Psalms 97:3
A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
Original Language Analysis
לְפָנָ֣יו
before
H6440
לְפָנָ֣יו
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
2 of 6
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
תֵּלֵ֑ךְ
H1980
תֵּלֵ֑ךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
3 of 6
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
וּתְלַהֵ֖ט
him and burneth up
H3857
וּתְלַהֵ֖ט
him and burneth up
Strong's:
H3857
Word #:
4 of 6
properly, to lick, i.e., (by implication) to blaze
Cross References
Psalms 50:3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.Psalms 18:8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.Hebrews 12:29For our God is a consuming fire.Malachi 4:1For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.2 Thessalonians 1:8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:Daniel 7:10A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.Deuteronomy 32:22For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
Historical Context
Israel witnessed God's fire consuming sacrifices, destroying Sodom, and defeating Baal's prophets—establishing fire as a symbol of divine presence and judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the imagery of God's holiness as consuming fire affect your understanding of sin's seriousness?
- In what ways should awareness of God's judgment against His enemies humble and sober you?
Analysis & Commentary
Fire going before God symbolizes His holiness consuming impurity and His judgment against sin. The verb 'burneth up' (lahat) indicates complete consumption. This imagery recalls the pillar of fire, Elijah's altar, and anticipates eschatological judgment. God's enemies being consumed demonstrates that opposition to Him is futile. The fire represents both God's zeal for His own glory and His active judgment against evil—He is not passive but dynamically opposes wickedness.