לַבָּה
𐤋𐤁𐤄
labbâh
H3827 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A flame; specifically, a blazing or burning tongue of fire, as seen in a literal fire or employed metaphorically for intense passion, judgment, or destructive force. The word primarily denotes a flame as a visible, burning phenomenon, but in poetic contexts may symbolize fervor, wrath, consuming opposition, or energetic motion.
Semantic Range
flame (literal), blaze, tongue of fire, surge or flash of fire, consuming heat, metaphorical passion or wrath
Root / Etymology
From the root להב (l-h-b), meaning 'to burn intensely, blaze up.' The noun לַבָּה functions as a variant form of לֶהָבָה (lehavah), both deriving from the same verbal root related to burning or blazing. The root conveys the idea of fiery activity or the dynamic appearance of flame.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Biblical usage, לַבָּה appears very rarely, being essentially a variant or shorter form of the more common לֶהָבָה. Both forms denote the visible tongue or flicker of fire, as in natural flames or ritual context. The word is most often used in poetic or metaphorical passages, where the imagery of blazing fire is associated with divine action (judgment, presence) or destructive energy. Over time, the metaphorical use of flame extends to emotional or spiritual states, though these nuances are rare in biblical Hebrew and more common in post-biblical literature. English translations regularly render לַבָּה simply as 'flame,' but this may flatten its metaphorical richness in contexts of intense power or destructive force. לַבָּה is distinct from אֵשׁ (esh, 'fire'), which refers to fire in general, whereas לַבָּה/לֶהָבָה highlights the visual aspect or the consuming tongue of the fire itself.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
for לֶהָבָה; flame; flame.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
להב (l-h-b) — to burn, to blaze, to flare up
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3851 | לַהַב | in blazing flame of |
| H3852 | לֶהָבָה | flames of |
| H3853 | לְהָבִים | Flame-ones |
| H7957 | שַׁלְהֶבֶת | blazing flame |
| H8514 | תַּלְאוּבָה | scorching droughts |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3827-01 |
בְּ/לַבַּת | belabat | HR/Ncfsc |
in a flame of | in blazing flame of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3827-01 |
Exodus 3:2 | בְּ/לַבַּת | belabat | HR/Ncfsc |
in a flame of | in blazing flame of |