3827. labbah

Lexical Summary

labbah: Flame, Blaze

Original Word: לַבָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: labbah
Pronunciation: lahb-bah'
Phonetic Spelling: (lab-baw')
KJV: flame
Word Origin: [for H3852 (לֶהָבָה לַהֶבֶת - flame)]

1. flame

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

flame

For lehabah; flame -- flame.

see HEBREW lehabah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
the same as lehabah, q.v.

Topical Lexicon

Word Overview

לַבָּה (Strong’s Hebrew 3827) designates a vivid, self-sustaining flame. It appears once in the Old Testament, yet its setting—Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush—makes it theologically weighty.

Biblical Occurrence

Exodus 3:2: “And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. Moses looked and saw that the bush was burning yet it was not consumed.”

The Burning Bush and the Nature of Divine Revelation

1. Manifestation of the Angel of the LORD. The flame does not merely illuminate; it embodies the personal presence of the covenant God.
2. Holiness without Consumption. The bush remains intact, portraying divine holiness that purifies without annihilating the chosen vessel (cf. Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29).
3. Call to Ministry. The fire frames God’s summons to Moses, signaling that true service begins with an encounter with God’s holiness and continues through His sustaining power (Exodus 3:10-12).

Symbolism of Flame in Scripture

• Divine Presence: Pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21), Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18).
• Purification: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver” (Malachi 3:3).
• Judgment: “For behold, the LORD will come in fire” (Isaiah 66:15).
• Empowerment: Tongues of fire at Pentecost (Acts 2:3), echoing לַבָּה as a renewing flame rather than a consuming blaze.

Theological and Ministry Implications

• Reverence and Approach. Moses removes his sandals (Exodus 3:5). Ministry begins with worshipful humility.
• God’s Self-Existence. The unconsumed bush hints at the divine name “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14), underscoring God’s aseity.
• Sustained Commission. As the bush burns unspent, so God sustains those He sends (Isaiah 43:2; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11).

Intertextual Connections

• Flaming Sword, Eden (Genesis 3:24): guardian holiness.
• Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:25-27): deliverance amid judgment.
• Ezekiel’s Vision (Ezekiel 1:4): God’s glory appearing in fire.

Christological Foreshadowing

The Angel of the LORD in the flame anticipates the incarnate Christ, who mediates divine presence yet “a bruised reed He will not break” (Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20). Through Him the consuming holiness of God becomes purifying grace (John 1:14-18; Revelation 1:14-15).

Practical Application

1. Personal Holiness. Believers are called to carry God’s fire without being consumed by sin’s judgment (1 Peter 1:15-16).
2. Persevering Service. Like the bush, ministries endure not by natural resources but by God’s inextinguishable life (Galatians 2:20).
3. Evangelistic Witness. A life ablaze with God’s presence attracts inquiry as Moses turned aside to see (Exodus 3:3; 1 Peter 3:15).

Further Study

Compare related Hebrew terms לַהַב (Strong’s 3852, “flame”) and לָהַט (Strong’s 3857, “flaming, sparkling”). Trace fire-theophanies throughout Scripture and examine New Testament references to divine fire for continuity of theme.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּלַבַּת־ בלבת־ bə·lab·baṯ- belabbat bəlabbaṯ-

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 3:2
HEB: יְהֹוָ֥ה אֵלָ֛יו בְּלַבַּת־ אֵ֖שׁ מִתּ֣וֹךְ
KJV: appeared unto him in a flame of fire
INT: of the LORD unto A flame fire the midst

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 3827
1 Occurrence

bə·lab·baṯ- — 1 Occ.