Bible Word Study
מַלְבֵּן
malbên · a brickkiln
מַלְבֵּן
a brickkiln
Definition
A מַלְבֵּן (malbên) is a brickkiln or brick mold, a structure used for firing or forming bricks. In its three biblical occurrences, it consistently refers to a place or instrument for brickmaking. In 2 Samuel 12:31, it is part of the forced labor David imposes on the Ammonites. In Jeremiah 43:9 and Nahum 3:14, it is used symbolically in prophetic actions and commands related to judgment and fortification.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only three times, always in contexts of labor, judgment, or military preparation. In the historical book of 2 Samuel (12:31), it describes a tool of subjugation. In the prophets Jeremiah (43:9) and Nahum (3:14), it appears in symbolic acts: Jeremiah buries stones at a brickkiln in Egypt as a sign of Nebuchadnezzar's conquest, and Nahum ironically commands Nineveh to make bricks for its own doomed defenses.
Etymology
Derived from the root לָבַן (lāḇan, H3835), meaning 'to be white.' It is a denominative noun from לְבֵנָה (lĕḇēnâ, 'brick'), referring to the whitening or firing process in a kiln. The connection highlights the brick's baked, light-colored appearance.
Semantic Range
Though a concrete object, the מַלְבֵּן appears in significant theological contexts. In 2 Samuel 12:31, it illustrates the harsh consequences of David's sin and the brutality of ancient warfare. In prophecy (Jeremiah 43:9, Nahum 3:14), it becomes a symbol of divine judgment—either as a site marking future conquest or as part of a futile call to prepare for siege, underscoring the inevitability of God's decree against proud nations. In the ancient Near East, brickkilns were essential for construction, especially in regions like Egypt and Mesopotamia lacking abundant stone. Bricks were typically sun-dried or kiln-fired. The מַלְבֵּן represented a place of intense heat and labor, often associated with forced labor (as with the Israelites in Egypt). Its mention in biblical texts evokes imagery of oppression, imperial building projects, and the hard toil of conquered peoples. לְבֵנָה (lĕḇēnâ, H3843) — the brick itself, the product made in the מַלְבֵּן.
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]