from לָבַן; a brick (from the whiteness of the clay); (altar of) brick, tile.
Transliteration:lᵉbênâh
Pronunciation:leb-ay-naw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word לְבֵנָה (lᵉbênâh - `{{H3843}}`) is a feminine noun primarily meaning "brick" or "tile." Its etymological root is לָבַן (lāḇan - `{{H3835}}`), meaning "to be white." This derivation likely refers to the light or whitish color of the clay used in the manufacture of bricks, especially sun-dried bricks common in the ancient Near East. The term encompasses both sun-dried and kiln-fired bricks, serving as a fundamental building material. The base definition also extends to "altar of brick," indicating its specific, albeit often illicit, use in religious contexts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word לְבֵנָה appears several times in the Hebrew Bible, each instance carrying significant contextual weight:
* **[[Genesis 11:3]]**: This is the first occurrence, found within the narrative of the Tower of Babel. The people declare, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." The use of לְבֵנָה here, in contrast to natural stone, highlights human ingenuity and self-reliance in building a monumental structure designed to reach the heavens and make a name for themselves. It symbolizes a human-centered ambition that sought to circumvent divine purposes.
* **[[Exodus 1:14]]**: In the description of Israel's bondage in Egypt, it is stated that the Egyptians "made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and in brick." Here, לְבֵנָה represents the oppressive and dehumanizing labor forced upon the Israelites by Pharaoh, becoming a powerful symbol of their enslavement.
* **[[Exodus 5:7]], [[Exodus 5:8]], [[Exodus 5:16]], [[Exodus 5:18]], [[Exodus 5:19]]**: These verses detail Pharaoh's increased demands on the Israelites, requiring them to gather their own straw for making bricks while still maintaining the same quota. This further emphasizes the cruelty of their servitude and the impossible burdens placed upon them, from which God ultimately delivers them.
* **[[Isaiah 9:10]]**: In a prophetic oracle against Israel's pride and defiance, the people boast, "The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars." Here, לְבֵנָה symbolizes the fallen, inferior structures of their past, which they arrogantly intend to replace with superior materials through their own strength, rather than repenting and relying on God. It speaks to a spirit of self-sufficiency in the face of divine judgment.
* **[[Isaiah 65:3]]**: This verse condemns the idolatrous practices of a rebellious people: "a people who continually provoke me to my face, sacrificing in gardens and burning incense on bricks." The "altar of bricks" stands in direct contrast to the divinely commanded altar of unhewn stones ([[Exodus 20:25]]). Using bricks for an altar signifies a rejection of God's prescribed worship and an embrace of human-made or pagan religious practices, marking a profound act of apostasy.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of לְבֵנָה is enriched by examining its relationship to other biblical terms and concepts:
* **לָבַן (lāḇan - `{{H3835}}`)**: The root verb, "to be white," directly linking the brick to the color of its raw material.
* **אֶבֶן (ʾeḇen - `{{H68}}`)**: "Stone." Often contrasted with לְבֵנָה as a building material, particularly in contexts where natural, unhewn stone is divinely preferred over man-made bricks (e.g., for altars). This contrast highlights the difference between human enterprise and divine ordinance.
* **חֹמֶר (ḥōmer - `{{H2563}}`)**: "Clay," "mortar." The raw material from which bricks are made, and the substance used to bind them.
* **טִיט (ṭîṭ - `{{H2916}}`)**: "Mud," "mire." Also used for mortar or the raw material for bricks, especially in the context of forced labor.
* **מַלְבֵּן (malbēn - `{{H4404}}`)**: "Brick-kiln" or "brick-mold." A direct derivative, referring to the place or tool for manufacturing bricks, further emphasizing the human process involved.
* **Concepts**: Human ambition, defiance, oppression, slavery, idolatry, apostasy, false security, and divine judgment.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of לְבֵנָה is multifaceted, serving as a powerful symbol across various narratives:
* **Human Autonomy and Defiance**: In the Tower of Babel, לְבֵנָה represents humanity's attempt to achieve greatness and security through its own means, independent of God. The choice of man-made bricks over natural stone underscores a departure from reliance on God's created order and a turn towards human ingenuity and self-exaltation. This act is met with divine judgment, demonstrating the futility of human efforts apart from God.
* **Oppression and Divine Deliverance**: The pervasive use of לְבֵנָה in the Exodus narrative vividly portrays the brutal oppression of the Israelites. Brick-making became synonymous with their servitude, symbolizing the crushing weight of their bondage. God's act of deliverance from Egypt is thus also a liberation from the "brick-kiln" of affliction, showcasing His power and faithfulness to rescue His people from impossible circumstances.
* **Idolatry and Rejection of Divine Order**: In prophetic warnings, particularly in Isaiah, the "altar of bricks" epitomizes a profound act of apostasy. By building altars of human-made bricks instead of the divinely prescribed unhewn stones, the people rejected God's specific commands for worship and embraced pagan or self-devised religious practices. This symbolizes a turning away from the true God and His established covenant, provoking divine wrath.
* **False Security and Arrogance**: The boast in [[Isaiah 9:10]] illustrates a dangerous spiritual pride. The people's determination to rebuild with "dressed stone" after the "bricks have fallen" signifies a refusal to acknowledge God's judgment and a misplaced confidence in their own strength and resources. It highlights the human tendency to rely on material and human prowess rather than seeking repentance and divine restoration.
### Summary
The Hebrew word לְבֵנָה (lᵉbênâh - `{{H3843}}`), meaning "brick" or "tile" and derived from the root "to be white," carries significant theological weight beyond its literal definition as a building material. From the earliest narratives, לְבֵנָה symbolizes human ambition and defiance against divine will, as seen in the Tower of Babel ([[Genesis 11:3]]). It profoundly represents the brutal oppression and forced labor endured by the Israelites in Egypt, from which God miraculously delivered them ([[Exodus 1:14]]; [[Exodus 5:7-19]]). Furthermore, in prophetic contexts, לְבֵנָה becomes a potent emblem of idolatry, apostasy, and false security, particularly when used for altars in defiance of God's commands ([[Isaiah 65:3]]) or as a symbol of human arrogance in the face of divine judgment ([[Isaiah 9:10]]). Thus, לְבֵנָה serves as a rich biblical motif, embodying themes of human autonomy, divine judgment, oppression, and the consequences of rejecting God's established order.
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