לַבָּה (lab.bah)
lab.bah
flame
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun lehabah refers to a flame or blaze, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible at Exodus 21:9. In this specific context, it describes the sharp point or head of a spear. While the word generally evokes the imagery of fire, here it is applied metaphorically to the metal tip of a weapon, highlighting its piercing nature.
This usage distinguishes lehabah from other words for fire by focusing on the object’s function rather than its heat. The sources note this poetic extension, where the "flame" of the spear signifies its deadly precision. By linking the weapon’s point to a flame, the text emphasizes both the danger and the intensity of the strike.
Translators typically render this term as "point" or "head" in Exodus 21:9, reflecting its concrete meaning in that passage. This singular occurrence shows how Hebrew poetry can borrow vivid natural imagery to describe human-made objects, creating a striking visual connection between fire and steel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word lehabah literally means a flame or blaze. While it usually describes fire, Scripture uses it in a surprising way in Exodus 21:9 to describe the sharp point of a spear. This metaphor connects the piercing intensity of fire with the deadly precision of a weapon. It shows how vivid imagery can convey danger and urgency without needing long explanations.
In Exodus 3:2, we see lehabah used in its more familiar sense. The bush burned with fire but was not consumed. Here, the flame represents God’s holy presence—powerful yet sustaining. This contrast reminds us that God’s presence can be both a warning of judgment and a source of life.
When we encounter words like this, we are invited to see the richness of biblical language. The same word for fire can describe a weapon’s tip or a miraculous bush. Both images point to the seriousness of God’s interaction with humanity. Whether in danger or divine encounter, His presence is real and transformative.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ a flame of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/לַבַּת\־1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 3:2
Yahweh’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
This verse uses lehabah to describe the visible manifestation of God's presence, showing that the 'flame' signifies holy power rather than destructive heat.