Original Word: שַׁלְהֶבֶת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: shalhebeth
Pronunciation: shal-heh'-beth
Phonetic Spelling: (shal-heh'-beth)
KJV: (flaming) flame
NASB: flame
Word Origin: [from the same as H3851 (לַהַב - flame) with sibilant prefix]

1. a flare of fire

flaming flame

From the same as lahab with sibilant prefix; a flare of fire -- (flaming) flame.

see HEBREW lahab

Word Origin
from the same as lahab
Definition
flame
NASB Translation
flame (2).

שַׁלְהֶ֫בֶת noun feminine flame (Aramaic שַׁלְהוֺבִיתָא ) — in ׳לַהֶבֶת שׁ Ezekiel 21:3, of judgment; so שַׁלְהָ֑בֶת Job 15:30; רִשְׁמֵּי אֵשׁ שַׁלְהֶבֶתְיָה Songs 8:6 i.e. Yahweh-flame = powerful flame (> Jäger^{BAS i.471} Jastr^{JBL xiii (1894), 111} explains יָֿה here as encl. particle)

Imagery of the Blazing Flame

The term evokes a vivid picture of a forceful surge of fire—brilliant, devouring, and unstoppable. In each biblical setting it describes either literal combustion or an intense, figurative energy so potent that only fire can portray it. A blazing flame both illuminates and consumes; it is glorious yet dangerous, drawing worshipful awe while warning of judgment.

Occurrences in Scripture

• Job 15:30 portrays divine retribution: “Flames will wither his shoots, and by the breath of God’s mouth he will depart.” The flame exposes the futility of the wicked who seek refuge in darkness.
• Song of Songs 8:6 celebrates covenant love: “Its flashes are flashes of fire, a blazing flame—the very flame of the LORD”. Here the metaphor lifts human love to a super-natural plane, suggesting that all love worthy of the marriage covenant is ignited and sustained by God Himself.
• Ezekiel 20:47 announces impending judgment on Jerusalem: “I will kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every green tree and every dry tree alike. The blazing fire will not be extinguished, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it”. The image underscores the certainty and impartiality of divine discipline.

Symbolic Range

1. Divine Jealousy and Love: In Song of Songs the flame marks love’s invincibility and sacred origin; its intensity is “the flame of the LORD,” hinting that genuine marital affection mirrors God’s own covenant commitment (compare Deuteronomy 4:24).
2. Judgment and Purging: In Job and Ezekiel the flame strips away false security, purifies God’s people, and consumes what is incompatible with His holiness (see Isaiah 33:14; Hebrews 12:29).
3. Revelation and Presence: Fire often signals theophany (Exodus 3:2; 1 Kings 18:38). The usage in Song of Songs allows the reader to glimpse divine presence within human relationships, reinforcing the doctrine that every sphere of life is lived coram Deo.

Historical and Cultural Background

In the ancient Near East fire was an essential yet feared element—providing warmth and light while threatening crops, homes, and forests. Old Testament writers leveraged this dual perception: the same flame that warms the covenant lover in Song of Songs scorches the unrepentant in Ezekiel. Forest fires in the arid Negev (Ezekiel 20) or lightning-sparked blazes in the wilderness (Job’s setting) served as tangible analogues for God’s active involvement in history.

Intertextual and Theological Integration

Song of Songs 8:6 links love directly with “the flame of the LORD,” anticipating New Testament teaching that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Conversely, the flames of Job and Ezekiel resonate with the lake of fire in Revelation 20:14, confirming a consistent scriptural pattern: God’s holiness manifests in love toward the faithful and in judgment upon the unrepentant.

Ministry and Devotional Applications

• Marriage and Family: Counsel couples to view their bond as kindled by God; the same divine flame calls for exclusive, lifelong fidelity.
• Holiness Preaching: Use Job 15 and Ezekiel 20 to emphasize that secret sin cannot survive the blaze of divine scrutiny.
• Discipleship and Worship: The flame motif encourages believers to cultivate fervent love for God and neighbor (Luke 24:32), while soberly remembering that the Lord who ignites hearts also refines with fire (Malachi 3:2-3).

In personal devotion, praying Song of Songs 8:6 invites the Lord to seal relationships with His holy flame, whereas meditating on Ezekiel 20:47 leads to repentance and renewed awe before the God whose word is “like a fire” (Jeremiah 23:29).

שַׁלְהֶ֔בֶת שַׁלְהֶ֥בֶתְיָֽה׃ שַׁלְהָ֑בֶת שלהבת שלהבתיה׃ šal·hā·ḇeṯ šal·he·ḇeṯ šal·he·ḇeṯ·yāh šalhāḇeṯ šalheḇeṯ šalheḇeṯyāh shalHavet shalHevet shalHevetYahInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts