### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **ʼăzâʼ**, represented by `{{H228}}`, means to kindle or, by implication, to **heat**. It appears 3 times across 2 unique verses, used specifically to describe the intense heating of a physical object. Its meaning is focused on the act of making something hot or the state of being hot.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The use of `{{H228}}` is confined entirely to the narrative of the fiery furnace in the book of Daniel. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego defied the king, a furious Nebuchadnezzar commanded that they **heat** the furnace seven times more than it was usually **heated** [[Daniel 3:19]]. The word is used twice in this single command to emphasize the extreme intensification of the temperature. The result of this command was a furnace that was "exceeding **hot**" `{{H228}}`, so much so that the flame killed the soldiers who were carrying out the king's orders [[Daniel 3:22]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Aramaic words provide context for the use of `{{H228}}` in the Daniel 3 narrative:
* `{{H861}}` **ʼattûwn** (furnace): This is the direct object that is being made **hot** `{{H228}}`. It appears alongside `{{H228}}` in both verses, highlighting the setting of this intense trial ([[Daniel 3:19]], [[Daniel 3:22]]).
* `{{H5135}}` **nûwr** (fire; fiery): This word describes the element within the furnace `{{H861}}`. The furnace was made so **hot** `{{H228}}` that the "flame of the **fire**" `{{H5135}}` became deadly to those nearby [[Daniel 3:22]].
* `{{H2685}}` **chătsaph** (hasty, be urgent): This term explains the motivation behind the intense heat. Because the king's commandment was "urgent" `{{H2685}}`, the furnace was made "exceeding **hot**" `{{H228}}` [[Daniel 3:22]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H228}}` is seen in its dramatic context rather than a broad application.
* **The Severity of the Test:** The command to **heat** `{{H228}}` the furnace to an extreme degree illustrates the intensity of the persecution faced by God's faithful servants. Nebuchadnezzar's fury is translated into a physical, life-threatening reality [[Daniel 3:19]].
* **The Power of Human Rage:** The resulting state of being "exceeding **hot**" `{{H228}}` is so powerful that it has lethal consequences for the king's own men, demonstrating the destructive nature of the king's command [[Daniel 3:22]].
* **A Backdrop for Divine Deliverance:** This extreme heat serves to magnify God's power. While the heat was fatal to others, the **fire** `{{H5135}}` had "no power" over the bodies of the three Hebrews, who were delivered unharmed from the midst of the furnace [[Daniel 3:27]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H228}}` **ʼăzâʼ** is a highly specific Aramaic term used exclusively in Daniel 3 to convey the concept of extreme, intensified heat. Though its usage is rare, it plays a critical role in the narrative of the fiery furnace, establishing the severity of the trial and creating the backdrop against which God's miraculous power to save is dramatically displayed.
TRV