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לְבוֹנָה

𐤋𐤁𐤅𐤍𐤄

lᵉbôwnâh

H3828 noun

SILEX Entry

Root לבן to be white, become white, purify

Definition

A fragrant tree resin obtained from certain Boswellia species, used in granulated or powdered form for ritual burning. In the Hebrew Bible, 'lᵉbôwnâh' primarily denotes the aromatic substance offered as incense in temple worship and religious rites. The term is almost exclusively associated with sacred or cultic contexts, referring to the specific gum resin (frankincense) prescribed for Israelite offerings. Semantic range includes frankincense as a material, frankincense as part of ritual incense, and, by extension in rare poetic usage, frankincense as a symbol of purity or sacredness.

Semantic Range

frankincense (aromatic resin), ritual incense (when frankincense is the main or only ingredient), frankincense as a symbol of purity or sacredness; never generic incense

Root / Etymology

From the root לבן (l-b-n), meaning 'white,' likely referring either to the pale color of the dried resin or the whiteness of the smoke when burned. The word 'לְבוֹנָה' is a nominal formation from this root, applied specifically to the gum resin (frankincense) sourced from trees such as Boswellia sacra. While the core root conveys 'white,' the lexeme refers specifically to the aromatic resin, not merely whiteness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, 'לְבוֹנָה' appears almost exclusively in the context of cultic ritual—especially as an ingredient in offerings (e.g., Leviticus 2:1, 6:15; Numbers 5:15), as well as in a metaphorical or poetic context in Solomon's Song (Song of Songs 3:6, 4:6, 4:14). Its primary function was as a component of the 'incense offering' (קְטֹרֶת), and it was often combined with meal offerings. The resin was highly valued and likely imported from Arabia or further east. Unlike more general terms for incense (e.g., קְטֹרֶת), 'לְבוֹנָה' always means frankincense specifically—the pure white or pale yellow resin. In later Jewish tradition, frankincense remained associated with sanctity. English translations sometimes render it as 'incense,' but this can obscure the botanical specificity of the word, as in many instances only frankincense is intended, not incense in general. In post-exilic and Second Temple contexts, the word's usage persisted in religious literature, always retaining its cultic and ritual associations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or לְבֹנָה; from לָבָן; frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke); (frank-) incense.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

לבן (l-b-n) — to be white, become white, purify

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3829 לְבוֹנָה to Lebonah
H3835 לָבַן I will whiten
H3836 לָבָן the white one
H3837 לָבָן with Laban
H3838 לְבָנָא white

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3828-03 לְבֹנָֽה levonah HNcfsa frankincense white frankincense resin 8
H3828-05 וּ/לְבֹנָ֣ה ulevonah HC/Ncfsa and frankincense and frankincense 5
H3828-02 הַ/לְּבֹנָ֔ה halevonah HTd/Ncfsa the frankincense the white-purifying resin 3
H3828-06 וְ/הַ/לְּבוֹנָֽה vehalevonah HC/Td/Ncfsa and the frankincense and the frankincense 2
H3828-04 לְבֹנָתָ֑/הּ levonatah HNcfsc/Sp3fs its frankincense her frankincense 2
H3828-01 בִּ/לְבוֹנָֽה bilevonah HR/Ncfsa with-frankincense frankincense resin 1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3828-05 Exodus 30:34 וּ/לְבֹנָ֣ה ulevonah HC/Ncfsa and frankincense and frankincense
H3828-03 Leviticus 2:1 לְבֹנָֽה levonah HNcfsa frankincense white frankincense resin
H3828-04 Leviticus 2:2 לְבֹנָתָ֑/הּ levonatah HNcfsc/Sp3fs of its frankincense her frankincense
H3828-03 Leviticus 2:15 לְבֹנָ֑ה levonah HNcfsa frankincense white frankincense resin
H3828-04 Leviticus 2:16 לְבֹנָתָ֑/הּ levonatah HNcfsc/Sp3fs its frankincense her frankincense
H3828-03 Leviticus 5:11 לְבֹנָ֔ה levonah HNcfsa frankincense white frankincense resin
H3828-02 Leviticus 6:8 הַ/לְּבֹנָ֔ה halevonah HTd/Ncfsa the-frankincense the white-purifying resin
H3828-03 Leviticus 24:7 לְבֹנָ֣ה levonah HNcfsa frankincense white frankincense resin
H3828-03 Numbers 5:15 לְבֹנָ֔ה levonah HNcfsa frankincense white frankincense resin
H3828-01 Isaiah 43:23 בִּ/לְבוֹנָֽה bilevonah HR/Ncfsa with-frankincense frankincense resin
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