לְבָנָה (le.va.nah)
le.va.nah
moon
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun levanah refers to the moon, deriving its name from the root for "white." This etymology highlights the celestial body’s characteristic brightness against the night sky, distinguishing it by color and light rather than just position.
Although it appears only three times in the Old Testament, its usage is significant. In Isaiah 60:19, God promises that He Himself will be Israel’s everlasting light, rendering the sun and moon obsolete. Similarly, Song of Solomon 6:10 describes the Shulammite woman as beautiful "as the moon," using its steady, reflected glory to illustrate her radiant appearance.
Translators consistently render this word as "moon," preserving the simple visual imagery found in the text. The scarcity of occurrences suggests it was a familiar concept requiring no extended theological development, serving primarily as a marker of time or a metaphor for beauty and divine provision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word levanah simply means moon, but its root hints at brightness or whiteness. In the ancient world, this celestial body was a familiar marker of time and seasons. It reflects light rather than producing it, a quiet reminder that much of our clarity comes from reflecting what is greater than ourselves.
Scripture uses this image in two distinct ways. In Song of Solomon, the moon illustrates beauty and radiance. In Isaiah, it points to God’s ultimate glory, which will one day make even the sun and moon seem dim by comparison. This word grounds us in the physical world while pointing toward spiritual truths.
When you look at the night sky, remember that levanah serves as a gentle sign of order and promise. It reminds us that God created the heavens with purpose, and His light will always outshine every other source. You can find comfort in knowing that the same Creator who set these lights in place cares for your daily life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ moon2×
- like the/ full moon1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כַ/לְּבָנָ֗ה1×
- הַ/לְּבָנָה֙1×
- הַ/לְּבָנָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 6:10
Who is she who looks out as the morning, beautiful as the moon, clear as the sun, and awesome as an army with banners?
This verse uses levanah to describe the Shulammite woman’s beauty, comparing her radiance to the moon’s steady, reflected glow.
-
Isaiah 24:23
Then the moon will be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Yahweh of Armies will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem; and glory will be before his elders.
Here, the moon is personified as being confounded when Yahweh reigns, highlighting His supreme authority over all creation.
-
Isaiah 30:26
Moreover the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, in the day that Yahweh binds up the fracture of his people, and heals the wound they were struck with.
This passage promises a future time when the moon’s light will equal the sun’s, symbolizing God’s healing and restoration of His people.