Psalms 106:18 — Word Study
WLCוַתִּבְעַר־ אֵ֥שׁ בַּעֲדָתָ֑ם לֶ֝הָבָ֗ה תְּלַהֵ֥ט רְשָׁעִֽים׃
BSAThen fireʼêsh [a flame, divine judgment] blazedbâʻar▸ through their companyʻêdâh [congregation, gathering] ◂flameslehâbâh [a burning, consuming fire] consumedlâhaṭ▸ the wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, sinful people, guilty of crime against God]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַתִּבְעַר־ | and it burned | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person feminine singular |
| אֵ֥שׁ | fire | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| בַּעֲדָתָ֑ם | among company their | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| לֶ֝הָבָ֗ה | flame | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| תְּלַהֵ֥ט | it burned up | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| רְשָׁעִֽים׃ | [the] wicked [people] | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then fire blazed through their company; flames consumed the wicked. |
| KJV | And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked. |
| ASV | And a fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked. |
| YLT | And fire burneth among their company, A flame setteth on fire the wicked. |
| WEB | A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked. |
| BBE | And a fire was lighted among their tents; the sinners were burned up by the flames. |
The translations agree on the depiction of fire and judgment in this verse.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by a prepositional phrase and a noun phrase, clearly outlining the action and its consequences.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֵשׁ
verbבָּעַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 106:18
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Consequences of Rebelliongenerated
Psalms 106:18 recounts a moment of divine judgment against those who rebelled against God. The psalmist reflects on the consequences faced by the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness, emphasizing the severity of God's response to sin. This verse connects with earlier events in the wilderness, such as the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram, as described in Numbers 16:35–40.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 16:35–40 | And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense. |
| 2 | Hebrews 12:29 | “For our God is a consuming fire.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בָּעַר, va.tiv.'ar-generated
The Hebrew verb בָּעַר (ba'ar) means 'to burn' and is used to describe the act of consuming something by fire. It can also imply a state of being brutish or dull-hearted, but in this context, it focuses on the destructive power of fire as a form of divine judgment.
This verb is in the sequential imperfect tense, indicating an ongoing action. The feminine singular form suggests that the fire is personified, emphasizing its active role in consuming the wicked.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses blazed and consumed to convey the intensity of the fire's action against the wicked.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb תִּבְעַר (tiv'ar, 'it burned') governs the sentence, with two subjects: אֵ֥שׁ (esh, 'fire') and לֶ֝הָבָ֗ה (lehabah, 'flame'). The structure emphasizes the active role of fire in executing judgment.
The sentence uses a prepositional phrase to indicate the location of the action ('among their company'), showing that the judgment was directed specifically at the assembly of the wicked.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בָּעַר as ἐχεκαύθη (echekauthē), which also means 'to burn' but carries a sense of being set ablaze by divine action, reinforcing the idea of judgment.
This choice of word highlights the divine agency in the act of burning, suggesting an interpretation that emphasizes God's direct involvement in executing justice.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 106:18 describes how fire burned through the company of people who were wicked. This verse shows God's judgment against those who acted against Him, emphasizing the seriousness of their actions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The fire symbolizes God's judgment and wrath against the wicked, indicating the severity of their sin.
The 'wicked' refers to those who committed sins against God and were guilty of wrongdoing, as described in the context of the Israelites' rebellion.
This verse reflects the recurring theme in Psalms of God's justice and the consequences of rebellion against Him, often illustrated through vivid imagery.
The congregation represents the community of Israel, highlighting that God's judgment can affect the entire assembly when moral failures occur.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see God's judgment in the world today?
- How can I ensure that I do not fall into the category of the wicked described in this verse?
- What does this verse teach about the seriousness of sin and its consequences?
- How can I encourage others to live righteously and avoid the fate of the wicked?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse highlights the theme of divine judgment. Augustine of Hippo quotes it to illustrate God's response to sin.
"And the fire was kindled in their company; the flame burnt up the sinners" [Psalms 106:18].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 106 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 106:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd a fire was kindled in their company,.... This seems to be the company of Korah, or however a part of it, the two hundred and fifty men that had censers, and so were of the Levitical race, as
Read John Gill on Psalms 106 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: -Three transgressions of Israel in the wilderness are detailed, rising in gradation of moral guilt, without respect to time: (1) Their
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 106 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIn their company; in their associates or confederates, those wicked men, as he calls them in the next clause, to wit, Korah and his company, who were consumed by a fire from the Lord, , compared with ,2,16-19.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 106 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 106:18 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.Ver. 18. And a fire was kindled in their company] It is both a just presage and desert of ruin not to be warned. Let seditious persons and schismatics take heed; for even our God also is a consuming fire, Hebrews 12:29. The flame burnt up the wicked] And among the rest Korah, as some conceive. Dathan and Abiram are stigmatized for their stubbornness, Numbers 26:9, as was afterwards Ahaz, 2 Chronicles 28:22, and before them all Cain, Genesis 4:15, and Lamech, Genesis 4:24.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 106 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13-33) These twenty verses cover the desert wanderings, beginning with the discontented spirit mentioned in Exodus 15:23.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 106 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18. “A fire came out from Jehovah, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense” (Numbers 16:35). The rebels are called “these wicked men” in Numbers 16:26.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 106 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Then fire blazed through their company; flames consumed the wicked.
A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked.
Then fire blazed through their company; flames consumed the wicked.
Fire burned their group; the flames scorched the wicked.
Tyndale line
And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
And a fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked.
And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
And the fire was kindled in their assembly: the flame burnt vp the wicked.
Strictly literal
And fire was kindled in their company; a flame burned up the wicked.
And fire burneth among their company, A flame setteth on fire the wicked.
And fire burns among their company, || A flame sets the wicked on fire.
And a fire was kindled in their company: the flame burnt up the wicked.
Fire broke out among them; the fire consumed the wicked.
From the Latin
Their soul abhorred all manner of meat: and they drew nigh even to the gates of death.
Simplified
Fire broke out among them—a flame that burned them up.
And a fire was lighted among their tents; the sinners were burned up by the flames.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of Psalms 106:18, with all six words matching in their respective languages, indicating a consistent understanding of the event described.
וַתִּבְעַר־ אֵ֥שׁ בַּעֲדָתָ֑ם לֶ֝הָבָ֗ה תְּלַהֵ֥ט רְשָׁעִֽים׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 106:18
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word בָּעַר (ba'ar) has two primary meanings: to burn or consume, and to be brutish or stupid. It encompasses actions related to fire, such as kindling and burning, as well as figurative uses like consuming guilt. Additionally, it can denote a state of dullness or lack of receptiveness. The lexicons provide various nuances, particularly in how the burning aspect can relate to wrath or destruction.
[בָּעַר] vb. burn, consume
Qal burn
Pi.
kindle
burn
fig. consume, utterly remove
Pu. burn (i.e. be supplied with fire), of fire-jar
Hiph.
kindle
burn up
base
[בָּעַר] vb. denom. be brutish
Qal be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive
Niph. brutish, stupid
Pi. feed, graze
Hiph. cause to be grazed over
base
H1197a [בָּעַר] burn, consume .burn
. . kindle
. burn
. fig. consume, utterly remove
. burn (i.e. be supplied with fire), of fire-jar
. . kindle
. burn up
H1197b [בָּעַר] vb. denom. be brutish .be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive
. brutish, stupid
. feed, graze
. cause to be grazed over
1197 ba`ar baw-ar'
a primitive root; to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by
eating); also (as denominative from 1198) to be(-come)
brutish:--be brutish, bring (put, take) away, burn, (cause to)
eat (up), feed, heat, kindle, set ((on fire)), waste.
see HEBREW for 01198
בָּעַר (ba.ar) — to burn: burn.
: burn/ignite
1) to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to begin to burn, be kindled, start burning
1a2) to burn, be burning
1a3) to burn, consume
1a4) Jehovah's wrath, human wrath (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to kindle, burn
1b2) to consume, remove (of guilt) (fig.)
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to kindle
1c2) to burn up
1c3) to consume (destroy)
1d) (Pual) to burn
בָּעַר (ba.ar) — be brutish.
v denom
1) to be stupid, brutish, barbarous
1a) (Qal) to be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive
1b) (Niphal) to be stupid, dull-hearted
1c) (Piel) to feed, graze
1d) (Hiphil) to cause to be grazed over
בָּעַר (ba.ar) — to burn: destroy.
: destroy
1) to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to begin to burn, be kindled, start burning
1a2) to burn, be burning
1a3) to burn, consume
1a4) Jehovah's wrath, human wrath (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to kindle, burn
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singularHc/Vqw3fs
אֵשׁ (esh) means 'fire' and encompasses various types, including natural fire, supernatural fire associated with divine appearances, and fire used for cooking or on altars. It can also figuratively represent God's anger. The entries consistently highlight its literal and metaphorical uses, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
אֵשׁ 377 n.f. fire
fire, of conflagration
of supernatural fire
fire for cooking, roasting, parching
esp. of altar fire
fig. of Yahweh's anger
in various combinations
base
H784 אֵשׁ fire . fire, of conflagration
. of supernatural fire
. fire for cooking, roasting, parching
. esp. of altar fire
. fig. of Yahweh's anger
. in various combinations
784 'esh aysh
a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):--
burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.
אֵשׁ (esh) — fire.
1) fire
1a) fire, flames
1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany)
1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching)
1d) altar-fire
1e) God's anger (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
fir ('esh; pur):
These are the common words for fire, occurring very frequently. 'Ur, "light" (Isa 24:15 the King James Version; compare the Revised Version (British and American); Isa 31:9, and see FIRES), nur (Aramaic) (Da 3:22 ff) are found a few times, also 'eshshah (Jer 6:29), and be`erah (Ex 22:6), once each. Ac 28:2,3 has pura, "pyre," and Mr 14:54; Lu 22:56, phos, "light," the Revised Version (British and American) "in the light (of the fire)." "To set…
Fire
(1.) For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chr. 7:1, 3). The expressions “fire from heaven” and “fire of the Lord” generally denote lightning, but sometimes also the fire of the altar was so called (Ex. 29:18; Lev. 1:9; 2:3; 3:5, 9).
Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise than from the altar was called “strange fire” (Lev. 10:1, 2;
is represented as the symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the instrument of his power, in the way either of approval or of destruction. (Exodus 3:2; 14:19) etc. There could not be a better symbol for Jehovah than this of fire, it being immaterial, mysterious, but visible, warming, cheering, comforting, but also terrible and consuming. Parallel with this application of fire and with its symbolical meaning are to be noted the similar use for sacrificial purposes and the respect paid to it, or to the heavenly bodies as symbols of deity, which prevailed among so many nations of antiquity, and of which the traces are not even now extinct; e.g. the Sabean and Magian systems of worship. (Isaiah 27:9) Fire for sacred purposes obtained elsewhere than from the altar was called "strange fire," and for the use of such Nadab and Abihu were punished…
In Scripture, is often connected with the presence of Jehovah; as in the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai, Ex 3:2 19:18 Ps 18:1-50 Hab 1:1-3:19. The second coming of Christ will be "in flaming fire," 2Th 1:8. In the New Testament it illustrates the enlightening, cheering, and purifying agency of the Holy Spirit, Mt 3:11 Ac 2:3. By sending fire from heaven to consume sacrifices, God often signified his acceptance of them: as in the case of Abel, Ge 4:4; Abraham, Ge…
עֵדָה (edah) refers to a congregation or assembly, typically a group gathered by appointment or acting together. It is derived from a related term and encompasses meanings such as company, multitude, and crowd. The entries consistently emphasize its use in the context of gatherings, without notable disagreement among the lexicons.
עֵדָה 149 n.f. congregation (prop. company assembled together by appointment, or acting concertedly)
base
H5712 עֵדָה congregation (prop. company assembled together by appointment, or acting concertedly
5712 `edah ay-daw'
feminine of 5707 in the original sense of fixture; a stated
assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family
or crowd):--assembly, company, congregation, multitude,
people, swarm. Compare 5713.
see HEBREW for 05707
see HEBREW for 05713
עֵדָה (e.dah) — congregation.
congregation, gathering
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp
The Hebrew word לֶהָבָה (*lehabah*) means 'flame' and can also refer to the 'tip' or 'head of a spear.' It is a feminine form of the related word לַ֫הַב (*lahav*). The entries consistently highlight these meanings without significant disagreement.
לֶהָבָה n.f. id. [לַ֫הַב]
flame, poet.
point, head of spear
base
H3852 לֶהָבָה id. [לַ֫הַב] . flame, poet.
. point, head of spear
3852 lehabah leh-aw-baw'
or lahebeth {lah-eh'-beth}; feminine of 3851, and meaning the
same:--flame(-ming), head (of a spear).
see HEBREW for 03851
לֶהָבָה (le.ha.vah) — flame.
1) flame
2) tip of weapon, point, head of spear
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
flam (lahabh, and other forms from same root; phlox):
In Jud 13:20 bis; Job 41:21; Isa 29:6; Joe 2:5, the word is lahabh. Various other words are translated "flame"; mas'eth, "a lifting or rising up" (Jud 20:38,40 the King James Version), the Revised Version (British and American) "cloud" (of smoke); kalil, "completeness" (Jud 20:40 b King James Version margin, "a holocaust, or offering wholly consumed by fire"; compare Le 6:15); shalhebheth (Job 15:30;
לָהַט (lahat) is a Hebrew verb meaning to blaze or kindle. It encompasses actions like burning, scorching, and setting on fire, with forms indicating both a participle and a causative aspect. The entries consistently describe its fiery connotations without notable disagreement.
[לָהַט] vb. blaze up, flame
Qal a flaming fire
Pi. set ablaze
base
H3857 [לָהַט] blaze up, flame
3857 lahat law-hat'
a primitive root; properly, to lick, i.e. (by implication) to
blaze:--burn (up), set on fire, flaming, kindle.
לָהַט (la.hat) — to kindle.
1) to burn, blaze, scorch, kindle, blaze up, flame
1a) (Qal) blazing (participle)
1b)(Piel) to scorch, burn, blaze
V-Piel-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person feminine singularHVpi3fs
רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.
רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal
base
H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal
7563 rasha` raw-shaw'
from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad
person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did
wrong.
see HEBREW for 07561
רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.
1) wicked, criminal
1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)
1b) wicked (hostile to God)
1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Adj — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa