Bible Word Study
לָהַם
lâham · properly, to burn in, i.e. (figuratively) to rankle
לָהַם
properly, to burn in, i.e. (figuratively) to rankle
Definition
The Hebrew verb לָהַם (lâham) carries the core meaning 'to burn in' or 'to kindle,' but in its two biblical occurrences, it is used figuratively to describe the effect of malicious words. It depicts gossip or slander as something that 'burns its way into' a person, causing deep, festering emotional or psychological damage. In both Proverbs 18:8 and 26:22, the word is used in identical proverbs to illustrate how the words of a talebearer are like 'dainty morsels' that go down into the innermost parts of the body, where they rankle and wound.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the book of Proverbs. It appears in two parallel proverbs (Proverbs 18:8 and 26:22) that warn against the dangers of gossip. The usage is highly specific and poetic, employing a vivid metaphor to describe the internal, corrosive impact of slanderous speech within a community or relationship.
Etymology
לָהַם (lâham) is a primitive root meaning 'to burn in' or 'to kindle.' It is distinct from the more common verb for eating (לָחַם, lāḥam, H3898), though they share the same consonants. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the meaning related to burning or flaming. Its figurative development from a physical 'burning' to an emotional 'wounding' is a natural metaphorical extension.
Semantic Range
This word offers a profound insight into the biblical view of speech ethics. It teaches that malicious words are not merely external sounds but have a penetrating, destructive power that wounds the human spirit at its core. Understanding לָהַם enriches the reading of Proverbs by highlighting the serious, soul-level consequences of gossip, framing it as an act of violence that contradicts God's desire for shalom and truth within His community. In the ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition, proverbs used vivid, physical imagery to teach moral lessons. The metaphor of words as food that is consumed and then causes internal burning would have been a powerful and memorable image for an oral culture deeply concerned with honor, community harmony, and the power of the spoken word. דָּבַר (dāḇar, H1696) — a general term for 'to speak,' without the negative connotation of wounding. שָׁמַע (šāmaʿ, H8085) — 'to hear,' focusing on reception rather than the damaging act. רָעָה (rāʿâ, H7489) — 'to break, shatter,' a broader term for physical or social breaking, not specific to speech.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]