English · KJV
H3835

לָבַן

lâban /law-ban'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root · also as denominative from לְבֵנָה
Meaningto be (or become) white; to make bricks
KJV usagemake brick, be (made, make) white(-r).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of lâban — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

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.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 8 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • לְבֹּן
  • אַלְבִּין
  • יַלְבִּינוּ
  • לְבֵּן
  • הִלְבִּינוּ
  • יִתְלַבְּנוּ
  • נִלְבְּנָה

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3843 לְבֵנָה from לָבַן; a brick (from the whiteness of the clay); (altar of) brick, tile. H1305 בָּרַר a primitive root; to clarify (i.e. brighten), examine, select; make bright, choice, chosen, cleanse (be clean), clearly, H7950 שֶׁלֶג from שָׁלַג; snow (probably from its whiteness); snow(-y). H2891 טָהֵר a primitive root; properly, to be bright; i.e. (by implication); to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated; Levit

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 8 verses across 6 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus and Daniel (2 verses each); never once in the other 33.

1
Genesis
2
Exodus
1
Psalms
1
Isaiah
2
Daniel
1
Joel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.