Psalms 106:18

And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

And a fire {H784} was kindled {H1197} in their company {H5712}; the flame {H3852} burned up {H3857} the wicked {H7563}.

A fire blazed out against that group, the flames consumed the wicked.

Then fire blazed through their company; flames consumed the wicked.

And a fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked.

Psalms 106:18 vividly describes a moment of divine judgment where fire consumed those who rebelled against God's appointed leadership. This verse is a concise and powerful reminder of the serious consequences of challenging divine authority and succumbing to sin.

Context

Psalm 106 is a historical psalm, recounting the many instances of Israel's rebellion and God's enduring faithfulness throughout their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Verses 16-18 specifically refer to the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram, along with their associates, against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. This dramatic event is detailed in Numbers chapter 16, where they challenged the legitimate authority of Moses and Aaron, whom God had chosen. The "fire" mentioned in this verse refers to the divine judgment that consumed the 250 men who offered incense, supporting Dathan and Abiram's challenge, as recorded in Numbers 16:35.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse powerfully illustrates God's swift and decisive judgment against those who directly oppose His will and His chosen leaders. It underscores that rebellion against God's order incurs severe consequences.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: It serves as a stark warning about the dangers of envy, pride, and challenging legitimate authority, highlighting that sin, especially open rebellion, does not go unpunished.
  • God's Holiness and Justice: The consuming fire symbolizes God's absolute holiness and His unwavering commitment to justice. He is righteous in all His ways, and His nature demands that sin be dealt with.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "fire" is 'esh (אֵשׁ), which is frequently used in the Old Testament to denote God's presence, purification, and, as in this case, His judgment. The term "wicked" translates from resha'im (רְשָׁעִים), referring to those who are guilty, unrighteous, or rebellious against God's established law and order. This strong term emphasizes the moral culpability of those consumed by the fire.

Reflection and Application

While we live under the new covenant of grace, the principles of God's holiness and justice remain eternal. Psalms 106:18 reminds us of the seriousness of rebellion against God and the importance of humility and respect for divinely appointed authority. It calls believers to examine their own hearts for any seeds of pride, envy, or dissent. Ultimately, this verse points to the truth that our God is a consuming fire against all unrighteousness, urging us to live in reverence and obedience to Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hebrews 12:29

    For our God [is] a consuming fire.

  • Numbers 16:46

    And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.

  • Numbers 16:35

    ¶ And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

  • Numbers 16:40

    [To be] a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which [is] not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

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