Baptism of Fire
In Hebrew: A first attempt at close combat. Or: A first attempt at severe combat (originally: purification by fire as a symbolic act of purification).
("The text (Isaiah 40) says: 'Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand.' He said to him: 'Bathe in fire' (i.e., immerse in fire), as it is written (Isaiah 66): 'For behold, the LORD will come in fire'—and can immersion be in fire? He said to him: On the contrary, the essence of immersion is in fire, as it is written (Numbers 31): 'And whatever does not come into the fire you shall pass through water.'" - Sanhedrin 39a)
Translation
Expression (Hebrew)
טְבִילַת אֵשׁ
Definition (Hebrew)
בְּהַשְׁאָלָה: הִתְנַסּוּת רִאשׁוֹנָה בַּקְּרָב. אוֹ: הִתְנַסּוּת רִאשׁוֹנִית קָשָׁה (בַּמָּקוֹר: טִהוּר בְּאֶמְצָעוּת אֵשׁ כְּהַכְשָׁרָה סִמְלִית).
("הַכְּתִיב (יְשַׁעְיָהוּ מ) מִי מָדַד בְּשָׁעֳלוֹ מַיִם. - אָמַר לֵהּ: בְּנוֹרָא טַבֵּל(טָבַל בָּאֵשׁ), דִּכְתִיב (יְשַׁעְיָהוּ סוּ) כִּי הִנֵּה ה' בָּאֵשׁ יָבוֹא- וּמִי סָלְקָא טְבִילוּתָא בְּנוּרָא?- אָמַר לֵהּ: אַדְּרַבָּה, עִקַּר טְבִילוּתָא בְּנוּרָא הוּא, דִּכְתִיב (בַּמִּדְבָּר לֹא) וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָבֹא בָּאֵשׁ תַּעֲבִירוּ בַמָּיִם"- סַנְהֶדְרִין לט ע"א)