לָהַט
𐤋𐤄𐤈
lâhaṭ
H3857 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To burn or blaze intensely, often describing flames, fiery heat, or supernatural burning. The term conveys the idea of something being seized and consumed by fire, or a rapid, flashing blaze. In certain contexts, it can describe the glimmer or flicker of fire, or the act of setting something ablaze.
Semantic Range
to blaze up, to consume with fire, to flash (of flame or light), to kindle or ignite, to set on fire; in noun forms: flaming object, supernatural blaze, burning heat
Root / Etymology
Root לָהַט (ל־ה־ט), from a verbal root meaning 'to blaze, scorch, flash.' The noun form (לַהַט, lahat) and its derivatives are related to the appearance of a burning or flaming object. The root focuses on the quality or action of intense burning rather than mere heat or illumination.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb לָהַט appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in contexts describing supernatural flames or fire, such as the 'flaming sword' (לַהַט הַחֶרֶב) in Genesis 3:24 that guards the way to the Tree of Life. The term focuses on the intensity and consuming power of fire, not simply the presence of fire. It contrasts with other Hebrew terms for burning (such as בער, 'to burn; to consume by fire') by emphasizing the visual or supernatural quality—especially in poetic or vivid narrative contexts. In later Hebrew usage, noun forms continue to denote burning heat, a flaming object, or even metaphorical intensity. Modern translations often flatten the nuance by rendering as 'burn' or 'flame,' but the native sense includes rapid, flashing, or spectacular display of fire. In post-biblical texts, derivatives can take on poetic meanings relating to desire or fervor, but these are not present in biblical usage.
Translation Consistency
lâhaṭ consistently describes an intense, flashing or consuming fire; "blaze" captures the forceful, fiery sense (including supernatural burning or flashing light) better than the more general "burn" and is more natural than technical alternatives like "ignite." It also matches the majority of existing renderings and fits both verb and related noun usages.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to lick, i.e. (by implication) to blaze; burn (up), set on fire, flaming, kindle.
Bantu Hebrew
| Language | Bantu Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chokwe | latà | to burn, to blaze | |
| Kimbundu | latà | to burn, shine (as in a lamp or blazing object) (ref: Kimbundu-Portuguese dictionary, Dias, 1899) | |
| Umbundu | lata | to radiate, shine |
Root Family
להט (lâhaṭ) — to blaze, to flash, to burn intensely
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3858 | לַהַט | with their blazes |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3857-04 |
תְּלַהֵ֑ט | telahet | HVpi3fs |
burned | she will blaze fiercely | it will blaze fiercely | 4 |
H3857-01 |
לִהֲטָ֖ה | lihatah | HVpp3fs |
has burned | she has set ablaze | has set ablaze | 1 |
H3857-02 |
לֹ֫הֲטִ֥ים | lohatim | HVqrmpa |
flaming | blazing ones | blazing ones | 1 |
H3857-03 |
לֹהֵֽט | lohet | HVqrmsa |
flaming | blazing one | flaming one | 1 |
H3857-05 |
וּ/תְלַהֵ֖ט | utelahet | HC/Vpi3fs |
and burns | and she fiercely blazes | and it blazes intensely | 1 |
H3857-06 |
וַ/תְּלַהֲטֵ֤/הוּ | vatelahatehu | HC/Vpw3fs/Sp3ms |
and-it-set-on-fire-him | and she fiercely set him ablaze | and it fiercely set him ablaze | 1 |
H3857-07 |
וַ/תְּלַהֵ֖ט | vatelahet | HC/Vpw3fs |
and sets on fire | and she set ablaze | and sets ablaze | 1 |
H3857-08 |
וְ/לִהַ֨ט | velihat | HC/Vpp3ms |
and to burn | he fiercely blazed | and to blaze | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
11 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3857-07 |
Deuteronomy 32:22 | וַ/תְּלַהֵ֖ט | vatelahet | HC/Vpw3fs |
and sets on fire | and she set ablaze | and sets ablaze |
H3857-06 |
Isaiah 42:25 | וַ/תְּלַהֲטֵ֤/הוּ | vatelahatehu | HC/Vpw3fs/Sp3ms |
and-it-set-on-fire-him | and she fiercely set him ablaze | and it fiercely set him ablaze |
H3857-01 |
Joel 1:19 | לִהֲטָ֖ה | lihatah | HVpp3fs |
has burned | she has set ablaze | has set ablaze |
H3857-04 |
Joel 2:3 | תְּלַהֵ֣ט | telahet | HVpi3fs |
burns | she will blaze fiercely | it will blaze fiercely |
H3857-08 |
Malachi 3:19 | וְ/לִהַ֨ט | velihat | HC/Vpp3ms |
and to burn | he fiercely blazed | and to blaze |
H3857-02 |
Psalms 57:5 | לֹ֫הֲטִ֥ים | lohatim | HVqrmpa |
flaming | blazing ones | blazing ones |
H3857-04 |
Psalms 83:15 | תְּלַהֵ֥ט | telahet | HVpi3fs |
sets ablaze | she will blaze fiercely | it will blaze fiercely |
H3857-05 |
Psalms 97:3 | וּ/תְלַהֵ֖ט | utelahet | HC/Vpi3fs |
and burns | and she fiercely blazes | and it blazes intensely |
H3857-03 |
Psalms 104:4 | לֹהֵֽט | lohet | HVqrmsa |
flaming | blazing one | flaming one |
H3857-04 |
Psalms 106:18 | תְּלַהֵ֥ט | telahet | HVpi3fs |
burned | she will blaze fiercely | it will blaze fiercely |
H3857-04 |
Job 41:13 | תְּלַהֵ֑ט | telahet | HVpi3fs |
kindles | she will blaze fiercely | it will blaze fiercely |