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לָבָן

𐤋𐤁𐤍

lâbân

H3836 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root לבן to be white, make white, become white

Definition

Adjective denoting the color 'white,' characterizing objects as pale, bright, or light-colored; can also function substantivally to designate a white substance or appearance. In poetic or symbolic contexts, signifies brightness, purity, or a state of being visually pale or shining. Occurs regularly as a color term describing natural objects (such as teeth, wool, snow, or horses) and sometimes as a personal name (Laban).

Semantic Range

white (of color, e.g. teeth, snow, horses, wool, leprosy); bright; pale; whitish; shining; (as a personal name: Laban)

Root / Etymology

From the root לָבַן (l-b-n), which fundamentally means 'to be white' or 'to whiten.' לָבָן is a Qal adjective formed from this root, retaining the basic color sense and expanding into symbolic uses.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In earlier Israelite literature, לָבָן most commonly appears as an adjective for 'white,' particularly in describing natural phenomena (Exod 16:31: manna; Dan 7:9: wool; Isa 1:18: snow). The color carries associations of brightness, purity, and cleanness. In poetic passages, it may denote brilliance or the dazzling quality of light. לָבָן is also the name of a northern Aramean chieftain (Genesis 24–31); in this personal name the same spelling is used but is not necessarily a color reference. The phrase 'white teeth' (Genesis 49:12) occurs with the alternate form לָבֵן. There is a distinction in Hebrew between לָבָן ('white') and other color terms such as אָדוֹם ('red') or יָרוֹק ('green'). Later Rabbinic literature sometimes interprets לָבָן symbolically (purity, atonement), but in biblical contexts, these symbolic senses are secondary to the basic color term. English translations commonly render לָבָן as 'white,' but the Hebrew sometimes conveys a nuance of shining brightness or visual purity which may be broader than the English term. In the personal name 'Laban,' later Jewish and Christian traditions have sometimes interpreted the name as connected to color symbolism, but this is not explicit in the biblical text.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (Genesis 49:12) לָבֵן; from לָבַן; white; white.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3828 לְבוֹנָה frankincense resin
H3829 לְבוֹנָה to Lebonah
H3835 לָבַן I will whiten
H3837 לָבָן with Laban
H3838 לְבָנָא white

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3836-02 לָבָן֙ lavan HAamsa white Laban 11
H3836-04 לְבָנָ֨ה levanah HAafsa white white 7
H3836-06 לְבָנ֔וֹת levanot HAafpa white white ones 3
H3836-03 לְ/לָבָ֑ן lelavan HR/Aamsa to white to Laban 2
H3836-05 לְבָנִ֑ים levanim HAampa white white ones 2
H3836-07 וּ/לְבָנִֽים ulevanim HC/Aampa and white and white ones 1
H3836-01 הַ/לָּבָ֔ן halavan HTd/Aamsa the white the white one 1
H3836-09 וְ/הַ/לְּבָנִ֔ים vehalevanim HC/Td/Aampa and-the-white and the white ones 1
H3836-08 וּ/לְבֶן uleven HC/Aamsc and whiter white 1

Occurrences in Scripture

29 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3836-02 Genesis 30:35 לָבָן֙ lavan HAamsa Laban Laban
H3836-06 Genesis 30:37 לְבָנ֔וֹת levanot HAafpa white white ones
H3836-01 Genesis 30:37 הַ/לָּבָ֔ן halavan HTd/Aamsa the white the white one
H3836-08 Genesis 49:12 וּ/לְבֶן uleven HC/Aamsc and whiter white
H3836-02 Exodus 16:31 לָבָ֔ן lavan HAamsa white Laban
H3836-02 Leviticus 13:3 לָבָ֗ן lavan HAamsa white Laban
H3836-04 Leviticus 13:4 לְבָנָ֨ה levanah HAafsa is white white
H3836-02 Leviticus 13:4 לָבָ֑ן lavan HAamsa white Laban
H3836-04 Leviticus 13:10 לְבָנָה֙ levanah HAafsa white white
H3836-02 Leviticus 13:10 לָבָ֑ן lavan HAamsa white Laban
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