or (Genesis 49:12) לָבֵן; from לָבַן; white; white.
Transliteration:lâbân
Pronunciation:law-bawn'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word לָבָן (lâbân, H3836) functions primarily as an adjective meaning "white." It derives from the verbal root לָבַן (lâban, H3835), which means "to be white" or "to make white." The core meaning of לָבָן thus denotes the color white, often implying purity, brightness, cleanliness, or a lack of color. The form לָבֵן (lâbên) found in [[Genesis 49:12]] is a variant vocalization, retaining the same fundamental meaning. Its semantic range extends from literal descriptions of physical objects and phenomena to metaphorical representations of moral and spiritual states.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
לָבָן appears in various contexts across the Old Testament:
* **Physical Description:**
* **Human Features:** It frequently describes white hair, indicating old age ([[Leviticus 13:3-4]], [[Leviticus 13:20]], [[Leviticus 13:25]], [[Leviticus 13:26]], [[Leviticus 13:30]], [[Leviticus 13:31]], [[Leviticus 13:32]], [[Leviticus 13:39]]). Crucially, it is extensively used in [[Leviticus 13]] to describe the white spots or patches on skin, hair, or garments associated with various skin afflictions, particularly *tzara'at* (often translated as leprosy), serving as a diagnostic indicator of ritual impurity ([[Leviticus 13:3]], [[Leviticus 13:19]], [[Leviticus 13:24]], [[Leviticus 13:39]]).
* **Natural Substances:** Manna, the miraculous bread from heaven, is described as "white" ([[Exodus 16:31]]), emphasizing its pure and unadulterated nature as divine provision. Snow is consistently described as "white" ([[Psalm 51:7]], [[Isaiah 1:18]]), serving as a natural standard for ultimate whiteness.
* **Objects and Animals:** The word describes "white" garments, often associated with holiness or prosperity ([[Ecclesiastes 9:8]]). In prophetic visions, celestial beings or divine figures are depicted with "white" raiment or hair, signifying purity and divine majesty ([[Daniel 7:9]]). White animals, such as white donkeys ([[Judges 5:10]]) or white horses ([[Zechariah 1:8]], [[Zechariah 6:3]]), can symbolize peace, purity, or divine agency.
* **Figurative Use:** In Jacob's blessing of Judah, the phrase "white teeth" ([[Genesis 49:12]]) suggests health, strength, and abundance, particularly in the context of a rich diet of milk. The most profound figurative use is in [[Isaiah 1:18]], where "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool," powerfully symbolizing divine forgiveness and complete purification from sin.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root לָבַן (lâban, H3835), from which H3836 directly derives. Other related terms share the same root or a conceptual connection:
* `{{H3837}}` (לִבְנָה - libnâh): "brick" (possibly from the white clay used) or "poplar tree" (referring to the whitish underside of its leaves).
* `{{H3840}}` (לְבוֹנָה - lĕbônâh): "frankincense," a pale, whitish resin.
* **Conceptual Links:** לָבָן is intrinsically linked to concepts of purity, cleanliness, holiness, and innocence. Its use in the context of *tzara'at* also connects it to disease, ritual impurity, and the need for divine healing and restoration. The contrast with "red" (`{{H122}}` אָדֹם) or "scarlet" (`{{H8144}}` שָׁנִי) in [[Isaiah 1:18]] underscores its role in symbolizing the removal of sin and the restoration of a pristine state.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of לָבָן is profound and multifaceted:
* **Purity and Holiness:** "White" is consistently associated with divine purity and holiness. God is inherently pure, and objects or individuals consecrated to Him, or those in His presence, are often depicted as white. This color symbolizes an undefiled state, free from blemish or corruption.
* **Divine Cleansing and Forgiveness:** The most striking theological application is in the promise of divine cleansing. The imagery in [[Isaiah 1:18]]—sins, though deeply stained, being made "white as snow" or "white as wool"—is a powerful metaphor for God's redemptive power. It signifies not merely the covering of sin, but its complete removal and the restoration of a state of purity and righteousness, a foreshadowing of the atoning work of the Messiah.
* **Righteousness and Justification:** In a broader sense, being made "white" can symbolize the imputation of divine righteousness, where the believer's sin is removed, and they are clothed in God's own perfect righteousness.
* **Divine Presence and Revelation:** The white garments worn by heavenly beings or the Ancient of Days in prophetic visions ([[Daniel 7:9]]) signify their divine origin, untainted purity, and the glorious presence of God they represent or reflect.
* **Divine Provision:** The "white" manna ([[Exodus 16:31]]) symbolizes the pure and sufficient provision of God for His people, serving as a type of the spiritual sustenance provided by God through His word and ultimately through Christ, the "true bread from heaven" ([[John 6:32]]).
* **Warning and Judgment:** In the context of *tzara'at*, the "white" patches serve as a visible sign of impurity and separation, highlighting the seriousness of sin and its defiling nature, necessitating divine intervention for restoration.
### Summary
The Hebrew word לָבָן (lâbân, H3836), meaning "white," is a significant and rich term in the Old Testament, drawing its core meaning from the root "to be white" (`{{H3835}}`). While literally describing a color, its usage extends far beyond mere physical description. It is employed to denote physical attributes like white hair or skin conditions (notably leprosy), and the color of substances such as manna, wool, or snow. Theologically, לָבָן is deeply intertwined with concepts of purity, holiness, and divine cleansing. Its most profound expression is found in the prophetic promise of God's ability to forgive and purify sins, transforming them to be "white as snow" ([[Isaiah 1:18]]). It also signifies divine presence, the righteous state of those consecrated to God, and serves as a visual indicator of impurity requiring divine intervention. The semantic range of לָBָן thus encompasses both literal observation and profound spiritual symbolism, underscoring themes of purity, judgment, and God's transformative grace.
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