Strong's Lexicon balah: To wear out, to waste away, to decay Original Word: בָּלָה Word Origin: A primitive root Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G3822 (palaioō): To make old, to become obsolete - G5351 (phthora): Corruption, decay Usage: The Hebrew verb "balah" primarily conveys the idea of wearing out or decaying. It is often used in the context of physical deterioration, whether of garments, human strength, or life itself. The term can also imply the passage of time leading to a state of exhaustion or depletion. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, the concept of wearing out or decaying was a vivid metaphor for the transient nature of life and material possessions. The Israelites, living in a harsh and often unforgiving environment, were acutely aware of the impermanence of physical things. This understanding was reflected in their language and literature, where "balah" served as a reminder of human mortality and the need for reliance on God, who is eternal and unchanging. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to become old, wear out NASB Translation become old (1), consume (1), decaying (1), spend (1), waste (1), waste away (1), wasted away (1), wear (6), worn (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs [בָּלָה] verb become old and worn out (Arabic  , Aramaic בְּלֵי,  , Ethiopic  id.) — Qal Perfect בָּלְתָה Deuteronomy 8:4, בָּלוּ Deuteronomy 29:4 +; Imperfect יִבְלֶה Job 13:28 etc.; Infinitive with suffix בְּלֹתִי Genesis 18:12; — wear out (intransitive), especially of garments Deuteronomy 8:4; Deuteronomy 29:4 (twice in verse), all with מֵעַל pregnantly wear out (and fall) from upon... (hence Nehemiah 9:21), Joshua 9:13; figurative of the heavens (with simile of garment) Isaiah 50:9; Psalm 102:27 כַּבֶּגֶד יִבְלוּ, the earth Isaiah 51:6 כַּבֶּגֶד תִּבְלֶה; the bones (through suffering) Psalm 32:3; afflicted man Job 13:28 וְהוּא כְּרָקָב יִבְלֶה ("" כְּבֶגֶד אֲכָלוֺ עָשׁ); of an aged and decrepit woman Genesis 18:12 (J) אַחֲרֵי בְלֹתִי after I am worn out. Pi`el causative of Qal. a. wear out (transitive), figurative Lamentations 3:4 בִּלָּה בְשָׂרִי וְעוֺרִי, Psalm 49:15 and their form לְבַלּוֺת שְּׁאוֺל is for Sh®°ôl to consume away (others read לִבְלוֺת is for wasting away [Dr§ 204], connecting ׳שׁ with following), 1 Chronicles 17:9 לְבַלֹּתוֺ to wear it (Israel) out (altered from לְעַנּוֺתוֺ 2 Samuel 7:10), compare Daniel 7:25 Aramaic b. wear out by use, use to the full, Isaiah 65:22 and the work of their hands יְבַלּוּ they shall use to the full, enjoy, Job 21:13 they wear out their days in prosperity (Qr here יְכַלּוּ complete, which perhaps is the true reading in both passages; compare Exodus 5:13; Job 36:11). — On ַבּלּוֺתֹּי Psalm 92:11, see below בָּלַל. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance consume, enjoy long, become make, wax old, spend, waste A primitive root; to fail; by implication to wear out, decay (causatively, consume, spend) -- consume, enjoy long, become (make, wax) old, spend, waste. Forms and Transliterations בְלֹתִי֙ בִּלָּ֤ה בָּל֕וּ בָּל֣וּ בָֽלְתָה֙ בָל֔וּ בָל֤וּ בָלְתָ֖ה בלה בלו בלתה בלתי וּֽמְבַהֲלִ֥ים ומבהלים יְבַלּ֥וּ יְכַלּ֣וּ יִבְל֑וּ יִבְל֔וּ יִבְלֶ֑ה יבלה יבלו יכלו לְבַלֹּת֔וֹ לְבַלּ֥וֹת לבלות לבלתו תִּבְלֶ֔ה תבלה ḇā·lə·ṯāh bā·lū ḇā·lū ḇāləṯāh baLu bālū ḇālū ḇə·lō·ṯî ḇəlōṯî bil·lāh bilLah billāh lə·ḇal·lō·ṯōw lə·ḇal·lō·wṯ ləḇallōṯōw ləḇallōwṯ levalLot levalloTo tiḇ·leh tiḇleh tivLeh ū·mə·ḇa·hă·lîm ūməḇahălîm umevahaLim valTah vaLu veloTi yə·ḇal·lū yə·ḵal·lū yəḇallū yechalLu yəḵallū yevalLu yiḇ·leh yiḇ·lū yiḇleh yiḇlū yivLeh yivLuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 18:12 HEB: לֵאמֹ֑ר אַחֲרֵ֤י בְלֹתִי֙ הָֽיְתָה־ לִּ֣י NAS: After I have become old, shall I have KJV: After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, INT: saying After have become have have pleasure Deuteronomy 8:4 Deuteronomy 29:5 Deuteronomy 29:5 Joshua 9:13 1 Chronicles 17:9 Ezra 4:4 Nehemiah 9:21 Job 13:28 Job 21:13 Psalm 32:3 Psalm 49:14 Psalm 102:26 Isaiah 50:9 Isaiah 51:6 Isaiah 65:22 Lamentations 3:4 17 Occurrences |
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