The term "aflame" is often used to describe something that is on fire or burning brightly. In the context of the Bible, fire frequently symbolizes the presence of God, divine judgment, purification, and the Holy Spirit. The imagery of flames and fire is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating both the power and holiness of God.

Divine Presence and Revelation

One of the most significant instances of fire representing God's presence is found in the account of Moses and the burning bush. In Exodus 3:2, the angel of the LORD appears to Moses "in a flame of fire from within a bush." The bush was aflame, yet it was not consumed, symbolizing God's eternal and self-sustaining nature. This encounter marked the beginning of God's direct revelation to Moses and the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt.

Judgment and Purification

Fire is also a symbol of divine judgment and purification. In the account of Sodom and Gomorrah, God rained down "brimstone and fire" from heaven to execute judgment on the cities for their wickedness (Genesis 19:24). Similarly, the prophet Malachi speaks of a coming day when the LORD will be like a refiner's fire, purifying the sons of Levi (Malachi 3:2-3). This imagery underscores the purifying and consuming nature of God's holiness, which burns away impurity and sin.

The Holy Spirit

In the New Testament, fire is associated with the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles as "tongues of fire" that rested on each of them (Acts 2:3). This event marked the birth of the Church and the empowerment of believers to spread the Gospel. The fire of the Holy Spirit signifies the presence of God within believers, igniting their hearts with passion and zeal for His work.

Zeal and Passion

The concept of being "aflame" is also metaphorically applied to the zeal and fervor of believers. In Romans 12:11, Paul exhorts the church to be "fervent in spirit," serving the Lord with enthusiasm and dedication. This fervency is akin to being aflame with passion for God's purposes, reflecting a life that is fully committed to His service.

Eschatological Imagery

In eschatological contexts, fire is often depicted as a tool of God's final judgment. The Book of Revelation describes a lake of fire as the ultimate destination for Satan, the beast, and those who reject God (Revelation 20:10, 15). This imagery serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the reality of divine justice.

Throughout Scripture, the imagery of being aflame serves as a powerful symbol of God's presence, judgment, purification, and the fervent spirit of believers. Whether through the burning bush, the tongues of fire at Pentecost, or the refining fire of judgment, the concept of being aflame underscores the transformative and consuming nature of God's holiness and love.(adv. & a.) Inflames; glowing with light or passion; ablaze.381. anapto -- to kindle
... light. Word Origin from ana and hapto Definition to kindle NASB Word Usage
kindled (1), set aflame (1). to kindle or light. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/381.htm - 6k3857. lahat -- to blaze up, flame
... root Definition to blaze up, flame NASB Word Usage aflame (1), breathe forth fire
(1), burned (1), burns (2), consumed (1), flaming (1), kindles (1), set him ...
/hebrew/3857.htm - 6k

6315. puach -- to breathe, blow
... root Definition to breathe, blow NASB Word Usage blow (1), breathe (1), cool (2),
hastens (1), longs (1), set a aflame (1), snorts (1), speaks (1), tells (2 ...
/hebrew/6315.htm - 6k

3341. yatsath -- to kindle, burn
... root Definition to kindle, burn NASB Word Usage aflame (1), burn (1), burned (3),
burned down (1), burns (2), kindle (4), kindled (2), set (12), set on fire (1 ...
/hebrew/3341.htm - 6k

True Greatness
... you want me to weep,' said the old artist-poet, 'there must be tears in your own
eyes.' If you want me to believe, you yourself must be aflame with conviction ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/true greatness.htm

A Sight of the Crowned Christ
... The two walking to Emmaus found their hearts all aflame, though they supposed
it was only the chance stranger of the roadway they listened to. ...
/.../quiet talks on the crowned christ of revelation/iii a sight of the crowned.htm

Paul at Philippi
... Wherever there are men aflame with that with which every Christian man and woman
should be aflame, the consciousness of the preciousness of their Master, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/paul at philippi.htm

The Fourfold Symbols of the Spirit
... We ought to be like God Himself, all aflame with love. Let us seek penitently
for that Spirit of fire who will dwell in us all if we will. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the fourfold symbols of the.htm

Assumptions Concerning the Book of Isaiah.
... A more exalted theme must quicken the imagination, set the emotions aflame,
stimulate all the mental and moral powers of the author. ...
/.../vi assumptions concerning the book.htm

Conclusion
... His soul is aflame with the passion of his labour; with devotion to his Master;
with a love for his fellows learned at the foot of the cross. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/jackson/the message and the man/conclusion.htm

Demas
... to his feelings in bitter invective"as is customary in such cases"and to denounce
the cowardliness of this desertion in language aflame with indignation. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/demas.htm

John Augusta and his Policy, 1531-1548.
... Again we turn to the old Thein Church; again the preacher is denouncing the priests;
and again in the pew is an eager listener with soul aflame with zeal. ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter viii john augusta and.htm

The True Thesaurus; to Wit, the Disputation Conducted in Carchar.. ...
... And as he could not conceal his solicitude, all aflame for the religion and the
fear of God, he at length hastened to Marcellus, and explained to him the ...
/.../1 the true thesaurus to.htm

The Red King
... The Red King down from Malwood came; His heart with wine was all aflame, His eyne
were shotten, red as blood, He rated and swore, wherever he rode. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the red king.htm

Aflame (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Aflame (8 Occurrences). 1 ... weak? Who is led astray
into sin, and I am not aflame with indignation? (WEY). ...
/a/aflame.htm - 8k

Indignant (22 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led astray into
sin, and I am not aflame with indignation? (See RSV). ...
/i/indignant.htm - 12k

Intense (13 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 2 Corinthians 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led astray
into sin, and I am not aflame with indignation? (See NAS). ...
/i/intense.htm - 10k

Afoot (3 Occurrences)

/a/afoot.htm - 7k

Afire (2 Occurrences)

/a/afire.htm - 7k

Astray (116 Occurrences)
... (WEY NAS RSV NIV). 2 Corinthians 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led
astray into sin, and I am not aflame with indignation? (WEY). ...
/a/astray.htm - 36k

Swords (50 Occurrences)
... Psalms 57:4 My soul is among lions, I do lie down among them that are aflame; even
the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp ...
/s/swords.htm - 22k

Led (260 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led astray into sin,
and I am not aflame with indignation? (WEY DBY YLT NAS NIV). ...
/l/led.htm - 36k

Tongues (67 Occurrences)
... "Like as of fire," or, more exactly, "as if of fire," indicates the appearance of
the tongues, not that they were actually aflame, but that they prefigured the ...
/t/tongues.htm - 61k

Fire (602 Occurrences)
... "Like as of fire," or, more exactly, "as if of fire," indicates the appearance of
the tongues, not that they were actually aflame, but that they prefigured the ...
/f/fire.htm - 78k

What race was Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Sacred Heart of Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

Trinity Poem | GotQuestions.org

Aflame: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus