יְקוֹד
a burning
Definition
The Hebrew noun יְקוֹד (yᵉqôwd) refers specifically to a burning or a conflagration. It denotes a state of being consumed by fire, often implying intensity and destruction. This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 10:16, where it describes the 'burning' that God will send among the Assyrian army. The term is derived from the root verb meaning 'to burn' or 'to kindle,' emphasizing an active, consuming process rather than a static state of heat.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Isaiah 10:16. In this prophetic context, it describes a divine judgment—a burning that God will send upon the arrogant Assyrian forces as an act of punishment. The usage is singular and dramatic, fitting the theme of God's intervention against oppressive empires in the book of Isaiah.
Etymology
יְקוֹד (yᵉqôwd) is a noun derived from the root verb יָקַד (yāqad, H3344), which means 'to burn,' 'to kindle,' or 'to be aflame.' This root is also the source for other related words like יָקֹד (yāqōd, H3341), meaning 'burning' or 'flame.' The noun form יְקוֹד specifically captures the state or result of that burning action.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, יְקוֹד carries theological weight as it appears in a key passage about God's judgment. In Isaiah 10:16, the 'burning' is an instrument of divine wrath against Assyria's pride, illustrating God's sovereignty over nations and His commitment to justice. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting the intensity and purposeful nature of God's corrective fire, contrasting human arrogance with divine power.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, fire was a common metaphor for both purification and destruction, often associated with divine presence or anger. The specific use in a military context (Isaiah 10:16) would resonate with audiences familiar with warfare and the devastating effects of fire in combat, underscoring the severity of God's judgment.
אֵשׁ (ʼēsh, H784) — a more general term for 'fire.' יָקֹד (yāqōd, H3341) — another noun for 'burning' or 'flame,' closely related but used in different contexts (e.g., Genesis 19:28).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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