לַהַט
𐤋𐤄𐤈
lahaṭ
H3858 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A flame, blaze, or burning (often intensely bright or consuming); by extension, a magical practice, especially with the sense of secret arts or acts involving the manipulation of supernatural power. The primary sense is that of an intense, swirling flame or brightness, with the extended sense arising later to refer to occult or magical practices, likely in the context of prohibitions against foreign divination.
Semantic Range
flame, blaze, fiery sword, magical practice, secret/occult arts, enchantment
Root / Etymology
Root: לָהַט (l-h-ṭ), meaning 'to blaze, burn fiercely, to flame.' לַהַט is a noun formed from the root, denoting a physical flame or blaze; only in later or poetic contexts is it associated metaphorically with magical acts, possibly from the idea of something dazzling, hidden, or consuming.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In early Israelite contexts (e.g., Genesis 3:24), לַהַט refers concretely to the flame of a sword, emphasizing its burning or consuming nature—an intense, swirling, or fiery motion. The figurative use to denote 'magic' or 'enchantment' appears in later Hebrew (post-exilic and intertestamental literature), reflecting increased contact with cultures where magic and occult practices were more commonly described by such terminology. The association likely derives from the sense of concealed or dazzling acts, as if veiled by flame. English translations often narrow לַהַט to 'flame' in narrative contexts and render it as 'enchantment(s)' or 'magic' in texts like Exodus, though the root semantic link remains the concept of fiery manifestation or power. Unlike related words for 'flame' (e.g., אֵשׁ esh, שַּׁלְהֶבֶת shalhevet), לַהַט uniquely conveys a sense of swirling, intensely bright flame or, metaphorically, for occult practices, the secretive, consuming nature of magic.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from לָהַט; a blaze; also (from the idea of enwrapping) magic (as covert); flaming, enchantment.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
להט (l-h-ṭ) — to blaze, burn fiercely, flame
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3857 | לָהַט | she has set ablaze |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3858-01 |
בְּ/לַהֲטֵי/הֶ֖ם | belahateyhem | HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp |
with their enchantments | with their blazes | 1 |
H3858-02 |
לַ֤הַט | lahat | HNcmsc |
the flame | blaze of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3858-02 |
Genesis 3:24 | לַ֤הַט | lahat | HNcmsc |
the flame | blaze of |
H3858-01 |
Exodus 7:11 | בְּ/לַהֲטֵי/הֶ֖ם | belahateyhem | HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp |
with their enchantments | with their blazes |