ἀνάπτω G0381
to kindle, set on fire, light (a flame); used metaphorically of Jesus setting fire on earth and the tongue's destructive power
This verb describes the act of igniting or kindling a fire. Jesus uses it metaphorically in Luke 12:49, speaking of His mission to cast fire upon the earth. James 3:5 employs it to describe how the small tongue ignites great forests of conflict. While the classical Greek shows broader usage (fastening, offering in temples), the New Testament restricts it to literal and metaphorical fire-kindling. The consistent translation pattern across languages (Spanish enciende, French allumer, German ἀνάπτει) reflects this focused meaning of ignition and kindling.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Both New Testament occurrences involve fire and its effects. Luke's Jesus longs for the fire to be already kindled—likely referring to judgment or the Spirit's transformative work. James uses the same verb for the tongue's capacity to ignite destructive conflict. The Spanish fue-encendido and enciende capture both passive (was kindled) and active (kindles) forms, showing the verb's flexibility in describing fire's initiation. 2×
AR["اشْتَعَلَتْ", "تُشعِلُ"]·ben["জ্বালা-হয়েছে", "জ্বালায়"]·DE["ἀνάπτει", "ἀνήφθη"]·EN["it-was-kindled", "kindles"]·FR["allumer"]·heb["מַדְלִיק", "נִצְּתָה"]·HI["जल-चुकी-होती", "जला-देती-है"]·ID["membakar;", "menyala"]·IT["anaptei", "anephthe"]·jav["murub", "murub;"]·KO["타올랐더라면", "태우느냐;"]·PT["incendeia"]·RU["возгорелся", "воспламеняет;"]·ES["enciende", "fue-encendido"]·SW["umewashwa", "unawasha"]·TR["yakar", "yakıldı"]·urd["جل-چکی-ہے", "جلاتی-ہے؛"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀνάπτω, make fast on or to, Refs 8th c.BC+ — middle, ἐκ τοῦδ᾽ ἀναψόμεσθα πρυμνήτην κάλων to him will we moor our bark, i.e. he shall be our protector, Refs; θεοῖσι κῆδος ἀνάψασθαι form a close connexion with.., Refs; χάριτας ἔς τινα ἀ. confer favours on.., Refs; also, fasten to oneself, ἐπιστολὴν ἐκ τῶν δακτύλων ἀ.Refs 4th c.BC+; take in tow, ναῦνRefs 1st c.BC+:—passive, to be fastened or fasten…