לַ֫הַט

From the study of Genesis 3:24

Range of meaning

Lahaṭ means 'flame, blaze'; the noun appears only here, and the verb lāhaṭ means 'to set ablaze' (Ps 104:4; Joel 1:19; 2:3). Ḥereb is the ordinary word for 'sword', often used of God's sword of judgment (Deut 32:41; Isa 34:5–6). Hāpak means 'turn, overturn' (used of Sodom's overthrow, Gen 19:25). The reflexive form here means 'turn itself about, tumble, revolve': the barley loaf 'tumbling' into Midian's camp (Judg 7:13), the clouds 'turning round' at God's direction (Job 37:12).

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'a flaming sword which turned every way', BSB 'a whirling sword of flame', NIV/NLT 'flashing back and forth'. All are fair. Most lose the article ('the flame of the sword'), and most lose the reflexive sense that the sword moves itself, which YLT keeps with 'turning itself round'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ancient Near Eastern gods carry fiery or lightning weapons that act on their own, like Baal's self-propelled clubs in the Ugaritic myth. Psalm 104:4 ('flames of fire his ministers') and Psalm 29:7 ('the voice of YHWH hews out flames of fire') show fire as an agent of God. R. Hendel (JBL 1985) argues that the 'flame' is itself a fiery divine being alongside the cherubim. Joel 2:3 brings flame and Eden together: 'behind them a flame blazes; the land is like the garden of Eden before them.'