Original Word: לֶהָבִים
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: Lhabiym
Pronunciation: leh-haw-BEEM
Phonetic Spelling: (leh-haw-beem')
KJV: Lehabim
NASB: Lehab, Lehabim
Word Origin: [plural of H3851 (לַהַב - flame)]

1. flames
2. Lehabim, a son of Mizrain, and his descendants

Lehabim

Plural of lahab; flames; Lehabim, a son of Mizrain, and his descendants -- Lehabim.

see HEBREW lahab

Word Origin
from the same as lahab
Definition
a tribe desc. from Mizraim
NASB Translation
Lehab (1), Lehabim (1).

לְהָבִים proper name, of a people Genesis 10:13 = 1 Chronicles 11, probably = לוּבִים q. v.; ᵐ5 Λαβιειμ.

להג √ of following (Arabic be devoted, attached to a thing, apply oneself assiduously to it).

Identity and Lineage

Lehabim designates a tribal people descended from Mizraim, son of Ham and grandson of Noah (Genesis 10:13; 1 Chronicles 1:11). In the Table of Nations they appear alongside other North-African groups such as the Ludim, Anamim, and Naphtuhim, marking them as members of the greater Egyptian family line.

Biblical Occurrences

• Genesis 10:13 — “Mizraim was the father of the Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim”.
• 1 Chronicles 1:11 — “Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites”.

Both occurrences are genealogical, anchoring the Lehabim firmly within the post-Flood spread of nations.

Historical Context

Ancient extra-biblical records frequently mention Libyan and North-African populations whose names resemble “Lehabim.” Many scholars connect them with the Libu or Lubim known from Egyptian texts. Scripture itself later mentions the Lubim as allies of Egypt (2 Chronicles 12:3; 16:8) and as part of the confederacy judged in Nahum 3:9. While the Hebrew forms differ, the geographic proximity and shared ancestry under Mizraim suggest that Lehabim may represent an early stratum of the same North-African peoples who would interact with Israel across the centuries.

Relationship to Other Descendants of Mizraim

• Ludim — Often equated with Lydians or a North-African group east of Libya.
• Anamim — Possibly connected with a Delta region people.
• Naphtuhim — Likely located in Lower Egypt.

The placement of Lehabim among these groups underscores a network of related tribes inhabiting Egypt and the lands westward toward modern Libya.

Geographical Identification

Textual and archaeological data converge on the western Nile Delta and Cyrenaica as the likely homeland. This region functioned as a cultural bridge between Egypt proper and the Mediterranean world, facilitating trade routes later significant to Israel, Judah, and the Greco-Roman sphere.

Theological Significance

1. Universality of the Covenant Program — The inclusion of Lehabim in Genesis 10 affirms that every ethnic line traces back to God’s redemptive history.
2. Sovereign Ordering of Nations — Paul’s assertion that God “determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands” (Acts 17:26) finds an Old-Testament echo here; Lehabim’s borders and history unfolded under divine providence.
3. Foreshadowing of Judgment and Mercy — Subsequent references to Libyan power and its downfall (Nahum 3:9) demonstrate that descendants of Mizraim could stand both as instruments of God’s discipline and as objects of His judgment, illustrating His impartial dealings with all peoples.

Implications for Ministry Today

• Genealogies Encourage Missional Vision — Seeing North-African peoples rooted in Genesis reminds believers that the Gospel is destined for every nation, including those with ancient hostility or indifference toward Israel.
• Cultural Humility — Recognition of the shared human ancestry curbs ethnic pride and fuels unity in Christ (Ephesians 2:14).
• Historical Credibility — The agreement between biblical lists and extra-biblical data strengthens confidence in Scripture’s accuracy, equipping teachers and apologists to defend the faith.

Key Cross-References

2 Chronicles 12:3; 16:8; Nahum 3:9; Acts 17:26; Ephesians 2:14

לְהָבִ֖ים להבים lə·hā·ḇîm ləhāḇîm lehaVimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts