Lexical Summary lehabah or lahebeth: Flame, blaze Original Word: לֶהָבָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance flaming, head of a spear Or lahebeth {lah-eh'-beth}; feminine of lahab, and meaning the same -- flame(-ming), head (of a spear). see HEBREW lahab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of lahab Definition flame, blade NASB Translation blazing (1), blazing flame (1), flame (12), flames (1), flaming (4), head (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs לֶהָבָה noun feminine id.; — ׳ל Numbers 21:28 13t., לַהֶ֫בֶת absolute Job 15:30; construct Ezekiel 21:3; לַבַּת Exodus 3:3 (= לַהְבַּת; Samaritan להבת, see Di); plural לָהָבוֺת Psalm 105:32; construct לַהֲבוֺת Psalm 29:7; — 1 flame, in poetry ("" or + אֵשׁ, except Psalm 29:7; Daniel 11:33); of fire consuming (לָהַט) Dathan, etc. Psalm 106:18 (compare Numbers 16:35); wasting (לָהַט) mountains Num 83:15; consuming (אָכַל, בָּעֵר) chaff (in simile) Isaiah 5:24; of lightning (with hail) ׳אשׁ ל Psalm 105:32 (compare Exodus 9:24), Psalm 29:7 אֵשּׁ ׳ל (on text of see compare Che); simile of judgment, ׳אֵשׁ ל Lamentations 2:3 (verb אָכַל) Hosea 7:6 (verb כָּעֵר) Isaiah 47:14 ׅ ׳(מִיַד ל; compare Isaiah 10:17; Obadiah 18; ׳שַׁלְה ׳ל Ezekiel 21:3; figurative of drought Joel 1:19, of locusts' ravages Joel 2:3 (verb לָהַט in both); of war Numbers 21:28; Jeremiah 48:4 (both verb אָכַל); compare Daniel 11:33 ׅ "" (חֶרֶב; of calamity Isaiah 43:2; symbolic ׳נֹגַהּ אֵשׁ ל of ׳יs presence Isaiah 4:5 (compare Exodus 13:21); לַבַּת אֵשׁ Exodus 3:2. 2 point, head of spear 1 Samuel 17:7. לַבַּת אֵשׁ Exodus 3:2 see לֶהָבָה above Topical Lexicon Semitic Imagery of Fire and Flame לֶהָבָה consistently denotes a vivid, licking “flame” or “tongue of fire.” It evokes heat, light, movement, and consuming power—themes shared across Ancient Near Eastern literature yet uniquely harnessed by Scripture to reveal the character and works of God. Manifestations of Divine Presence The word often marks visible evidence of Yahweh’s nearness. Isaiah envisions a protective “canopy” over Zion, “a cloud by day and smoke, and the shining of a flaming fire by night” (Isaiah 4:5). The imagery recalls the wilderness pillar, assuring God’s people of guidance and security. Psalm 29:7 exults, “The voice of the LORD strikes with flames of fire,” depicting thunderbolts as divine speech. Such scenes portray glory too intense for mortal approach, inviting reverent awe. Instrument of Judgment לֶהָבָה frequently signals decisive judgment against rebellion. When Israel grumbled, “Fire blazed up against their company; the flame consumed the wicked” (Psalm 106:18). Isaiah warns that trust in idols will leave Babylon’s magicians powerless: “Behold, they are as stubble; fire burns them. They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame” (Isaiah 47:14). Joel 2:3 foretells invading armies leaving behind a scorched land: “Ahead of them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches.” In Numbers 21:28 and Jeremiah 48:45 the flame that bursts from Heshbon symbolizes God’s wrath consuming Moab’s pride. Agent of Purification and Renewal While terrifying to the unrepentant, the flame also purifies the faithful. Isaiah 43:2 comforts the exiles: “When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flames will not set you ablaze.” The promise assumes testing, yet guarantees preservation for covenant keepers. Ezekiel 20:47 pictures the flaming sword of prophecy kindling every green and dry tree, refining the land for future restoration. Symbol of Human Passion and Rebellion Hosea exposes wayward Israel: “They draw near with deceitful hearts; their passion smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire” (Hosea 7:6). Here לֶהָבָה mirrors illicit desire—self-kindled, destructive, and ultimately judged. Conversely, Psalm 83:14 petitions God to pursue enemies “as fire consumes a forest, as a flame sets mountains ablaze,” urging divine zeal to match human hostility. Eschatological Connotations Obadiah 1:18 projects the final triumph of Jacob over Edom: “The house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; but the house of Esau will be stubble.” The flame signifies the irreversible overthrow of evil and vindication of God’s people, prefiguring ultimate eschatological victory. Liturgical and Poetic Usage Hebrew poetry employs לֶהָבָה for vivid parallelism—often paired with “fire” (אֵשׁ) or “burning” motifs (for example, Isaiah 5:24; Psalm 29:7). Musically, the term would resonate in temple worship as singers rehearsed Israel’s history of deliverance and judgment, reminding worshipers of God’s holiness. Pastoral and Homiletical Applications 1. Holiness: The flame underscores divine purity; believers are called to “serve God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). Thus לֶהָבָה threads through Scripture as a multifaceted symbol—revealing God’s glory, executing justice, purifying saints, exposing sin, and foreshadowing final redemption. Forms and Transliterations וְלֶ֣הָבָ֔ה וְלֶֽהָבָה֙ וְלֶהָבָ֖ה וְלַהֶ֣בֶת וּ֝כְלֶהָבָ֗ה וּבְלֶהָבָ֛ה ובלהבה וכלהבה ולהבה ולהבת לְלֶהָבָ֑ה לֶ֝הָבָ֗ה לֶֽהָבָ֑ה לֶֽהָבָ֔ה לֶֽהָבָה֙ לֶהָב֣וֹת לֶהָבָ֖ה לֶהָבָ֗ה לֶהָבָֽה׃ לַהֲב֥וֹת לַהֶ֣בֶת להבה להבה׃ להבות להבת ללהבה la·hă·ḇō·wṯ la·he·ḇeṯ lahăḇōwṯ lahaVot laheḇeṯ laHevet le·hā·ḇāh le·hā·ḇō·wṯ lə·le·hā·ḇāh lehāḇāh lehāḇōwṯ lehaVah lehaVot ləlehāḇāh lelehaVah ū·ḇə·le·hā·ḇāh ū·ḵə·le·hā·ḇāh ūḇəlehāḇāh uchelehaVah ūḵəlehāḇāh uvlehaVah velaHevet velehaVah wə·la·he·ḇeṯ wə·le·hā·ḇāh wəlaheḇeṯ wəlehāḇāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 21:28 HEB: יָֽצְאָ֣ה מֵֽחֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן לֶהָבָ֖ה מִקִּרְיַ֣ת סִיחֹ֑ן NAS: from Heshbon, A flame from the town KJV: of Heshbon, a flame from the city INT: went Heshbon A flame the town of Sihon 1 Samuel 17:7 Psalm 29:7 Psalm 83:14 Psalm 105:32 Psalm 106:18 Isaiah 4:5 Isaiah 5:24 Isaiah 10:17 Isaiah 43:2 Isaiah 47:14 Jeremiah 48:45 Lamentations 2:3 Ezekiel 20:47 Daniel 11:33 Hosea 7:6 Joel 1:19 Joel 2:3 Obadiah 1:18 19 Occurrences |
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