לְבִבָה (la.vi.vah)
la.vi.vah
cake
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun levivah refers to a cake or flatbread, likely shaped like a pancake. In the Hebrew Bible, this term appears only three times, all within the narrative of II Samuel 13. The word describes food prepared for Amnon, highlighting the domestic setting of a royal household.
Its limited usage anchors it in a specific historical moment rather than general culinary practice. The text details how Amnon requests these cakes from his sister Tamar, who then prepares them before he eats. This simple act of baking becomes the backdrop for a tragic story of manipulation and violence, showing how ordinary items can carry heavy narrative weight.
Translators typically render levivah as "cakes" or "flatbread," reflecting its physical form as a cooked grain product. The term distinguishes this type of bread from loaves or other baked goods by implying a flat, possibly griddle-cooked shape. Its rarity in Scripture makes each occurrence stand out, tying the word closely to the specific events surrounding Amnon’s illness and subsequent actions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word levivah simply means a flat cake or pancake. It appears only three times in the entire Hebrew Bible, all within the difficult story of Amnon and Tamar in II Samuel 13. This rarity reminds us that even ordinary, everyday objects can become part of serious human struggles.
In this narrative, the cakes are not just food; they are a tool for deception. Amnon uses his request for this simple meal to trap his sister, leading to tragedy. The text shows how broken relationships and selfish desires can twist innocent acts into harmful ones. It is a sobering reminder that our actions have weight.
Yet, the Bible does not hide these dark moments. By recording them, Scripture invites us to reflect on purity, consent, and the protection of the vulnerable. We see that God’s Word is honest about human failure, offering no easy answers but pointing us toward the need for justice and grace in our own lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ cakes2×
- cakes1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְבִב֔וֹת1×
- הַ/לְּבִבוֹת֙1×
- הַ/לְּבִבֽוֹת\׃1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 13:6
So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”
This verse establishes the word's role as a pretext, showing how Amnon uses the request for cakes to manipulate his father and isolate Tamar.
-
II Samuel 13:8
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
Here the word highlights the intimacy of the act, as Tamar prepares the food in private, unaware of the danger she is walking into.
-
II Samuel 13:10
Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother.
This occurrence marks the point of no return, where the cakes are delivered to the room, sealing Tamar’s fate and fulfilling Amnon’s deceitful plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word levivah mean?
Where does levivah appear in the Bible?
Why is this word significant despite its rarity?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
II Samuel 3 verses
So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister…
II Samuel 13:8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight,…
II Samuel 13:10Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes which she had…