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לַהַב

𐤋𐤄𐤁

lahab

H3851 noun

SILEX Entry

Root להב to burn, to blaze, to shine (root meaning; actual root uncertain)

Definition

Intense, visible, and often sudden manifestation of fire or light; a flame or flashing tongue of fire. The term also extends metaphorically to flashes of light or brilliance, such as lightning or the gleam of a sharply-polished blade. In poetic or figurative contexts, it evokes the image of burning heat, ardent passion, or a destructive, consuming force.

Semantic Range

visible flame, tongue of fire, blaze, flash of lightning, gleam of a blade, consuming heat, burning or ardent emotion, destructive force

Root / Etymology

Root/etymology uncertain. Likely derived from a root conveying the idea of burning, shining, or blazing, though such a root is not securely attested elsewhere in biblical Hebrew. The noun לַהַב (lahab) does not occur in verbal forms in the Hebrew Bible, and related Semitic cognates are limited or ambiguous.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, לַהַב primarily refers to the visible flame produced by fire, as in Psalms 83:15 and Isaiah 5:24; it concretely describes the fiery tongue or tip of an actual flame. Metaphorically, it appears in poetic language to describe the heat or ardor of love (Song of Songs 8:6) and is sometimes used for the flashing of lightning or the sharp gleam of weapons (Nahum 3:3). Later Jewish literary tradition and rabbinic Hebrew frequently extended the imagery of לַהַב to encompass ideas of burning spirit or fiery enthusiasm. English translations often render it simply as 'flame,' 'blade,' or 'flash,' but this may obscure some nuance, especially in poetic or metaphoric passages. Notably, the word is entirely absent from descriptions of ritual fire or altar usage, where other terms (e.g., אֵשׁ, reshef) are more common, indicating לַהַב is associated particularly with the visible, dynamic aspect of fire rather than its presence or function. There is no evidence that the term carried any later technical or religious meaning in ancient Israelite or Judahite practice.

Translation Consistency

primary "flame" 6 occurrences

'Flame' is the most natural, common English rendering for לַהַב and fits the primary sense (a visible tongue or blaze of fire). It also transfers well to the common metaphorical senses (burning heat, ardent passion, consuming force) and can be used consistently in poetic contexts. Alternatives like 'blaze' or 'flash' are close, but 'flame' best matches typical usage and yields the most natural-sounding, consistent translation across contexts.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"and-flame of" (4x) "blade" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an usused root meaning to gleam; a flash; figuratively, a sharply polished blade or point of aweapon; blade, bright, flame, glittering.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

להב (l-h-b) — to burn, to blaze, to shine

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3827 לַבָּה in blazing flame of
H3852 לֶהָבָה flames of
H3853 לְהָבִים Flame-ones
H7957 שַׁלְהֶבֶת blazing flame
H8514 תַּלְאוּבָה scorching droughts

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3851-06 וְ/לַ֖הַב velahav HC/Ncmsc and-flame and-blaze of and-flame of 4
H3851-03 הַ/לַּ֗הַב halahav HTd/Ncmsa the blade the blaze the blade 3
H3851-04 לַ֣הַב lahav HNcmsc of a flame flame of flame of 2
H3851-02 בְּ/לַהֲבֵי belahavey HR/Ncmpc with flames with flames of with flames of 1
H3851-05 לְהָבִ֖ים lehavim HNcmpa flames blazing flames blazing flames 1
H3851-01 בְּ/לַ֣הַב belahav HR/Ncmsc in the flame in blazing flame of in the flame of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3851-03 Judges 3:22 הַ/לַּ֗הַב halahav HTd/Ncmsa the blade the blaze the blade
H3851-03 Judges 3:22 הַ/לַּ֔הַב halahav-2 HTd/Ncmsa the blade the blaze the blade
H3851-03 Judges 13:20 הַ/לַּ֜הַב halahav HTd/Ncmsa of the flame the blaze the flame
H3851-01 Judges 13:20 בְּ/לַ֣הַב belahav HR/Ncmsc in the flame in blazing flame of in the flame of
H3851-05 Isaiah 13:8 לְהָבִ֖ים lehavim HNcmpa flames blazing flames blazing flames
H3851-06 Isaiah 29:6 וְ/לַ֖הַב velahav HC/Ncmsc and flame and-blaze of and-flame of
H3851-06 Isaiah 30:30 וְ/לַ֖הַב velahav HC/Ncmsc and-flame and-blaze of and-flame of
H3851-02 Isaiah 66:15 בְּ/לַהֲבֵי belahavey HR/Ncmpc with flames with flames of with flames of
H3851-04 Joel 2:5 לַ֣הַב lahav HNcmsc of a flame flame of flame of
H3851-06 Nahum 3:3 וְ/לַ֤הַב velahav HC/Ncmsc and flaming and-blaze of and-flame of
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