Bible Word Study
שַׁלְהֶבֶת
shalhebeth · a flare of fire
שַׁלְהֶבֶת
a flare of fire
Definition
Shalhebet refers to a specific type of fire: a blazing, intense, and often destructive flame. It is not a general term for fire but describes a flare-up or a fierce, consuming blaze. In Song of Solomon 8:6, it poetically describes the passionate, unquenchable nature of love, comparing it to a 'most vehement flame.' In contrast, in Job 15:30 and Ezekiel 20:47, the word depicts a destructive, devouring fire used in imagery of divine judgment and ruin.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only three times in the Old Testament, each time in poetic or prophetic contexts to emphasize intensity. It appears in wisdom literature (Job 15:30) as a metaphor for the fate of the wicked, in love poetry (Song of Solomon 8:6) as a symbol of powerful love, and in prophecy (Ezekiel 20:47) to describe a devastating, all-consuming forest fire representing God's judgment. The usage consistently highlights an uncontrollable, powerful, and focused blaze.
Etymology
Derived from the root לַהַב (lahav, H3851), meaning 'flame' or 'blade,' with a sibilant (shin) prefix. This construction intensifies the base meaning, shifting it from a simple flame to a 'flaring' or 'blazing' fire. It is related to the verb לָהַב (lahav), 'to flame, blaze up,' emphasizing the active, consuming nature of the fire.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects intense human emotion (love in Song of Solomon) with the fearsome reality of divine judgment (in Job and Ezekiel). It shows that biblical authors used the same powerful imagery for both the unquenchable quality of covenant love and the destructive force of God's holy wrath. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by revealing the deliberate, vivid connection between passion and purification, love and justice, in the biblical text. In an ancient Near Eastern context, fire was a primary symbol of both purification and destruction, essential for survival and feared for its power. A 'shalhebet' specifically would evoke the image of a sudden, dangerous flare-up in a hearth, lamp, or wildfire—something beyond control. This differs from a modern, contained understanding of fire, highlighting its raw, untamed, and awe-inspiring nature. אֵשׁ (esh, H784) — The general term for fire. לַהַב (lahav, H3851) — A flame or blade, less intense than a 'shalhebet.'
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]