The term "scorched" appears in various contexts within the Bible, often symbolizing destruction, judgment, or the withering effects of intense heat. It is used both literally and metaphorically to convey the consequences of divine judgment or the trials faced by individuals.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the concept of being scorched is frequently associated with the judgment of God. For instance, in Deuteronomy 28:22, as part of the curses for disobedience, the Lord warns, "The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish." Here, scorching heat is part of the divine retribution that leads to agricultural failure and suffering.

The imagery of scorching is also used in the prophetic literature to describe the effects of God's wrath. In Isaiah 24:6, the prophet declares, "Therefore a curse has consumed the earth, and its inhabitants must bear the guilt; therefore the earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left." The scorching here symbolizes the consuming nature of God's judgment upon a sinful world.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the term "scorched" is notably used in the Parable of the Sower. In Matthew 13:6, Jesus explains, "But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root." This parable illustrates the spiritual truth that those who receive the word of God without deep roots of faith will fall away when faced with trials and persecution, represented by the scorching sun.

The Book of Revelation also employs the imagery of scorching to depict the end times. Revelation 16:8-9 describes the fourth bowl of God's wrath: "Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire. And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues, yet they did not repent and give Him glory." Here, the scorching heat serves as a divine instrument to prompt repentance, though it is met with hardened hearts.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of being scorched underscores the seriousness of divine judgment and the consequences of sin. It serves as a warning to the faithful to remain steadfast in their faith and to cultivate deep spiritual roots. The imagery of scorching also highlights the purifying and testing aspects of trials, which can either lead to spiritual growth or reveal the lack of genuine faith.

In a broader sense, the use of scorching in Scripture reflects the holiness and justice of God, who uses both natural and supernatural means to execute His will and bring about His purposes. It calls believers to a life of obedience, repentance, and reliance on God's grace to withstand the trials and tribulations of life.(imp. & p. p.) of Scorch.2739. kaumatizo -- to burn up
... Word Origin from kauma Definition to burn up NASB Word Usage scorch (1), scorched
(3). scorch. From kauma; to burn -- scorch. see GREEK kauma. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2739.htm - 6k2787. charar -- to be hot or scorched, to burn
... 2786, 2787. charar. 2788 . to be hot or scorched, to burn. Transliteration:
charar Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-rar') Short Definition: burned. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/2787.htm - 6k

6710. tsachtsachah -- a scorched region
... 6709, 6710. tsachtsachah. 6711 . a scorched region. Transliteration: tsachtsachah
Phonetic Spelling: (tsakh-tsaw-khaw') Short Definition: places. ...
/hebrew/6710.htm - 6k

6707. tsechichah -- scorched land
... 6706, 6707. tsechichah. 6708 . scorched land. Transliteration: tsechichah
Phonetic Spelling: (tsekh-ee-khaw') Short Definition: land. ...
/hebrew/6707.htm - 6k

7710. shadaph -- to scorch, blight
... 7709, 7710. shadaph. 7711 . to scorch, blight. Transliteration: shadaph Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-daf') Short Definition: scorched. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7710.htm - 5k

3554. kavah -- to burn, scorch, brand
... 3553, 3554. kavah. 3555 . to burn, scorch, brand. Transliteration: kavah Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-vaw') Short Definition: scorched. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/3554.htm - 6k

7711a. shedephah -- blighted or blasted thing
... 7711, 7711a. shedephah. 7711b . blighted or blasted thing. Transliteration:
shedephah Short Definition: scorched. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/7711a.htm - 5k

8273. sharab -- burning heat, parched ground
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition burning heat, parched ground NASB Word
Usage scorched land (1), scorching heat (1). heat, parched ground. ...
/hebrew/8273.htm - 6k

Psalm CII.
... "And my bones are scorched up as it were in an oven." Both my bones, and
my strength, not without tribulation, not without burning. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cii.htm

A Hymn Concerning Her.
... spring. "Scorched by the fierce flames, the maiden Agatha yielded not; in
like manner Eulalia endures, scorched by the fierce flames. ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xx a hymn concerning.htm

Of the Priesthood of Jesus Foretold by the Prophets.
... For this is the filthy garment, that He might prepare a temple for God, and might
be scorched [653] as a brand with fire"that is, might endure tortures from ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xiv of the priesthood of.htm

The Sower
... where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness
of earth: and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 4 3-9 14-20 the sower.htm

The Sower.
... where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no
deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/i the sower.htm

Dwight -- the Sovereignty of God
... Even then he begins his conflict with hunger and thirst; is scorched by a vertical
sun; shriveled by the burning sand beneath; and poisoned by the breath of ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/dwight the sovereignty of.htm

Demonstration xxi. --Of Persecution.
... live and not be drowned; or (through) the river without its overflowing him; or
who could walk over fire and see whether he would not be scorched and whether ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration xxi of persecution.htm

The Parables Exemplified in the Early History of the Church.
... Of hearers in whom the seed is scorched up by the fire of temptation or persecution,
we may see instances in Ananias and Sapphira, who fell under the ...
/.../the kingdom of heaven what is it/chapter vii the parables exemplified.htm

Private Property and the Common Good
... they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness
of earth: and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because ...
/.../the social principles of jesus/chapter viii private property and.htm

The Wisdom of the Ages
... ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had
no depth of earth: but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it ...
/.../mark/jesus of nazareth a biography/chapter iv the wisdom of.htm

Scorched (21 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Scorched (21 Occurrences). Matthew 13:6 When the sun had
risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away. ...
/s/scorched.htm - 12k

Sun-scorched (2 Occurrences)
Sun-scorched. Sun's, Sun-scorched. Sunset . Multi-Version Concordance Sun-scorched
(2 Occurrences). Psalms 68:6 God sets the lonely in families. ...
/s/sun-scorched.htm - 7k

Withers (20 Occurrences)
... Withers (20 Occurrences). Matthew 13:6 but when the sun is risen, it is scorched
by the heat, and through having no root it withers up. (WEY). ...
/w/withers.htm - 11k

Withered (46 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:6 When the sun had risen, they were scorched. ... Mark 4:6 When the sun had
risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. ...
/w/withered.htm - 22k

Risen (169 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:6 When the sun had risen, they were scorched. ... Mark 4:6 When the sun had
risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. ...
/r/risen.htm - 35k

Root (54 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:6 When the sun had risen, they were scorched. ... Mark 4:6 When the sun had
risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. ...
/r/root.htm - 28k

Sunset (18 Occurrences)

/s/sunset.htm - 11k

Scorching (11 Occurrences)

/s/scorching.htm - 9k

Kite (3 Occurrences)
... BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Job 28:7 A path -- not known it hath a ravenous
fowl, Nor scorched it hath an eye of the kite, (YLT). ...
/k/kite.htm - 9k

Useful (14 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 15:5 Lo, in its being perfect it is not used for work, How much less, when
fire hath eaten of it, And it is scorched, Hath it been used yet for work? ...
/u/useful.htm - 10k

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