### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **lᵉbênâh**, represented by `{{H3843}}`, is the term for a **brick** or **tile**. It appears **11 times** across **10 unique verses** in the Bible. Derived from a root meaning "to be white," it refers to a building material made from clay, often symbolizing human labor, ambition, and at times, unauthorized worship.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H3843}}` is used in several key contexts. In Genesis, humanity attempts to build the Tower of Babel, saying, "let us make **brick**" to use in place of natural stone [[Genesis 11:3]]. The word is central to the account of Israel's slavery in Egypt, where their lives were made bitter through hard bondage in making **brick** [[Exodus 1:14]]. Pharaoh's cruelty is highlighted when he commands the Israelites to deliver the same tale of **bricks** without providing them straw [[Exodus 5:18]]. The term is also used prophetically, as when Ezekiel is told to portray the siege of Jerusalem on a **tile** [[Ezekiel 4:1]], and when Isaiah describes the people's pride, who declare that though the **bricks** have fallen, they will rebuild with hewn stones [[Isaiah 9:10]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concepts of building and labor associated with **lᵉbênâh**:
* `{{H3835}}` **lâban** (to make brick; be white): This is the root verb from which `{{H3843}}` is derived, directly linking the object to the action of creating it, as seen in the command to "make **brick**" [[Genesis 11:3]].
* `{{H2563}}` **chômer** (clay, morter): This is the raw material for bricks and the substance used to bind them, appearing alongside `{{H3843}}` in the accounts of Babel [[Genesis 11:3]] and the Egyptian bondage [[Exodus 1:14]].
* `{{H8401}}` **teben** (straw): This binding agent was essential for brick-making, and Pharaoh's command to withhold it while still demanding bricks symbolized the Israelites' extreme oppression [[Exodus 5:7]].
* `{{H68}}` **'eben** (a stone): This word is contrasted with **brick** to highlight the difference between God-given materials and human invention, as when the builders of Babel used **brick** for stone [[Genesis 11:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3843}}` is significant in several areas:
* **Human Pride and Rebellion:** At the Tower of Babel, making **brick** is the first step in a plan to build a city and make a name for themselves, an act of self-glorification apart from God [[Genesis 11:3]]. This same pride is echoed when Israel boasts of replacing fallen **bricks** with more durable materials [[Isaiah 9:10]].
* **Oppression and Deliverance:** The forced labor of making **bricks** is a constant reminder of Israel's servitude in Egypt. The unreasonable demand for a full tale of **bricks** without straw becomes a catalyst for their cry to God for deliverance [[Exodus 5:8]].
* **Illegitimate Worship:** God is provoked to anger by those who offer sacrifices in gardens and burn incense upon "altars of **brick**" [[Isaiah 65:3]], signifying a form of worship that is man-made and contrary to His commands.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3843}}` is far more than a simple building material. It serves as a powerful symbol throughout Scripture. From the defiant pride at Babel to the harsh oppression in Egypt, **brick** often represents human efforts in opposition to or apart from divine will. It stands in contrast to natural stone and becomes a sign of illegitimate worship, ultimately illustrating the themes of human labor, pride, and the need for God's deliverance from servitude.
TRV