English · KJV
H3851

לַהַב

lahab /lah'-hab/ Ask about this word
Meaningfrom an usused root meaning to gleam; a flash; figuratively, a sharply polished blade or point of aweapon
KJV usageblade, bright, flame, glittering.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of lahab — 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 lahab, represented by H3851, refers to a flash or gleam. It is used to describe a flame of fire or, figuratively, a sharply polished blade or point of a weapon. It appears 12 times across 10 unique verses in the Bible, illustrating its dual meaning of both fire and glittering metal.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical texts, H3851 is used in two primary contexts. Firstly, it depicts the flame of divine judgment, as when the LORD's rebuke is rendered "with flames of fire" Isaiah 66:15 and His visitation includes "the flame of devouring fire" Isaiah 29:6. Secondly, it denotes the glittering edge of a weapon, such as the blade of a dagger Judges 3:22 or a "bright sword" Nahum 3:3. It can also signify a supernatural event, as when the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame from the altar Judges 13:20.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H3851 is used:

  • H2719 chereb (sword): As a "cutting instrument," this word is directly linked to the "blade" meaning of lahab. It appears alongside it to describe a "bright sword" in the context of battle Nahum 3:3.
  • H2595 chănîyth (spear): This term for a "lance" or "javelin" is used to describe a "glittering spear" Job 39:23, highlighting the weaponized aspect of lahab's gleam.
  • H784 'êsh (fire): This word for fire is frequently paired with lahab when it means flame, such as the LORD's "flames of fire" Isaiah 66:15 and the "flame of devouring fire" Joel 2:5.
  • H3857 lâhaṭ (to blaze, burn up): As the likely root, this verb meaning "to set on fire" is used to describe how a creature's breath kindleth coals, from which a flame H3851 goes out Job 41:21.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3851 is tied to its depiction of divine power and judgment.

  • Instrument of Divine Judgment: The word is repeatedly used to illustrate the power of God's anger. His rebuke comes with "flames of fire" Isaiah 66:15, and his glorious voice is accompanied by "the flame of a devouring fire" Isaiah 30:30.
  • Sign of Supernatural Presence: The presence of a divine being is confirmed when the angel of the LORD ascends to heaven within the flame of an altar, a sight that causes Manoah and his wife to fall on their faces Judges 13:20.
  • Symbol of Destructive Power: Whether as a weapon or a fire, lahab symbolizes overwhelming force. It is the "bright sword" of a horseman in battle Nahum 3:3 and the "noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble" Joel 2:5.

Summary

In summary, H3851 is a dynamic word that conveys concepts of intensity and power through its dual meanings. It is the destructive flame that executes the LORD's judgment and the polished blade that brings about slaughter in battle. From the consuming fire of God's rebuke to the flash of a glittering spear, lahab illustrates how a single term can capture the terrifying and awesome power of both divine and earthly forces.

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 noun across 12 occurrences, inflected in 4 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.

  • לַהַב
  • לַּהַב
  • לְהָבִים
  • לַהֲבֵי

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.

H2719 חֶרֶב from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implemen H2595 חֲנִית lemma חֲניִת second vowel, corrected to חֲנִית; from חָנָה; a lance (for thrusting, like pitching a tent); javelin, spea H784 אֵשׁ a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot. H3857 לָהַט a primitive root; properly, to lick, i.e. (by implication) to blaze; burn (up), set on fire, flaming, kindle.

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 10 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (4 verses); never once in the other 34.

2
Judges
2
Job
4
Isaiah
1
Joel
1
Nahum

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.