Original Word: לְבֵנָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: lbenah
Pronunciation: leh-bay-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (leb-ay-naw')
Definition: Brick
Meaning: a brick

altar of brick, tile

From laban; a brick (from the whiteness of the clay) -- (altar of) brick, tile.

see HEBREW laban

Word Origin
from laben
Definition
brick, tile
NASB Translation
brick (2), bricks (7), pavement (1).

לְבֵנָה noun feminine brick, tile (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic לְּבִינְתָּא ; Zinjirli לבן (?) DHM^{Sendsch.37. 59}; Assyrian libittu; Arabic , , , , (loan-words according to Frä^4f.); according to Thes and most from whiteness of clay, or light colour of sun-baked bricks; so Nö^{ZMG xi,1886,735} Lag^{BN 139}; > others regard as Assyrian loan-word VOJ^{i. 22ff.}; in Assyrian a derivative from labânu, throw down, prostrate, is sought Dl^{Pr. 93f.(compare HWB 369)}); — ׳ל Genesis 11:3; Ezekiel 4:1; construct לִבְנַת Exodus 24:10; plural לְבֵנִים Genesis 11:3 7t.; suffix מִלִּבְנֵיכֶם Exodus 5:19; —

1 brick, as building-material, Genesis 11:3 (singular collective; elsewhere plural) Genesis 11:3; Exodus 1:14; straw used in making Exodus 5:7, compare Exodus 5:8; Exodus 5:16; Exodus 5:18; Exodus 5:19; Isaiah 9:9 (figurative; as inferior to גָּזִית hewn stone); incense burnt on Isaiah 65:3 ( = roof-tiles ? compare Che Di).

2 = tile, on which plan of city could be engraved (חקק) Ezekiel 4:1.

3 = pavement, Exodus 24:10 (compare Di).

Word Origin: Derived from the root לָבַן (lavan), meaning "to be white."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Greek equivalent for לְבֵנָה in the Strong's Concordance, as the concept of brickmaking is more culturally and historically specific to the Hebrew context. However, the Greek term πλίνθος (plinthos), meaning "brick," can be considered a functional equivalent in the context of ancient construction materials.

Usage: The term לְבֵנָה is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to bricks, which were commonly used in ancient construction. It appears in contexts describing building activities, particularly in the construction of structures such as the Tower of Babel.

Context: לְבֵנָה (Levenah) is a noun that appears in several key biblical passages, illustrating the use of bricks in ancient Near Eastern architecture. The most notable reference is found in Genesis 11:3, where the people said, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." This passage describes the construction of the Tower of Babel, highlighting the technological advancement of using kiln-fired bricks instead of stone. The use of bricks is also mentioned in Exodus 1:14, where the Israelites were subjected to hard labor, including brickmaking, under Egyptian bondage: "They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields." Additionally, in Isaiah 9:10, the people declare, "The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with dressed stone," indicating a transition from brick to more durable building materials. These references underscore the significance of bricks in ancient construction and their symbolic representation of human endeavor and resilience.

הַלְּבֵנִ֖ים הַלְּבֵנִ֜ים הַלְּבֵנִֽים׃ הַלְּבֵנָה֙ הלבנה הלבנים הלבנים׃ וּבִלְבֵנִ֔ים וּלְבֵנִ֛ים ובלבנים ולבנים לְבֵנִ֔ים לְבֵנִ֖ים לְבֵנִ֥ים לְבֵנָ֔ה לבנה לבנים מִלִּבְנֵיכֶ֖ם מלבניכם hal·lə·ḇê·nāh hal·lə·ḇê·nîm halləḇênāh halləḇênîm halleveNah halleveNim lə·ḇê·nāh lə·ḇê·nîm ləḇênāh ləḇênîm leveNah leveNim mil·liḇ·nê·ḵem milliḇnêḵem millivneiChem ū·ḇil·ḇê·nîm ū·lə·ḇê·nîm ūḇilḇênîm ūləḇênîm uleveNim uvilveNimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts