### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻâshân**, represented by `{{H6227}}`, primarily means **smoke**. It appears **25 times** across **24 unique verses** in the Bible. Derived from a root meaning to smoke, its use extends beyond the literal, often serving as a powerful figurative symbol for concepts like transience, divine anger, and the very presence of God.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H6227}}` appears in several significant contexts. It is a key element in divine manifestations, such as when Mount Sinai was completely covered in **smoke** because the LORD descended upon it in fire [[Exodus 19:18]]. The smoke of the city of Ai ascending to heaven served as a sign of military victory for Israel [[Joshua 8:20]]. Figuratively, it illustrates impermanence, as the heavens are prophesied to "vanish away like **smoke**" [[Isaiah 51:6]]. It is also used to describe a nuisance, where a lazy person is "as **smoke** to the eyes" [[Proverbs 10:26]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the contexts in which smoke appears:
* `{{H784}}` **ʼêsh** (fire): As the source of smoke, this primitive word is often paired with `{{H6227}}`. God's presence on Sinai was in **fire**, causing the mountain to smoke [[Exodus 19:18]], and **fire** from his mouth devoured while **smoke** went up from his nostrils [[Psalms 18:8]].
* `{{H6051}}` **ʻânân** (cloud): Often appearing alongside smoke, this word for **cloud** signifies God's visible glory and protection. The LORD promises to create upon Mount Zion a "**cloud** and **smoke** by day" [[Isaiah 4:5]].
* `{{H3536}}` **kibshân** (furnace): This word for a smelting **furnace** is used to describe the intensity of the smoke at Sinai, which "ascended as the **smoke** of a **furnace**" [[Exodus 19:18]].
* `{{H8574}}` **tannûwr** (furnace): A fire-pot or oven, this word is used in God's covenant with Abram, where a "**smoking** furnace" passed between the pieces [[Genesis 15:17]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6227}}` is demonstrated through its symbolic applications:
* **Divine Presence and Theophany:** Smoke frequently signals the awesome and holy presence of God. It filled the house during Isaiah's commissioning [[Isaiah 6:4]] and was part of the wonders God promised to show, including "pillars of **smoke**" [[Joel 2:30]].
* **Judgment and Wrath:** Smoke is a potent image of divine anger. God's indignation is described as "a **smoke** in my nose" [[Isaiah 65:5]]. The fate of the wicked is to "consume away" into **smoke** [[Psalms 37:20]], and the smoke of lands under judgment ascends for ever [[Isaiah 34:10]].
* **Transience and Impermanence:** The fleeting nature of smoke is used as a metaphor for things that do not last. The psalmist laments that his days "are consumed like **smoke**" [[Psalms 102:3]], and the wicked are driven away "as **smoke** is driven away" [[Psalms 68:2]], contrasting with God's eternal salvation.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6227}}` is far more than a simple descriptor for the byproduct of fire. It is a multifaceted biblical symbol, representing the terrifying glory of God's presence, the fierceness of His judgment against sin, and the ephemeral nature of all creation. From the covenant with Abraham to the prophecies of Isaiah, **ʻâshân** serves as a powerful visual aid to communicate profound theological truths.
TRV