The Hebrew word tsârab, represented by H6866, is a primitive root that means to burn. It is a rare term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. Its singular use describes a severe and widespread burning as a result of divine judgment.
The sole appearance of H6866 is in a prophecy delivered by Ezekiel. The Lord GOD declares He will kindle a fire in the "forest of the south" that will devour every green and dry tree. The prophecy culminates with the statement that this unquenchable fire will be so vast that "all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein" Ezekiel 20:47. This context gives the word a sense of a visible, searing mark left upon people as a consequence of this fiery judgment.
Several related words in the same passage help to define the context of this burning:
- H784 'êsh (fire): The instrument of judgment that God kindles. It is the agent that will devour and burn Ezekiel 20:47.
- H3341 yâtsath (to burn or set on fire): This is the action God himself takes, stating, "I will kindle a fire in thee" Ezekiel 20:47. It initiates the event where H6866 is the result.
- H398 'âkal (to eat... burn up, consume, devour): This word describes the comprehensive effect of the fire, which will devour both the green and dry trees, leaving nothing untouched Ezekiel 20:47.
- H3518 kâbâh (to expire or (causatively) to extinguish): This term is used to emphasize the unstoppable nature of the judgment, as the resulting flame "shall not be quenched" Ezekiel 20:47.
The theological weight of H6866 is derived entirely from its single, powerful context in Ezekiel's prophecy.
- Act of Divine Judgment: The burning is not a natural event but a direct act of the Lord GOD, who proclaims, "I will kindle a fire" Ezekiel 20:47. This establishes the burning as a direct consequence of a divine decree.
- All-Encompassing Scope: The fire is prophesied to devour "every green tree in thee, and every dry tree" Ezekiel 20:47, signifying a judgment that is total and unsparing, affecting everyone in its path.
- Irreversible Outcome: The passage explicitly states that the "flaming flame shall not be quenched" Ezekiel 20:47. This highlights the finality and unstoppable power behind the judgment, with the burning being its permanent evidence.
In summary, while H6866 is extremely rare, its single use carries immense significance. It is not a general term for burning but specifically illustrates the visible and inescapable consequence of God's fiery judgment. Occurring in the dramatic prophecy of Ezekiel 20:47, tsârab defines the mark left upon "all faces" by a fire that is divinely kindled, all-consuming, and utterly unquenchable.
TRV