Acts 2:3

Acts 2:3

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

a. ASV: And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them.

b. YLT: and there appeared to them divided tongues, as it were of fire; it sat also upon each one of them,

c. Amplified Bible Classic: And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them.

1. “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire…”

a. And [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.] [The KJV translates Strong's G2532 in the following manner: and (8,173x), also (514x), even (108x), both (43x), then (20x), so (18x), likewise (13x), not tr. (350x), miscellaneous (31x), vr and (1x).]

b. [there] appeared [Strong: 3700 optánomai, op-tan'-om-ahee; a (middle voice) prolonged form of the primary (middle voice) ὄπτομαι óptomai op'-tom-ahee; which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as alternate of G3708; to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from G991, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from G1492, which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision; while G2300, and still more emphatically its intensive G2334, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; and G4648 a watching from a distance):—appear, look, see, shew self.] [The KJV translates Strong's G3700 in the following manner: see (37x), appear (17x), look (2x), show (one's) self (1x), being seen (1x).]

c. [unto] them [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.] [The KJV translates Strong's G846 in the following manner: him (1,952x), his (1,084x), their (318x), he (252x), her (242x), they (121x), same (80x), himself (58x), miscellaneous (1,678x).]

d. cloven [Strong: 1266 diamerízō, dee-am-er-id'-zo; from G1223 and G3307; to partition thoroughly (literally in distribution, figuratively in dissension):—cloven, divide, part.] [The KJV translates Strong's G1266 in the following manner: part (6x), divide (5x), cloven (1x).]

e. tongues [Strong: 1100 glōssa, gloce-sah'; of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired):—tongue.] [The KJV translates Strong's G1100 in the following manner: tongue (50x).]

f. like as [Strong: 5616 hōseí, ho-si'; from G5613 and G1487; as if:—about, as (it had been, it were), like (as).] [The KJV translates Strong's G5616 in the following manner: about (18x), as (7x), like (5x), as it had been (2x), as it were (1x), like as (1x).]

g. [of] fire [Strong: 4442 pŷr, poor; a primary word; "fire" (literally or figuratively, specially, lightning):—fiery, fire.] [The KJV translates Strong's G4442 in the following manner: fire (73x), fiery (1x).]

1). Here is an interesting quote from a book of Jewish thought and theology written from a Jewish non-messianic perspective. I could not but notice the link between the giving of the Law on Sinai and the pouring out of the Spirit on Pentecost [Jewish tradition teaches that God gave the Law to Moses on Pentecost].I don’t believe it is a coincidence.

a). Michael Fishbane, The Exegetical Imagination On Jewish Thought And Theology. “An old tradition told in the Midrash Sifre Deuteronomy (343) presents a powerful image of the giving of the Law: God’s word appears as a fire that emerges from His right hand, encircles the nation, and returns; the fire is then transferred by God from His left hand to His right, whereupon it is inscribed upon the tablets of Moses. In this way the sages gave mythic realism to the scriptural phrase mi-yemino’ esh dat lamo, “from His right hand [there emerged] a fiery law for them [the nation] Deuteronomy 33:2. Another passage, stating that “the voice of the Lord carves out flames of fire” (Psalm 29:7), is expressly added to indicate the world-encompassing power of divine speech. This verse from Psalms serves here to reinforce the main teaching that the tablets were chiseled by tongues of fire (the verse was thus presumed to say that God’s “voice…carves out the Decalogue by flames of fire).

2. “...and it sat upon each of them.”

a. and [Strong: 5037 té, teh; a primary particle (enclitic) of connection or addition; both or also (properly, as correlation of G2532):—also, and, both, even, then, whether. Often used in composition, usually as the latter participle.] [The KJV translates Strong's G5037 in the following manner: and (130x), both (36x), then (2x), whether (1x), even (1x), also (1x), not translated (41x).]

b. [it] sat [Strong: 2523 kathízō, kath-id'-zo; another (active) form for G2516; to seat down, i.e. set (figuratively, appoint); intransitively, to sit (down); figuratively, to settle (hover, dwell):—continue, set, sit (down), tarry.] [The KJV translates Strong's G2523 in the following manner: sit (26x), sit down (14x), set (2x), be set (2x), be set down (2x), continue (1x), tarry (1x).]

c. upon [Strong: 1909 epí, ep-ee'; a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:—about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, × have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with.] [The KJV translates Strong's G1909 in the following manner: on (196x), in (120x), upon (159x), unto (41x), to (41x), miscellaneous (339x).]

d. each [Strong: 1538 hékastos, hek'-as-tos; as if a superlative of ἕκας hékas (afar); each or every:—any, both, each (one), every (man, one, woman), particularly.] [The KJV translates Strong's G1538 in the following manner: every man (39x), every one (20x), every (17x), miscellaneous (7x).]

e. [Strong: 1520 heîs, hice; a primary numeral; one:—a(-n, -ny, certain), + abundantly, man, one (another), only, other, some.] [The KJV translates Strong's G1520 in the following manner: one (229x), a (9x), other (6x), some (6x), not translated (4x), miscellaneous (18x).]

f. [of] them [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.] [The KJV translates Strong's G846 in the following manner: him (1,952x), his (1,084x), their (318x), he (252x), her (242x), they (121x), same (80x), himself (58x), miscellaneous (1,678x).]