### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **lâban**, represented by `{{H3835}}`, is a primitive root with a dual meaning: **to be (or become) white** and **to make bricks**. It appears 8 times across 8 unique verses in the Bible. This word encompasses both the tangible, physical act of creation from clay and the profound, spiritual state of purity and cleansing.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H3835}}` appears in two distinct contexts. The first is in the realm of physical labor, specifically the making of bricks. This is seen in the narrative of the Tower of Babel, where the people conspire to "make **brick**" [[Genesis 11:3]], and later in the affliction of the Israelites in Egypt, who were tasked with "making **brick**" without straw ([[Exodus 5:7]], [[Exodus 5:14]]). The second context is metaphorical, where the word signifies purification and cleansing. Sins that are like scarlet are promised to "be as **white** as snow" [[Isaiah 1:18]], and the psalmist desires to be washed and become "whiter than snow" [[Psalms 51:7]]. In prophetic passages, being "made **white**" is part of a divine refining process for the righteous [[Daniel 12:10]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the scope of `{{H3835}}`:
* `{{H3843}}` **lᵉbênâh** (a brick): This word is derived from `{{H3835}}`, likely referencing the whiteness of the clay. It is used in tandem with `{{H3835}}` in the account of the Tower of Babel, where the people decide to "make **brick**" [[Genesis 11:3]].
* `{{H1305}}` **bârar** (to purge): Often used alongside `{{H3835}}` to describe a process of spiritual refinement. In Daniel, the understanding shall fall in order to "purge, and to make them **white**" [[Daniel 11:35]].
* `{{H7950}}` **sheleg** (snow): This word is used as the benchmark for the ultimate whiteness that `{{H3835}}` describes. God promises that even scarlet sins "shall be as white as **snow**" [[Isaiah 1:18]].
* `{{H2891}}` **ṭâhêr** (to be clean): This term for purity is paired with `{{H3835}}` to emphasize a complete cleansing. The psalmist asks to be purged with hyssop to "be **clean**" and washed to be "whiter than snow" [[Psalms 51:7]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3835}}` is significant, contrasting human works with divine purification.
* **Symbol of Divine Forgiveness:** The most powerful use of `{{H3835}}` is as a symbol of total redemption. It illustrates God's ability to take the deepest stains of sin and make a person completely pure, or "as **white** as snow" [[Isaiah 1:18]].
* **Process of Sanctification:** In the book of Daniel, being "made **white**" is not an instantaneous event but the result of a process of being tried and purged ([[Daniel 12:10]], [[Daniel 11:35]]). This connects whiteness to the endurance and purification of the faithful through trials.
* **Human Endeavor vs. Divine Action:** The word's use for making bricks at Babel [[Genesis 11:3]] and in Egyptian bondage [[Exodus 5:7]] stands in stark contrast to its use in spiritual cleansing. One represents human toil and ambition, while the other represents a state of purity that only God can grant.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3835}}` is a multifaceted word that bridges the physical and the spiritual. It moves from the earthly act of making bricks from white clay to the heavenly promise of a soul made pure and white as snow. The dual meaning of **lâban** powerfully illustrates the difference between the works of man and the cleansing work of God.
TRV