Search / H3835b
H3835b H3835b
V-Qal-Imperf.Cohort-1cp  |  3× in 1 sense
to make bricks, to work as a brickmaker
A denominative verb from לְבֵנָה (brick), describing the manufacture of mud bricks—the primary building material in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Genesis preserves the Babel builders' resolve: 'Come, let us make bricks!' Exodus records Pharaoh's brutal decree withdrawing straw from Israelite brick quotas yet demanding the same output. Brickmaking involved mixing mud with straw, forming in molds, and sun-drying—labor-intensive work suited to enslaved populations.
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Senses
1. sense 1 — Genesis 11:3 captures the Babel builders' enthusiasm: 'let us make bricks' (נִלְבְּנָה לְבֵנִים), using both verb and cognate accusative for emphasis—thoroughly brick! Exodus 5:7 records Pharaoh's oppressive order: 'You shall no longer give straw to the people to make bricks (לִלְבֹּן הַלְּבֵנִים),' and verse 14 mentions the quota 'to make bricks' (לִלְבֹּן). The infinitive construct shows purpose. Translations universally render 'make bricks': Spanish 'hacer ladrillos,' German 'streichen/machen' (the German verb sometimes specifies forming/shaping). 3×
PHYSICAL_ACTION › Perform, Do › Doing and Making
AR["لِصُنْعِ", "نَصْنَعُ"]·ben["তৈরি-করতে", "তৈরি-করি"]·DE["lasst-uns-streichen", "zu-machen"]·EN["let-us-make-bricks", "to-make"]·FR["que-nous-faire-briques", "à-faire"]·heb["ל-לבון", "נלבנה"]·HI["बनाने-का", "बनाने-के-लिये", "हम-इन्त-बनये"]·ID["membuat-batu-bata", "untuk-membuat", "untuk-membuat-batu-bata"]·IT["a-fare", "let-noi-fare-mattoni"]·jav["kangge-ndamel-bata", "kita-damel-bata"]·KO["만드는-것을", "만들도록", "만들자"]·PT["façamos-tijolos", "para-fazer"]·RU["для-выделки", "сделаем-кирпичи"]·ES["de-hacer-ladrillos", "hagamos-ladrillos", "para-hacer"]·SW["kutengeneza", "kutengeneza-matofali", "tufanye-matofali"]·TR["tuğla-yapalım", "yapmak-için"]·urd["بنانے-کا", "بنانے-کو", "پکائیں"]
Gen 11:3, Exod 5:7, Exod 5:14
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [לָבַן] vb.denom. make brick (as Assyrian labânu from libittu DlHWB 370);— Qal Impf. 1 pl. נִלְבְּנָה Gn 11:3 (c. acc. cogn.); Inf. cstr. לִלְבֹּן Ex 5:7 (c. acc. cogn.), v 14 (abs.)