Original Word: מִשְׂרָפָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: misraphah
Pronunciation: mis-rah-fah'
Phonetic Spelling: (mis-raw-faw')
Definition: Burning, conflagration, incineration
Meaning: combustion, cremation, calcination

burning

From saraph; combustion, i.e. Cremation (of a corpse), or calcination (of lime) -- burning.

see HEBREW saraph

Word Origin
from saraph
Definition
a burning
NASB Translation
burned (2).

[מַשְׂרֵפָה, מִשְׂרָפָה ?] noun [feminine] a burning; — only plural construct אֲבוֺתֶיךָ ׃ מִשְׂרְפוֺת ׳בּמ: Jeremiah 34:5 (read ׳כְּמ ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Gie Du and others), like the burnings (of spices; compare √

2a) for thy fathers; שִׂיד ׳מ Isaiah 33:12 (figurative of ignominious destruction, compare Amos 2:1).

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb שָׂרַף (saraph), meaning "to burn" or "to set on fire."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G4442 (πῦρ, pyr): fire
• G2740 (καύσις, kausis): burning, combustion
• G2545 (κατακαίω, katakaio): to burn up, consume by fire

These Greek terms capture similar themes of burning and combustion, reflecting the shared cultural and religious significance of fire as a symbol of judgment, purification, and transformation in both Hebrew and Greek thought.

Usage: The word מִשְׂרָפָה is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe instances of burning, whether in the context of destruction, purification, or ritual. It is often associated with the burning of cities, objects, or even bodies as a form of judgment or purification.

Context: מִשְׂרָפָה appears in several contexts within the Hebrew Scriptures, illustrating its varied applications. In the context of judgment, it is used to describe the burning of cities or objects as a divine act of retribution or cleansing. For example, in Joshua 11:11, the city of Hazor is burned as part of the conquest of Canaan: "They struck down everyone in it with the sword, devoting them to destruction. There was no one left who breathed, and he burned Hazor with fire." This act of burning signifies total destruction and the removal of impurity.

Additionally, מִשְׂרָפָה can refer to the burning of bodies, as seen in Amos 6:10, where it is used in the context of a funeral rite or cremation: "And when a relative who is to burn the bodies picks them up to carry them out of the house, he will call to one inside the house, 'Is anyone else with you?' And he will answer, 'No.' Then he will say, 'Hush! We must not mention the name of the LORD.'"

The term also appears in contexts of ritual purification, where burning is used to cleanse or consecrate objects or spaces. This reflects the broader biblical theme of fire as a purifying and transformative force.

וּֽכְמִשְׂרְפ֣וֹת וכמשרפות מִשְׂרְפ֣וֹת משרפות miś·rə·p̄ō·wṯ misreFot miśrəp̄ōwṯ ū·ḵə·miś·rə·p̄ō·wṯ uchemisreFot ūḵəmiśrəp̄ōwṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts