The Hebrew verb yatsat means to kindle, set ablaze, or burn. It appears in Jeremiah 17:27 where God warns that disobedience will kindle a fire in Jerusalem's gates, and in Jeremiah 49:2 where the cities of Ammon will be set on fire. The word captures the consuming, spreading nature of divine judgment as fire.
Fire in the Hebrew prophets is one of the primary images of divine judgment. When God's patience is exhausted and covenant-breaking persists, the consuming fire of His holiness breaks forth — gates, forests, and cities are yatsat. Jeremiah repeatedly warns Jerusalem that the Sabbath violation and covenant unfaithfulness will result in fire consuming the palace (Jeremiah 17:27). Yet the same God who kindles judgment also speaks of His word as fire (Jeremiah 23:29) and of a new covenant written on hearts, not stone. The fire of judgment clears the way for the fire of renewal — the Spirit of Pentecost (Acts 2:3) fulfills the promise of purifying fire.