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בֶּלַע

𐤁𐤋𐤏

Bela

H1106 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בלע to swallow, engulf, destroy

Definition

Bela‘ is used as a proper noun, primarily designating two different individuals within Israelite genealogies as well as an Edomite leader, and it is also the name of a city, specifically connected with the region of the Jordan Valley. While the etymological root suggests meanings such as 'destruction' or 'swallowing,' the actual lexical function of Bela‘ in the Hebrew Bible is as a personal or place name, not as a common noun or verb. As a name, the original lexical nuance is subordinated to its function as a label for persons or locations.

Semantic Range

proper name (personal or place), city name, personal name among Israelites and Edomites; related etymologically to 'swallowing' or 'destruction' but not used with this sense in context

Root / Etymology

Root: בלע (b-l-‘), meaning 'to swallow, engulf, destroy.' The name בֶּלַע likely derives from this verb root, perhaps conveying a notion like 'destruction' or 'he who swallows/engulfs.' As is common in ancient Hebrew names, the theophoric or descriptive element is often only implied. The semantic connection between the literal root meaning ('to engulf, to destroy') and the function as a proper name is nominal; the name acts as a marker for identity rather than conveying its literal root sense in common speech. Thus, while related to the verb, the name's use is conventionalized.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, בֶּלַע (Bela‘) appears primarily in genealogical or territorial lists: 1) as the name of a city in the plain near Sodom (later referred to as Zoar; Gen 14:2, 8), 2) as the eldest son of Benjamin, thus an Israelite tribal ancestor (Gen 46:21; Num 26:38; 1 Chr 8:1), and 3) as an Edomite leader descended from Beor (Gen 36:32; 1 Chr 1:43). The name is thus shared by both Israelites and Edomites, reflecting its usage as a typical West Semitic name rather than a term unique to Israelite identity. The city's alternate designation as Zoar may indicate a renaming or a secondary tradition. English translations usually render בֶּלַע as 'Bela,' preserving the form without imposing additional meaning. The root meaning of 'to swallow' or 'to destroy' is not explicit in the narrative context of these proper names, except perhaps by association in the case of the city destroyed with Sodom. The use of the name for both people and places illustrates the continuity of onomastic practices across tribal and regional lines in the early biblical period. No association with later terms such as 'Jew' or 'Judaism' is relevant for any referent of this word.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as בֶּלַע; Bela, the name of a place, also of an Edomite and of two Israelites; Bela.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בלע (b-l-ʿ) — to swallow, engulf, destroy

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1104 בָּלַע I will utterly engulf
H1105 בֶּלַע his swallowed-portion
H1108 בַּלְעִי the Belaite

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1106-02 בֶּ֖לַע bela HNp Bela Belaʿ 7
H1106-06 בֶ֖לַע vela HNp Bela Bela 2
H1106-01 בָּ֑לַע bala HNp Bela Bela 2
H1106-04 לְ/בֶ֗לַע levela HR/Np of Bela to Bela 1
H1106-03 לְ/בָ֑לַע levala HR/Np to Bela to Bela 1
H1106-05 וּ/בֶ֨לַע֙ uvela HC/Np and Bela Belaʿ 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1106-02 Genesis 14:2 בֶּ֖לַע bela HNp Bela Belaʿ
H1106-02 Genesis 14:8 בֶּ֖לַע bela HNp of Bela Belaʿ
H1106-02 Genesis 36:32 בֶּ֖לַע bela HNp Bela Belaʿ
H1106-01 Genesis 36:33 בָּ֑לַע bala HNp Bela Bela
H1106-02 Genesis 46:21 בֶּ֤לַע bela HNp Belah Belaʿ
H1106-04 Numbers 26:38 לְ/בֶ֗לַע levela HR/Np of Bela to Bela
H1106-06 Numbers 26:40 בֶ֖לַע vela HNp Bela Bela
H1106-02 1 Chronicles 1:43 בֶּ֚לַע bela HNp Bela Belaʿ
H1106-01 1 Chronicles 1:44 בָּ֑לַע bala HNp Bela Bela
H1106-05 1 Chronicles 5:8 וּ/בֶ֨לַע֙ uvela HC/Np and Bela Belaʿ
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