6226. ashen

Lexical Summary

ashen: smoking, smoldering

Original Word: עָשֵׁן
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: `ashen
Pronunciation: aw-shane'
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-shane')
KJV: smoking
NASB: smoking, smoldering
Word Origin: [from H6225 (עָשַׁן - smoke)]

1. smoky

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

smoking

From ashan; smoky -- smoking.

see HEBREW ashan

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as ashan
Definition
smoking
NASB Translation
smoking (1), smoldering (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

עָשֵׁן adjective smoking; — ׳ע of mountain Exodus 20:18 (Gi Exodus 20:15); plural הָאוּדִים הָעֲשֵׁנִים Isaiah 7:4 the smoking firebrands (dying out; in figure).

Topical Lexicon

Scope of the Term

עָשֵׁן describes something actively emitting smoke—“smoking,” “smoldering,” or “in smoke.” In Scripture it conveys either the overwhelming manifestation of God’s presence or the frailty of human power that is about to be extinguished.

Occurrences

1. Exodus 20:18
2. Isaiah 7:4

Imagery and Significance at Sinai (Exodus 20:18)

• The word pictures Mount Sinai veiled in rising columns of smoke as the LORD descends in fire (compare Exodus 19:18). The smoke, thunder, lightning, and trumpet blast together form a multisensory revelation that underscores God’s holiness and the unapproachability of His glory apart from mediation.
• The smoke serves as a protective covering; Israel sees the evidence of divine presence without being consumed. It also provokes reverent fear: “When all the people witnessed … the mountain in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance” (Exodus 20:18).
• Later Scripture recalls the scene (Deuteronomy 4:11; Hebrews 12:18) to contrast law and grace, emphasizing that, though the smoke once kept sinners at bay, in Christ believers may now “draw near” (Hebrews 10:22).

Prophetic Imagery in Isaiah (Isaiah 7:4)

• Isaiah addresses King Ahaz, calling the Syrian–Ephraimite coalition “two smoldering stubs of firewood”. The participle suggests that the fire’s strength is spent; only weak smoke remains.
• The metaphor reverses expectations: what appears dangerous is already burning out under God’s sovereignty. Ahaz is exhorted to trust rather than fear.
• The passage foreshadows the Immanuel sign (Isaiah 7:14), showing that God preserves the Davidic line despite external threats.

Related Biblical Theology

• Smoke frequently accompanies divine self-disclosure—Temple incense (Leviticus 16:13), the pillar of cloud (Exodus 13:21), the heavenly altar (Revelation 8:4). In each case it marks sacred space and intercession.
• Conversely, smoke can signal judgment: Sodom (Genesis 19:28) or Babylon (Revelation 19:3). The dual usage highlights God’s holiness—comforting to the faithful, consuming to the rebellious.
• Isaiah’s fading firebrands illustrate a wider prophetic theme: worldly powers are transient “like smoke that vanishes” (Hosea 13:3), whereas the word of the LORD stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).

Application for Ministry

• Worship: The Sinai scene invites awe; corporate gatherings should balance intimacy with reverence, reminding believers of the cost by which we approach God.
• Pastoral Care: Isaiah’s “smoldering stubs” encourages congregations facing intimidation. Threats that loom large are already under divine limitation.
• Preaching: Use the term to contrast enduring divine promises with the ephemeral nature of human opposition and to point listeners to the mediator who leads us beyond the smoke into God’s presence.

Key Cross-References

Exodus 19:18; Deuteronomy 4:11; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3; Psalms 18:8; Isaiah 6:4; Hosea 13:3; Hebrews 12:18-24; Revelation 8:3-4.

Forms and Transliterations

הָעֲשֵׁנִ֖ים העשנים עָשֵׁ֑ן עשן ‘ā·šên ‘āšên aShen hā‘ăšênîm hā·‘ă·šê·nîm haasheNim

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 20:18
HEB: וְאֶת־ הָהָ֖ר עָשֵׁ֑ן וַיַּ֤רְא הָעָם֙
NAS: and the mountain smoking; and when the people
KJV: and the mountain smoking: and when the people
INT: of the trumpet and the mountain smoking saw the people

Isaiah 7:4
HEB: זַנְב֧וֹת הָאוּדִ֛ים הָעֲשֵׁנִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה בָּחֳרִי־
NAS: stubs of smoldering firebrands,
KJV: tails of these smoking firebrands,
INT: stubs firebrands of smoldering of these of the fierce

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6226
2 Occurrences

‘ā·šên — 1 Occ.
hā·‘ă·šê·nîm — 1 Occ.