 Peter 3:7) and the purging of believers’ works (1 Corinthians 3:13-15). Isaiah’s solitary “spark” anticipates the fuller revelation that ultimate purification comes through Christ, who baptizes “with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11), separating wheat from chaff. Ministry and Pastoral Application • Call to Repentance: Leaders who rely on their own “strong” resources must heed the warning that self-made works can ignite their downfall. Summary Strong’s Hebrew 5213 depicts a single, potent spark that God uses to ignite judgment upon unrepentant pride. Though occurring only once, the word stands at a strategic pivot in Isaiah, illustrating the biblical principle that seemingly minor elements—whether sins, words, or deeds—can unleash sweeping consequences under divine supervision. For the believer, the image summons sober self-examination and joyful confidence that God’s refining fire ultimately yields a purified people fit for His glory. Forms and Transliterations לְנִיצ֑וֹץ לניצוץ lə·nî·ṣō·wṣ lənîṣōwṣ leniTzotzLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 1:31 HEB: לִנְעֹ֔רֶת וּפֹעֲל֖וֹ לְנִיצ֑וֹץ וּבָעֲר֧וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם NAS: His work also a spark. Thus they shall both KJV: and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both INT: tinder his work A spark burn shall both 1 Occurrence |
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