אֲזָא (a.za)
a.za
to heat
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb azah means to make something hot or to heat it up. It is a straightforward action word describing the application of warmth. In the Bible, this term appears only twice, both within the book of Daniel.
Its most notable use occurs in Daniel 3:22, where King Nebuchadnezzar orders the furnace for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be heated seven times hotter than usual. Here, azah describes the physical intensification of the fire’s heat. The word does not carry metaphorical spiritual meanings like "zeal" or "passion"; it refers strictly to the literal temperature of the furnace.
Because the term is so rare and specific, its impact comes from that single dramatic context. It highlights the extreme conditions set against the faithful men, emphasizing the physical reality of their trial rather than an internal emotional state. The word serves as a precise descriptor for the king’s attempt to increase the lethality of the fire.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word azah simply means to heat something up. It appears only twice in Scripture, both times in Daniel chapter 3. In these verses, King Nebuchadnezzar orders a furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. This is not a metaphor for spiritual passion or inner zeal. It describes the literal, physical intensity of the fire meant to destroy Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
When you read this story, remember that God was present in that extreme heat. The text emphasizes how hot the furnace became, yet the three men walked out unharmed. This shows us that no matter how intense our trials become, we are not alone. God’s presence does not always remove the fire, but He sustains us through it.
Let this rare word remind you that your faithfulness matters even in the hottest moments. You do not have to face difficult seasons by yourself. Trust that God sees your struggle and walks with you through it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ heat/ it1×
- to/ heat1×
- [was] heated1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/מֵזֵ֣א1×
- לְ/מֵזְיֵֽ/הּ\׃1×
- אֵזֵ֣ה1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 3:19
Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the form of his appearance was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
This verse uses azah to describe the king’s deliberate command to intensify the furnace's heat sevenfold, showing his increased fury and determination to punish the men.
-
Daniel 3:22
Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Here azah describes the resulting physical reality of the fire being exceedingly hot, which killed the soldiers who threw the three men in, highlighting the extreme danger they faced.