מַלְבֵּן (mal.ben)
mal.ben
brick
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun malben refers to a tool or place associated with making bricks, specifically a mold for shaping clay or a kiln for firing them. It also carries the meaning of a quadrangle or open courtyard, likely because such spaces were used as work areas for this labor-intensive craft. This dual sense connects the physical object with the location where the work took place.
Its appearance in Scripture is limited but vivid, occurring only twice. In 2 Samuel 12:31, King Solomon puts the Ammonite captives to work using malben, highlighting how this term represents forced labor and subjugation. Similarly, Jeremiah uses the word to describe the harsh conditions under which people are compelled to make bricks, emphasizing the dehumanizing nature of such tasks. The word thus evokes images of hard labor and oppression.
The root of malben relates to the act of forming or shaping, reflecting its connection to craftsmanship. Translators often render it as "brick mold" or "kiln," though some versions simplify it to "quadrangle." This variation reflects the word's flexibility in describing both the tool and the space involved in brick-making. By examining malben, we gain insight into the material culture of ancient Israel and the social realities of its people.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word malben brings to mind the heavy, dusty reality of forced labor. In ancient times, it referred to the brick kilns or molds where clay was shaped and fired under intense heat. This imagery appears in Scripture during periods of national crisis and subjugation, reminding us that faithfulness often persists even when circumstances feel oppressive.
When we encounter stories of people working in these harsh conditions, such as in Jeremiah 43:9, it highlights the dignity of human life under pressure. The text does not shy away from the difficulty, yet it shows God’s presence alongside those who suffer unjustly. This word invites us to trust that our labor is seen, even when it feels thankless or exhausting.
Ultimately, malben serves as a historical marker of resilience. It connects us to the ancient world’s material culture while pointing toward a deeper spiritual truth: God cares about the details of our daily struggles. We find hope knowing that He walks with us through every season, offering strength when we feel worn down.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in the/ brick-terrace1×
- in the/ brick mold[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ/מַּלְבֵּ֔ן2×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 12:31
He brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work under saws, under iron picks, under axes of iron, and made them go to the brick kiln; and he did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
This verse uses malben to describe the brutal forced labor imposed on Ammonite captives, illustrating the word's association with subjugation and conquest.
-
Jeremiah 43:9
“Take great stones in your hand and hide them in mortar in the brick work which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah.
Here, Jeremiah is instructed to hide stones in the brickwork at Pharaoh’s house, using the physical structure of malben as a prophetic sign against Egypt.