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בְּלָא

𐤁𐤋𐤀

bᵉlâʼ

H1080 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To wear out, fatigue, mentally exhaust, cause to become weary or depleted in spirit or resolve; especially describes persistent pressure intended to weaken mental or emotional capacity. In Aramaic usage, this verb predominantly concerns the mental or spiritual state, signifying the process of eroding one's endurance or ability through continual challenge or harassment.

Semantic Range

to mentally wear out, to fatigue, to exhaust emotionally or spiritually, to afflict by continual pressure, to cause to languish, to erode resolve

Root / Etymology

From the Aramaic verbal root בְּלָא, corresponding to the Hebrew root בלה (to wear out, use up, decay), but specifically employed in Aramaic to refer to mental or psychological exhaustion rather than physical decay. The verb is patterned after other Aramaic verbs of state or causation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Biblical Aramaic, notably used in Daniel 7:25, בְּלָא describes the actions of a king or oppressive force that seeks to 'wear out' or break the resolve of the 'holy ones,' i.e., Israelite or Judean faithfuls under threat. Unlike its Hebrew cognate בלה, which often refers to physical decay, clothing worn out, or general consumption, the Aramaic form is confined to the realm of psychological endurance. This verb expresses an intentional process, sometimes by hostile powers, to demoralize or defeat by sustained mental pressure. In later Aramaic and Jewish literature, the distinction between physical and mental wearing may blur, but in the biblical context, the focus remains on mental attrition. Standard English translations (e.g., 'wear out', 'oppress', 'afflict') often capture the general idea, but may not fully communicate the nuance of deliberate psychological exhaustion as in the biblical account.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to בָּלָה (but used only in a mental sense); to afflict; wear out.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בלה (b-l-h) — to wear out, to decay, to exhaust

Root בלה to wear out, to decay, to exhaust
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1077 בַּל not at all
H1079 בָּל not at all
H1086 בָּלָה they wore out
H1087 בָּלֶה worn-out ones
H1088 בָּלָה and Balah

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1080-01 יְבַלֵּ֑א yevale AVpi3ms he shall wear out he will wear down he will wear down 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1080-01 Daniel 7:25 יְבַלֵּ֑א yevale AVpi3ms he shall wear out he will wear down he will wear down
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