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בָּלֶה

𐤁𐤋𐤄

bâleh

H1087 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root בלה to wear out, to become old, to decay

Definition

An adjective meaning 'worn out' or 'decayed,' typically referring to material objects, such as clothing or other tangible items, that have deteriorated through use or the passage of time. The term is used in reference to items that are no longer serviceable or have lost their original integrity due to wear.

Semantic Range

worn out (of clothing, possessions), decayed, deteriorated through use, no longer serviceable due to age or wear

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root בלה, which means 'to wear out' or 'become old.' The form בָּלֶה (bâleh) is an adjective, built from the verb root בלה by employing a common adjectival pattern in Hebrew (often using a segolate form to indicate quality or state).

Historical & Contextual Notes

בָּלֶה is used characteristically to describe garments or items that have become unusable because of age or use (e.g., in Joshua 9:5,11 the term describes the worn-out clothes and provisions of the Gibeonites). The word does not refer to 'old age' of people but specifically to the deterioration or decay of objects. In post-biblical Hebrew, the base root references the process of decomposition or ruination not only for garments but for other items that lose their utility. English translations vary, rendering it as 'worn out,' 'old,' or occasionally 'ragged,' but the nuance of actual physical deterioration is primary. Related terms include עָתִיק (ʿātiq, 'old') but עָתִיק tends to refer more to age alone, while בָּלֶה emphasizes the result of usage and physical decline.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בָּלָה; worn out; old.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1077 בַּל not at all
H1079 בָּל not at all
H1080 בְּלָא he will wear down
H1086 בָּלָה they wore out
H1088 בָּלָה and Balah

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1087-01 בָּלִים֙ balim HAampa old worn-out ones 2
H1087-02 בָּל֤וֹת balot HAafpa worn-out worn-out ones 2
H1087-03 לַ/בָּלָ֖ה labalah HRd/Aafsa concerning the worn out to the worn-out one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1087-01 Joshua 9:4 בָּלִים֙ balim HAampa old worn-out ones
H1087-01 Joshua 9:4 בָּלִ֔ים balim-2 HAampa old worn-out ones
H1087-02 Joshua 9:5 בָּל֤וֹת balot HAafpa worn-out worn-out ones
H1087-02 Joshua 9:5 בָּל֖וֹת balot-2 HAafpa worn-out worn-out ones
H1087-03 Ezekiel 23:43 לַ/בָּלָ֖ה labalah HRd/Aafsa concerning the worn out to the worn-out one
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