שַׁלְהֶ֫בֶת (shal.he.vet)
shal.he.vet
flame
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shalhevet refers to a flame or blaze, capturing the intense, consuming nature of fire. In the biblical text, it appears only twice, yet each occurrence carries significant emotional weight by linking physical heat to human passion.
In Song of Solomon 8:6, the beloved declares that love is as fierce as death, with its flashes being flashes of shalhevet. This usage suggests a fire that is both powerful and dangerous, capable of consuming everything in its path. Similarly, Job uses the word in chapter 41 to describe the fiery breath of Leviathan, emphasizing an overwhelming, untamable force.
The term distinguishes itself by focusing on the visible, active aspect of fire rather than a steady glow. It conveys sudden intensity and destructive power, making it a fitting metaphor for passions that burn brightly and fiercely.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shalhevet describes a fierce, consuming flame. It appears only twice in Scripture, yet each time it carries immense weight by linking physical heat to human passion. In Song of Solomon 8:6, the beloved declares that love is as strong as death, with its flashes being flashes of fire—a very flame of Yahweh. This imagery suggests a love that is both powerful and dangerous, capable of consuming everything in its path.
Similarly, Job uses this term to describe the fiery breath of Leviathan, emphasizing an overwhelming force that cannot be tamed. The word focuses on the visible, active aspect of fire rather than a steady glow. It conveys sudden intensity and destructive power, making it a fitting metaphor for passions that burn brightly and fiercely.
When we encounter this word, we are reminded of the depth and intensity of human emotions. Love, jealousy, and even divine judgment can be as consuming as a flame. Yet, in the context of Song of Solomon, this fire is not merely destructive; it is also a sign of profound commitment and devotion.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a flame of/ [the] Lord1×
- a flame1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שַׁלְהָ֑בֶת1×
- שַׁלְהֶ֥בֶתְ/יָֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 8:6
Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yah.
This verse uses shalhevet to describe the intense, consuming nature of love, comparing its flashes to a flame of Yahweh.
-
Job 15:30
He will not depart out of darkness. The flame will dry up his branches. He will go away by the breath of God’s mouth.
Here, the word illustrates the destructive power of divine judgment, where the flame dries up the branches of the wicked.