Fire

Scripture shows fire being used in a variety of ways in this world. Fire is often mentioned as a symbol, denoting God's presence and power, his judgment or his purifying work.

Domestic uses of fire

Isaiah 50:11; Jeremiah 36:22; Matthew 5:15; Mark 14:67 parallels Luke 22:55, John 18:18; John 21:9; Acts 28:2

Cremation

1 Samuel 31:12 See also Joshua 7:25; Amos 6:10

all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there.

Fire as an instrument of punishment

Leviticus 20:14 See also Genesis 38:24; Leviticus 20:14, Leviticus 21:9; Judges 9:49; Daniel 3:6

If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is depraved. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that there will be no depravity among you.

Fire as an instrument of divine judgment

In general terms

2 Peter 3:10 See also Genesis 19:24; Leviticus 10:2; Numbers 11:1, Numbers 16:35; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–8

But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

Eternal fire

Revelation 20:10 See also Isaiah 33:14, Isaiah 66:24; Matthew 3:12 parallel Luke 3:17; Matthew 18:8 parallel Mark 9:43; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 14:10–11

And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Fire used in worship

Numbers 28:2 See also Leviticus 24:7; 1 Samuel 7:9; 2 Chronicles 13:11; Ezra 3:3

“Command the Israelites and say to them: See that you present to Me at its appointed time the food for My food offerings, as a pleasing aroma to Me.

Prayers answered by fire

1 Chronicles 21:26 See also 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10; 2 Chronicles 7:1

And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called upon the LORD, who answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.

Symbolic significance of fire

God's presence and power

Exodus 3:2; Acts 2:3 See also Exodus 13:21, Exodus 19:18; Leviticus 9:24; Deuteronomy 4:36; Judges 6:21, Judges 13:20; 2 Kings 2:11; Psalm 50:3, Psalm 97:3; Jeremiah 23:29

There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.

They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

Judgment

Malachi 4:1 See also Deuteronomy 4:24; Isaiah 66:15–16; Jeremiah 5:14, Jeremiah 48:45; Ezekiel 22:20; Amos 1:4; 1 Corinthians 3:15

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”

Purification or refinement

1 Peter 1:7 See also Numbers 31:23; Isaiah 48:10; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:2; 1 Corinthians 3:13; Revelation 3:18

so that the proven character of your faith — more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Zeal

John 2:17 See also Psalm 69:9; Jeremiah 20:9; Luke 24:32; 2 Timothy 1:6

His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.”

The power to destroy

James 3:6 See also Proverbs 6:27–29, Proverbs 16:27; Isaiah 9:18, Isaiah 43:2

The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.