Lexical Summary libnah: Libnah Original Word: לִבְנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance paved From laban; properly, whiteness, i.e. (by implication) transparency -- paved. see HEBREW laban NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as lebenah, q.v. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Usage Strong’s Hebrew 3840 (לִבְנָה, livnah) denotes “whiteness,” evoking something gleaming or pavement-like. The word appears a single time in Scripture, in Exodus 24:10, where it describes the dazzling expanse beneath the feet of the God of Israel. Biblical Context (Exodus 24:10) “Under His feet was a work like a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.” (Berean Standard Bible) Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders have ascended Sinai to ratify the covenant. In that solemn scene they are granted a controlled vision of God’s glory. The phrase “work like a pavement (livnah) of sapphire” frames the setting: a radiant platform supporting the divine Presence, conveying both accessibility (He stands upon it) and inaccessibility (it overwhelms human sight). Imagery and Symbolism 1. Purity and Holiness – Whiteness communicates moral purity (Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18). The elders behold holiness in tangible form. Connections to Other Scriptural Passages • Ezekiel 1:26; 10:1 – A throne of sapphire appears in later visions, echoing the Sinai scene and confirming a consistent heavenly motif. Historical and Cultural Background Ancient palaces and temples often featured inlaid stone pavements, sometimes of colored or polished stone. Sapphire (likely lapis lazuli in the ancient world) was prized for its deep blue hue with flecks that glimmer like the heavens. By pairing livnah (“whiteness”) with sapphire, the text describes a brilliant blue-white flooring—an architectural metaphor for the sky itself laid under God’s feet, emphasizing His kingship over creation. Theological and Ministry Implications • Covenant Certainty – The whiteness beneath God’s feet underlines the purity of the covenant being confirmed. This assures believers that the promises of Exodus 24 find their ultimate yes and amen in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). Devotional Reflections Meditating on livnah draws the heart toward heaven-warded worship. As Israel’s leaders glimpsed the radiant floor, so Christians are called to “set your minds on things above” (Colossians 3:2). The brilliance beneath God’s feet anchors hope: the One who reveals such glory also invites His people to draw near through the mediating work of His Son. Key Points for Teaching and Preaching • Single occurrence heightens its significance—do not overlook rare words. Summary Livnah, the shimmering whiteness beneath God’s feet at Sinai, offers a window into divine holiness, covenant fidelity, and eschatological hope. Though the term appears only once, its theological rays shine across the canon, inviting every generation to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Psalm 96:9). Forms and Transliterations לִבְנַ֣ת לבנת liḇ·naṯ liḇnaṯ livNatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 24:10 HEB: רַגְלָ֗יו כְּמַעֲשֵׂה֙ לִבְנַ֣ת הַסַּפִּ֔יר וּכְעֶ֥צֶם KJV: and [there was] under his feet as it were a paved work INT: his feet work paved of sapphire itself 1 Occurrence |
    |