Lexical Summary shebib: Flame, Spark Original Word: שְׂבִיב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance flame (Aramaic) corresponding to shabiyb -- flame. see HEBREW shabiyb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to shabib Definition a flame NASB Translation ablaze with flames (1), flame (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שְׁבִיב] noun [masculine] flame; — emphatic שְׁבִיבָא דִּי נוּרָא Daniel 3:22; plural absolute שְׁבִבִין דִּי נוּר Daniel 7:9. Topical Lexicon OverviewStrong’s Hebrew 7631 (שְׂבִיב) denotes a blazing flame or flash of fire. Within the Aramaic sections of the Book of Daniel it is used twice to portray overwhelming heat and radiant brilliance—both images underlining the irresistible, holy energy that either consumes or glorifies, depending on one’s relationship to God. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Daniel 3:22 Daniel 3:22 – Divine Protection Amid Judgment Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace, overheated in prideful rage, becomes the setting for God’s vindication of His faithful servants. “Since the king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so extremely hot, the flames of the fire killed those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” (Daniel 3:22). The very blaze intended to destroy the worshipers of the true God instead slays the king’s own mighty warriors. The singular use of שְׂבִיב underscores that human strength is powerless before the fiery reality unleashed by divine decree. The verse is a reminder that the Lord’s sovereignty can reverse earthly power structures in a moment. Pastoral application: Believers facing hostility for their obedience can rest in the knowledge that God may employ the enemy’s own instruments to display His deliverance, and that judgment begins with those who oppose His purposes. Daniel 7:9 – Heavenly Majesty and Cosmic Courtroom In Daniel’s night vision, thrones are placed and the Ancient of Days takes His seat. “His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze” (Daniel 7:9). Here שְׂבִיב conveys not destructive heat but unapproachable majesty. Fire forms the very furniture of the divine court, indicating purity, judgment, and sovereign authority. The scene parallels Ezekiel’s fiery chariot-throne (Ezekiel 1:4-28) and anticipates Revelation’s fiery imagery surrounding the glorified Christ (Revelation 1:14-16). Theologically, the flame accentuates two truths: God is light without darkness (1 John 1:5) and a consuming fire toward sin (Hebrews 12:29). Judgment and holiness converge, assuring the faithful that evil empires will be tried in a court where no corruption can stand. Intertextual Connections • Exodus 3:2 – The burning bush that is not consumed foreshadows God’s ability to protect the righteous in the midst of flame. Historical and Cultural Background Fire was a common emblem of deity in the ancient Near East—seen in temple rituals, royal iconography, and myths. Daniel intentionally recasts this cultural symbol: the ultimate flame is not the domain of Babylonian gods or kings but of the God of Israel. The Babylonian furnaces and the imperial court are overshadowed by a greater throne whose flame cannot be manipulated by human hands. Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty: Both passages affirm that God controls the intensity and target of the flame. Implications for Worship and Ministry • Preaching: Emphasize God’s dual role as Deliverer and Judge, urging hearers to find refuge in Christ before facing the fiery throne. Conclusion שְׂבִיב pictures an intense flame that cannot be quenched by human effort. Whether devouring Nebuchadnezzar’s soldiers or illuminating the seat of the Ancient of Days, it testifies that God’s fiery presence is both protective and punitive. The word invites every generation to submit to the Lord whose flame purifies the faithful and consumes all opposition. Forms and Transliterations שְׁבִיבִ֣ין שְׁבִיבָ֖א שביבא שביבין šə·ḇî·ḇā šə·ḇî·ḇîn šəḇîḇā šəḇîḇîn sheviVa sheviVinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 3:22 HEB: קַטִּ֣ל הִמּ֔וֹן שְׁבִיבָ֖א דִּ֥י נוּרָֽא׃ NAS: hot, the flame of the fire KJV: hot, the flame of the fire INT: slew them the flame who of the fire Daniel 7:9 2 Occurrences |
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