עָשָׁן (a.shan)
a.shan
smoke
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 17 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word a.shan simply means "smoke," yet it carries significant weight in Scripture. It appears seventeen times, with notable usage in Judges, Joshua, and especially Isaiah. The term describes the visible byproduct of fire, often serving as a sensory marker for divine presence or judgment.
Beyond its literal sense, the sources highlight its metaphorical use. In Isaiah, smoke frequently accompanies descriptions of God’s wrath or the destruction of enemies, creating an image of chaos and power. This figurative application helps readers visualize the intensity of spiritual conflict without needing abstract terms.
Translators typically render a.shan as "smoke" because the concrete image is essential to the text's impact. Whether describing the smoke rising from Mount Sinai or the smoke of burning cities, the word grounds theological concepts in physical reality. This approach allows the original audience to experience the awe and fear associated with divine encounters through familiar, observable phenomena.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Smoke in Scripture often signals a moment where the divine intersects with human history. It is not merely a byproduct of fire but a visible sign of God’s presence, judgment, or protection. When you encounter this word, remember that it grounds abstract spiritual truths in physical reality, helping us grasp the awe and power of encounters with the holy.
This imagery reminds us that God is both near and transcendent. In moments of fear or uncertainty, the smoke of divine presence can be a comfort, signaling that He is actively involved in our world. It invites us to look beyond the visible chaos to the enduring reality of His salvation, which remains steady even when everything else fades away.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- smoke6×
- smoke/ its2×
- [the] smoke of2×
- the/ smoke1×
- like/ [the] smoke of1×
- like <the>/ smoke1×
- in <the>/ smoke1×
- and/ smoke1×
- and/ like/ smoke1×
- and/ like <the>/ smoke1×
- [are] smoke1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עָשָׁן֙2×
- עָשָׁ֣ן2×
- עָשָׁ֑ן2×
- עָשָֽׁן\׃1×
- עֲשָׁנָ֑/הּ1×
- עֲשָׁנ/וֹ֙1×
- עֲשַׁ֤ן1×
- עֲשַׁ֣ן1×
- כֶּ/עָשָׁ֤ן1×
- כְּ/עֶ֣שֶׁן1×
- וּ/כְ/עָשָׁ֖ן1×
- וְ/עָשָׁ֔ן1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 19:18
All of Mount Sinai smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
This verse establishes smoke as a sensory marker of God’s descent on Sinai, grounding the awe of divine presence in a tangible, physical phenomenon.
-
Isaiah 65:5
who say, ‘Stay by yourself, don’t come near to me, for I am holier than you.’ These are smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all day.
Here, smoke becomes a metaphor for self-righteousness, illustrating how pride can become an offensive stench to God rather than a sign of holiness.
-
Isaiah 51:6
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish away like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment. Its inhabitants will die in the same way, but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will not be abolished.
The comparison of heavens vanishing like smoke highlights the temporary nature of creation in contrast to the eternal stability of God’s salvation.