The term "charred" refers to something that has been burned or scorched, often to the point of being blackened or reduced to carbon. In the context of the Bible, the concept of burning or charring is frequently associated with judgment, purification, and sacrifice.

Biblical References and Symbolism

1. Judgment and Destruction: The imagery of burning is often used in the Bible to depict divine judgment. For instance, in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, fire and brimstone rained down from heaven as a form of divine retribution (Genesis 19:24-25). Although the term "charred" is not explicitly used, the aftermath of such divine fire would have left the cities charred and desolate.

2. Purification: Fire is also a symbol of purification in the Scriptures. In Malachi 3:2-3, the prophet speaks of God as a refiner's fire, purifying the sons of Levi. The process of refining involves intense heat to remove impurities, akin to the charring process that burns away the dross, leaving behind pure metal.

3. Sacrificial Offerings: The burnt offerings in the Old Testament sacrificial system involved the complete burning of the offering on the altar. Leviticus 1:9 describes the burnt offering as "a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD." The charring of the sacrifice symbolized total dedication and surrender to God.

4. Prophetic Imagery: In prophetic literature, fire often symbolizes God's presence and power. For example, in Ezekiel 10:2, the prophet sees a vision of coals of fire scattered over Jerusalem, symbolizing impending judgment. The charred remains would serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God.

5. Warnings and Consequences: The New Testament also uses fire as a metaphor for judgment. In 2 Peter 3:7, the heavens and the earth are reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. The imagery of a world charred by fire underscores the seriousness of divine judgment.

Theological Implications

The concept of charring in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of God's holiness and justice. It underscores the seriousness of sin and the necessity of repentance. The imagery of fire, whether in judgment or purification, points to the transformative power of God, who seeks to purify His people and bring them into a right relationship with Him.

Practical Application

For believers, the imagery of charring and burning serves as a call to examine one's life in light of God's holiness. It encourages a posture of humility and repentance, recognizing the need for God's refining fire to purify and sanctify. The sacrificial system, with its burnt offerings, foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose atoning death on the cross fulfills the requirements of divine justice and offers believers the hope of redemption and restoration.(imp. & p. p.) of Char.2787. charar -- to be hot or scorched, to burn
... root Definition to be hot or scorched, to burn NASB Word Usage been charred (1),
blow fiercely (1), burn (1), burned (2), charred (1), glow (1), kindle (1 ...
/hebrew/2787.htm - 6k

6352. pecham -- coal
... coals. Perhaps from an unused root probably meaning to be black; a coal, whether
charred or live -- coals. 6351, 6352. pecham. 6353 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6352.htm - 5k

"As the Stars. "
... A small fraction of a minute at the most. Then it's all over. And all that is left
is a charred stick that sticks in the mud, nobody knows where, nor cares. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/as the stars.htm

Greek and Jew
... in ruin and rubbish. Far and wide the streets were littered with debris
and charred fragments of burned timbers. At another place ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter viii greek and jew.htm

An Appeal and a Response
... again uplifted and fresh curses added; then it was plunged in the blood of a
newly-slain sacrifice, and, smoking and reeking with gore, the charred and bloody ...
/.../howard/standards of life and service/xx an appeal and a.htm

Christ the Arrester of Incipient Evil and the Nourisher of ...
... How do you make 'smoking flax' burn? You give it oil, you give it air, and
you take away the charred portions. And Christ will give ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/christ the arrester of incipient.htm

1879-1880. Experiences among Indians --Picnic in the Bush ...
... Indian reserve. Fire had in past years ravaged the district for miles, leaving
thousands of charred trunks of high trees. We enjoyed ...
/.../lowe/gods answers/chapter viii 1879-1880 experiences among.htm

What Proves God's Love
... She returned to save him; they laid hold of her and flung her into the burning
house, and her charred remains have never been found. ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/what proves gods love.htm

August the Second by Jacob's Well
... But the Lord was only weary in body; the woman was dry and exhausted in soul. Her
heart was like some charred chamber after a destructive fire. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/august the second by jacobs.htm

Preaching the Gospel, Healing the Sick
... whose arm has been badly scalded months before, and who has received no treatment
during that period but an application of rat oil and charred matting, is in a ...
/.../the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xxii preaching the gospel.htm

1872 the Need of a Home Further West --Burning of the Marchmont ...
... all gone. Books, papers, clothes, everything; but there in the blackened
ruin lay distinctly the charred frame of little Robbie. Mr ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter iv 1872 the need.htm

Behind the Door
... Her Caste people burned down the little Mission school"a boys'
school"and chalked up their sentiments on the charred walls. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxii behind the door.htm

Charred (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Char. Multi-Version Concordance
Charred (4 Occurrences). Judges 15:14 When he came to Lehi ...
/c/charred.htm - 7k

Fuel (13 Occurrences)
... wood of various sorts (even including thorns, Psalm 58:9; Psalm 118:12 Ecclesiastes
7:6), and dried stalks of flowers or grass (Matthew 6:30), charred wood as ...
/f/fuel.htm - 12k

Charran (2 Occurrences)

/c/charran.htm - 7k

Chars (1 Occurrence)

/c/chars.htm - 6k

Coal (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A thoroughly charred, and extinguished or still
ignited, fragment from wood or other combustible substance; charcoal. ...
/c/coal.htm - 14k

Snuff (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The part of a candle wick charred by the
flame, whether burning or not. 2. (vt) To crop the snuff ...
/s/snuff.htm - 8k

Papyrus (4 Occurrences)
... of a philosopher which had been destroyed and buried by volcanic ashes from Vesuvius
(79 AD) a whole library of papyrus rolls was found, quite charred by the ...
/p/papyrus.htm - 34k

Nineveh (23 Occurrences)
... Calcined alabaster, charred wood, and charcoal, colossal statues split through with
heat, are met with in parts of the Nineveh mounds, and attest the veracity ...
/n/nineveh.htm - 52k

Burial (25 Occurrences)
... by the men of Jabesh-Gilead (1 Samuel 31:11-13) seems to have been rather a case
of emergency, than of conformity to any such custom, as the charred bones were ...
/b/burial.htm - 42k

Temple (614 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2). First they erected and dedicated the altar of Jehovah on the exact spot
where it had formerly stood, and they then cleared away the charred heaps of ...
/t/temple.htm - 101k

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