לַ֫הַט (la.hat)
la.hat
flame
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun lahat means "flame" or "blaze," but it appears in Scripture only once, in Genesis 3:24. Here it describes the fiery sword that God places at the entrance to the Garden of Eden. This single usage gives the word a specific, vivid context: it is not just any fire, but a divine barrier meant to protect the sacred space from human access.
Because the term occurs exclusively in this narrative, its meaning is tightly bound to that scene. The flame represents God’s active presence and judgment, serving as an impassable wall between humanity and the tree of life after the fall. Translators typically render it "flaming sword," emphasizing both the heat and the danger it poses.
The rarity of lahat makes its appearance in Genesis all the more striking. It underscores the seriousness of God’s command and the finality of the expulsion from Eden. The image of a rotating, fiery guard remains one of the most powerful visual metaphors for divine holiness and separation in the Old Testament.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word lahat appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, describing the flaming sword placed at Eden’s entrance. This vivid image reminds us that God’s holiness is both beautiful and serious. It keeps us from treating sacred things lightly or assuming we can access divine life on our own terms.
For your faith, this word highlights the need for reverence. We cannot approach God casually; He is a consuming fire who protects what is holy. Yet this same God who guards the way also provides a path through Christ, inviting us into His presence with humility and trust.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] flame of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לַ֤הַט1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 3:24
So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
This verse uniquely uses lahat to describe the divine barrier that prevents access to the tree of life after the fall.