English · KJV
H3857

לָהַט

lâhaṭ /law-hat'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningproperly, to lick, i.e. (by implication) to blaze
KJV usageburn (up), set on fire, flaming, kindle.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of lâhaṭ — 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 lâhaṭ, represented by H3857, describes an intense and consuming fire. Its base definition is to lick, which implies a fire that blazes, burns up, and kindles. It appears 12 times across 11 unique verses, often depicting a powerful and divinely initiated combustion.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H3857 is frequently used to illustrate divine judgment and power. It describes God's anger as a fire that will set on fire the foundations of the mountains Deuteronomy 32:22 and the coming day of the LORD that will burn them up, referring to the proud and wicked Malachi 4:1. The word is also used to portray the devastating advance of an army, where a fire devours before them and a flame burneth behind them Joel 2:3. Metaphorically, it can describe people who are "set on fire," whose malicious words are like weapons Psalms 57:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help to frame the concept of this consuming fire:

  • H784 'êsh (fire): This is the general term for fire and is often used in conjunction with H3857. For example, a fire H784 goes before the LORD and burneth up H3857 His enemies Psalms 97:3.
  • H1197 bâʻar (to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by eating)): This word often appears in parallel with H3857 to describe divine wrath. A fire was kindled H1197 in the company of the rebellious, and the flame burned up H3857 the wicked Psalms 106:18.
  • H3852 lehâbâh (flame): This noun describes the visible result of the action of H3857. A flame H3852 has burned H3857 all the trees of the field Joel 1:19.
  • H7179 qash (stubble): This word identifies the material consumed by the fire of H3857, representing those who are subject to judgment. The proud and wicked shall be stubble H7179 which the day of the LORD will burn them up H3857 Malachi 4:1.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3857 is primarily connected to God's holiness and judgment.

  • Divine Wrath: The word is a potent descriptor of God's righteous anger against sin. This fire is poured out on those who rebel, as seen when the LORD's anger set him on fire H3857 round about, yet he did not lay it to heart Isaiah 42:25.
  • Consuming Judgment: H3857 signifies an irreversible and complete judgment. In the final day, the wicked will be burned up so thoroughly that it will leave them neither root nor branch Malachi 4:1. A fire burneth up H3857 His enemies round about Psalms 97:3.
  • Agents of Divine Power: The imagery is also applied to God's agents. He makes His ministers a flaming H3857 fire, showing that they carry His authority and power Psalms 104:4.

Summary

In summary, H3857 is more than a simple word for burning; it signifies an intense, all-consuming, and often divine blaze. It serves as a powerful biblical illustration of God's judgment against wickedness, the consequences of rebellion, and the formidable power wielded by God and His ministers. From the foundations of the earth to the fate of the ungodly, lâhaṭ depicts a fire that is final and absolute.

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 11 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.

  • תְּלַהֵט
  • תְּלַהֵט
  • תְלַהֵט
  • לִהַט
  • לִהֲטָה
  • לֹהֲטִים
  • לֹהֵט

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.

H784 אֵשׁ a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot. H1197 בָּעַר a primitive root; also as denominative from בַּעַר; to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by eating); to be(-come) brutis H3852 לֶהָבָה or לַהֶבֶת; feminine of לַהַב, and meaning the same; {a flash; figuratively, a sharply polished blade or point of aweapo H7179 קַשׁ from קָשַׁשׁ; straw (as dry); stubble.

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 11 verses across 6 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (5 verses); never once in the other 33.

1
Deuteronomy
1
Job
5
Psalms
1
Isaiah
2
Joel
1
Malachi

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.