Lexical Summary
lehabah or lahebeth: Flame, blaze
Original Word:לֶהָבָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:lehabah
Pronunciation:leh-haw-BAH or lah-HEH-beth
Phonetic Spelling:(leh-aw-baw')
KJV: flame(-ming), head (of a spear)
NASB:flame, flaming, blazing, blazing flame, flames, head
Word Origin:[feminine ofH3851 (לַהַב - flame)]
1. meaning the same as H3851
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
flaming, head of a spear
Or lahebeth {lah-eh'-beth}; feminine oflahab, and meaning the same -- flame(-ming), head (of a spear).
see HEBREWlahab
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfem. of
lahabDefinitionflame, blade
NASB Translationblazing (1), blazing flame (1), flame (12), flames (1), flaming (4), head (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
id.; —
Numbers 21:28 13t., absolute
Job 15:30; construct
Ezekiel 21:3;
Exodus 3:3 (= ; Samaritan , see Di); plural
Psalm 105:32; construct
Psalm 29:7; —
flame, in poetry ("" or + , exceptPsalm 29:7;Daniel 11:33); of fire consuming () Dathan, etc.Psalm 106:18 (compareNumbers 16:35); wasting () mountains Num 83:15; consuming (, ) chaff (in simile)Isaiah 5:24; of lightning (with hail)Psalm 105:32 (compareExodus 9:24),Psalm 29:7 (on text of see compare Che); simile of judgment,Lamentations 2:3 (verb )Hosea 7:6 (verb )Isaiah 47:14 ; compareIsaiah 10:17; Obadiah 18;Ezekiel 21:3; figurative of droughtJoel 1:19, of locusts' ravagesJoel 2:3 (verb in both); of warNumbers 21:28;Jeremiah 48:4 (both verb ); compareDaniel 11:33 "" ; of calamityIsaiah 43:2; symbolic of s presenceIsaiah 4:5 (compareExodus 13:21);Exodus 3:2.
point, head of spear1 Samuel 17:7.
Exodus 3:2 see above
Topical Lexicon
Semitic Imagery of Fire and Flameלֶהָבָה consistently denotes a vivid, licking “flame” or “tongue of fire.” It evokes heat, light, movement, and consuming power—themes shared across Ancient Near Eastern literature yet uniquely harnessed by Scripture to reveal the character and works of God.
Manifestations of Divine Presence
The word often marks visible evidence of Yahweh’s nearness. Isaiah envisions a protective “canopy” over Zion, “a cloud by day and smoke, and the shining of a flaming fire by night” (Isaiah 4:5). The imagery recalls the wilderness pillar, assuring God’s people of guidance and security.Psalm 29:7 exults, “The voice of the LORD strikes with flames of fire,” depicting thunderbolts as divine speech. Such scenes portray glory too intense for mortal approach, inviting reverent awe.
Instrument of Judgment
לֶהָבָה frequently signals decisive judgment against rebellion. When Israel grumbled, “Fire blazed up against their company; the flame consumed the wicked” (Psalm 106:18). Isaiah warns that trust in idols will leave Babylon’s magicians powerless: “Behold, they are as stubble; fire burns them. They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame” (Isaiah 47:14).Joel 2:3 foretells invading armies leaving behind a scorched land: “Ahead of them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches.” InNumbers 21:28 andJeremiah 48:45 the flame that bursts from Heshbon symbolizes God’s wrath consuming Moab’s pride.
Agent of Purification and Renewal
While terrifying to the unrepentant, the flame also purifies the faithful.Isaiah 43:2 comforts the exiles: “When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flames will not set you ablaze.” The promise assumes testing, yet guarantees preservation for covenant keepers.Ezekiel 20:47 pictures the flaming sword of prophecy kindling every green and dry tree, refining the land for future restoration.
Symbol of Human Passion and Rebellion
Hosea exposes wayward Israel: “They draw near with deceitful hearts; their passion smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire” (Hosea 7:6). Here לֶהָבָה mirrors illicit desire—self-kindled, destructive, and ultimately judged. Conversely,Psalm 83:14 petitions God to pursue enemies “as fire consumes a forest, as a flame sets mountains ablaze,” urging divine zeal to match human hostility.
Eschatological Connotations
Obadiah 1:18 projects the final triumph of Jacob over Edom: “The house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; but the house of Esau will be stubble.” The flame signifies the irreversible overthrow of evil and vindication of God’s people, prefiguring ultimate eschatological victory.
Liturgical and Poetic Usage
Hebrew poetry employs לֶהָבָה for vivid parallelism—often paired with “fire” (אֵשׁ) or “burning” motifs (for example,Isaiah 5:24;Psalm 29:7). Musically, the term would resonate in temple worship as singers rehearsed Israel’s history of deliverance and judgment, reminding worshipers of God’s holiness.
Pastoral and Homiletical Applications
1. Holiness: The flame underscores divine purity; believers are called to “serve God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
2. Assurance amid trials:Isaiah 43:2 provides pastoral comfort that fiery ordeals refine but do not destroy those in Christ.
3. Evangelistic warning:Lamentations 2:3 laments God’s “burning anger” against unrepentant Judah, prompting calls to repentance today.
4. Spiritual fervor: The positive metaphor of a sanctified flame encourages believers to “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6), channeling zeal toward godly ends.
Thus לֶהָבָה threads through Scripture as a multifaceted symbol—revealing God’s glory, executing justice, purifying saints, exposing sin, and foreshadowing final redemption.
Forms and Transliterations
וְלֶ֣הָבָ֔ה וְלֶֽהָבָה֙ וְלֶהָבָ֖ה וְלַהֶ֣בֶת וּ֝כְלֶהָבָ֗ה וּבְלֶהָבָ֛ה ובלהבה וכלהבה ולהבה ולהבת לְלֶהָבָ֑ה לֶ֝הָבָ֗ה לֶֽהָבָ֑ה לֶֽהָבָ֔ה לֶֽהָבָה֙ לֶהָב֣וֹת לֶהָבָ֖ה לֶהָבָ֗ה לֶהָבָֽה׃ לַהֲב֥וֹת לַהֶ֣בֶת להבה להבה׃ להבות להבת ללהבה la·hă·ḇō·wṯ la·he·ḇeṯ lahăḇōwṯ lahaVot laheḇeṯ laHevet le·hā·ḇāh le·hā·ḇō·wṯ lə·le·hā·ḇāh lehāḇāh lehāḇōwṯ lehaVah lehaVot ləlehāḇāh lelehaVah ū·ḇə·le·hā·ḇāh ū·ḵə·le·hā·ḇāh ūḇəlehāḇāh uchelehaVah ūḵəlehāḇāh uvlehaVah velaHevet velehaVah wə·la·he·ḇeṯ wə·le·hā·ḇāh wəlaheḇeṯ wəlehāḇāh
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