Bible Word Study
לַהַט
lahaṭ · a blaze; also (from the idea of enwrapping) magic (as covert)
לַהַט
a blaze; also (from the idea of enwrapping) magic (as covert)
Definition
The Hebrew noun לַהַט (lahaṭ) primarily means 'a flame' or 'a blaze,' referring to the flickering, consuming part of fire. In Genesis 3:24, it describes the 'flaming sword' that guards the way to the Tree of Life after humanity's expulsion from Eden. A secondary, derived meaning is 'enchantment' or 'magic,' based on the concept of something being covertly wrapped or enveloped, as seen in Exodus 7:11, where Pharaoh's wise men practice 'secret arts' or enchantments.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct contexts. In Genesis 3:24, it is used literally for a physical, supernatural 'flaming' sword. In Exodus 7:11, it is used figuratively for the 'enchantments' or magical arts performed by Pharaoh's sorcerers, setting the stage for the power struggle between God and Egypt.
Etymology
לַהַט (lahaṭ) is a noun derived from the root verb לָהַט (lāhaṭ, H3857), which means 'to blaze up, to flame, to kindle.' The semantic development from 'flame' to 'enchantment' likely stems from the ancient association of magic with flickering, mesmerizing flames or the idea of being enveloped in a secretive, mystical practice.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it appears at two critical junctures in biblical history. The 'flaming sword' in Genesis 3:24 symbolizes God's holiness and the barrier to eternal life after the Fall, a barrier ultimately removed by Christ. In Exodus 7:11, the 'enchantments' represent human and demonic opposition to God's revealed power, highlighting that God's miracles are supreme over all counterfeit magic. In the ancient Near East, magic and enchantment were widely practiced and taken seriously as a form of power and knowledge. The use of לַהַט for 'enchantment' in Exodus reflects this cultural reality, showing that the biblical authors acknowledged the existence of such arts while consistently portraying Yahweh's power as categorically superior and of a different, sovereign order. אֵשׁ (ʾēš, H784) — The common word for 'fire'; לַהַט specifies the flaming blade or tongue. לַהַב (lahǎḇ, H3851) — A 'flame' or 'blade'; very similar, often used interchangeably for a flashing blade or flame.
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]