1104. bala

Strong's Lexicon

bala: To swallow, engulf, consume

Original Word: בָּלַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: bala`
Pronunciation: bah-lah
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-lah')
Definition: To swallow, engulf, consume
Meaning: to make away with, to destroy

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G2666 (katapino): To swallow up, to devour

- G2719 (katesthio): To eat up, to consume

Usage: The Hebrew verb "bala" primarily means to swallow or engulf. It is often used in the context of something being consumed or destroyed, either literally or metaphorically. The term can describe the physical act of swallowing, as well as the idea of being overwhelmed or consumed by something more powerful.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, the concept of swallowing or being engulfed was often associated with destruction or judgment. This imagery is used throughout the Old Testament to convey the idea of divine retribution or the overwhelming power of God. The act of swallowing is also symbolic of the finality and completeness of an action, often used to describe the fate of the wicked or the enemies of Israel.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to swallow down, swallow up, engulf
NASB Translation
brought to confusion (1), confound (1), confuse (2), confused (1), consume (1), destroy (1), destroyed (1), destroying (1), end (1), moment (1), removed (1), ruin (1), spreads (1), swallow (13), swallowed (18), swallows (4).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בָּלַע verb swallow down, swallow up, engulf (idea of quickness, suddenness) (Late Hebrew id., Arabic swallow, Ethiopic eat, Aramaic בְּלַע, ; Assyrian bêlû, Pi`el destroy Zim^{BP 27}) —

Qal Perfect בָּלַע Job 20:15, suffix בְּלָעַנִי Jeremiah 51:34 (Qr, compare ᵐ5 Kt נוּ-); 3 feminine singular בָּֽלְעָה Numbers 16:30; 3plural suffix בְּלָעוּנוּ Psalm 124:3; Imperfect יִבְלָ֑ע Job 20:18, וַיִּבְלַע Exodus 7:12, suffix יִבְלָעֶנָּה Isaiah 28:4; 3feminine singular וַתִּבְלַע Numbers 16:32 2t.; suffix תִּבְלָעֵנִי Psalm 69:16, תִּבְלָעֵנוּ Numbers 16:34, וַתִּבְלָעֵם Deuteronomy 11:6, תִּבְלָעֵמוֺ Exodus 15:12; 3masculine plural suffix יִבְלָעֻהוּ Hosea 8:7; 3feminine plural וַתִּבְלַעְנָה Genesis 41:7, וַתִּבְלַעְןָ Genesis 41:24; 1plural suffix נִבְלָעֵם Proverbs 1:12; Infinitive לִבְלֹעַ Jonah 2:1; suffix בִּלְעִי Job 7:19; —

1 swallow down, with accusative Job 7:19; Isaiah 28:4, subject דָּג Jonah 2:1; subject שִׁבֳּלִים Genesis 41:7,24; מַטֶּה Exodus 7:12.

2 swallow up, engulf, subject אֶרֶץ Exodus 15:12; Numbers 16:30,32,34; Numbers 26:10; Deuteronomy 11:6; Psalm 106:17; figurative of greed Job 20:15 (object חַיִל; opposed to קיא vomit); of violence, extortion Proverbs 1:12 (כִּשְׁאוֺל); of devastation by enemy Hosea 8:7; Jeremiah 51:34; Psalm 124:3; over-whelming by calamity Psalm 69:16 (subject מצולה); of full enjoyment, profit Job 20:18 (no object)

Niph`al Perfect נִבְלַע Hosea 8:8, נִבְלְעוּ Isaiah 28:7; — swallowed up, i.e. devastated Hosea 8:8; engulfed by wine (yet compare

Pi`el Isaiah 3:12) Isaiah 28:7 (מןהֿיין ׳נ, "" שָׁגוּ בַשֵּׁכָר).

Pi`el Perfect בִּלַּע Isaiah 25:8 3t.; וּבִלַּע consecutive Isaiah 25:7; 3plural בִּלֵּ֑עוּ Isaiah 3:12; 1plural בִּלָּ֑עְנוּ Lamentations 2:16, suffix בִּלַּעֲנוּהוּ Psalm 35:25; Imperfect יְבַלַּעֿ Proverbs 19:28, suffix 3masculine singular יְבַלְּעֶנּוּ Job 8:18; Proverbs 21:20; יְבַלְּעֵם Psalm 21:10; 3feminine singular suffix 3 masculine singular תְּבַלְּעֶנּוּ Ecclesiastes 10:12; 2masculine singular תְּבַלַּע 2 Samuel 20:19, suffix וַתְּבַלְּעֵנִי Job 10:8; 1singular אֲבַלַּע 2 Samuel 20:20, אֲבַלֵּ֑עַ Isaiah 19:3; Imperative בַּלַּע Psalm 55:10; Infinitive בַּלַּע Numbers 4:20; Habakkuk 1:13, בַּלֵּ֑עַ Lamentations 2:8, suffix בַּלְּעוֺ Job 2:3; Participle suffix מְבַלְּעָ֑יִךְ Isaiah 49:19; —

1 swallow Numbers 4:20 (כְּבַלַּע as a swallowing = for an instant); elsewhere

2 swallow up, engulf, usually with accusative,

a. figurative of destruction, ruin, Isaiah 3:12 (object דֶּרֶךְ); (Ba from a √ II. בלע confound, compare Di; see also Isaiah 9:15; Isaiah 19:3; Isaiah 28:7; Psalm 55:10; Psalm 107:27); subject ׳י Lamentations 2:2,5 (twice in verse); Lamentations 2:8; Job 2:3; Job 10:8; Psalm 21:10 ("" אכל), Isaiah 19:3 (object עֵצָה), i.e. confuse, confound; so Psalm 55:10 בַּלַּע אֲדֹנָי מַּלַּג לְשׁוֺנָם confuse, Lord, divide their speech (compare בלל Genesis 11:7,9 & see De Che); subject wicked men, enemies Psalm 35:25; Isaiah 49:19 compare Lamentations 2:16 (absolute) Habakkuk 1:13; object reflexive in sense Ecclesiastes 10:12; = annihilate Isaiah 25:7,8;

b. literally = destroy 2 Samuel 20:19,20 ("" הִשְׁחִית); indefinite subject Job 8:18 ממקמו ׳יב;

c. figurative for greedily (seize, adopt) practise Proverbs 19:28, for extravagance, squandering Proverbs 21:20.

Pu`al Imperfect יְבֻלַּע 2 Samuel 17:16, יְבֻלָּ֑ע Job 37:20; Participle מְבֻלָּעִים Isaiah 9:15; — be swallowed up, i.e. destroyed Job 37:20; compare מֶּןיְֿבֻלַּע לַמֶּלֶךְ 2 Samuel 17:16 (impersonal); ruined Isaiah 9:15 (yet compare below Pi`el)

Hithpa`el Imperfect3feminine singular תִּתְבַּלָּ֑ע Psalm 107:27 (subject חכמה) their wisdom is all gone, 'they are at their wit's end' (compare below Pi`el)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

cover, destroy, devour, eat up, be at end, spend up, swallow down up

A primitive root; to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy -- cover, destroy, devour, eat up, be at end, spend up, swallow down (up).

Forms and Transliterations

אֲבַלֵּ֑עַ אֲבַלַּ֖ע אבלע בְּבַלַּ֥ע בְּלָע֑וּנוּ בִּֽלַּעֲנֽוּהוּ׃ בִּלְעִ֥י בִּלֵּֽעוּ׃ בִּלַּ֣ע בִּלַּ֤ע בִּלַּ֨ע בִּלַּע֙ בִּלָּ֑עְנוּ בַּלַּ֣ע בָּ֭לַע בְּלָעַ֙נִי֙ בבלע בלע בלעו׃ בלעונו בלעי בלענו בלענוהו׃ בלעני וַֽתְּבַלְּעֵֽנִי׃ וַיִּבְלַ֥ע וַתִּבְלַ֙עְןָ֙ וַתִּבְלַ֙עְנָה֙ וַתִּבְלַ֣ע וַתִּבְלַ֥ע וַתִּבְלָעֵ֥ם וּבִלַּע֙ וּבָלְעָ֤ה ובלע ובלעה ויבלע ותבלע ותבלעם ותבלען ותבלענה ותבלעני׃ יְבַלְּעֵ֑ם יְבַלְּעֶ֥נּוּ יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃ יְבַלַּע־ יְבֻלַּ֣ע יְבֻלָּֽע׃ יִבְלָ֑ע יִבְלָעֶֽנָּה׃ יִבְלָעֻֽהוּ׃ יבלע יבלע־ יבלע׃ יבלעהו׃ יבלעם יבלענה׃ יבלענו יבלענו׃ כְּבַלַּ֥ע כבלע לְבַלְּע֥וֹ לִבְלֹ֖עַ לבלע לבלעו מְבַלְּעָֽיִךְ׃ מְבֻלָּעִֽים׃ מִבַּלֵּ֑עַ מבלע מבלעיך׃ מבלעים׃ נִ֭בְלָעֵם נִבְלְע֣וּ נִבְלַ֖ע נבלע נבלעו נבלעם תְּבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃ תְבַלַּ֖ע תִּבְלָעֵ֖מוֹ תִּבְלָעֵ֖נוּ תִּבְלָעֵ֣נִי תִּתְבַּלָּֽע׃ תבלע תבלעמו תבלענו תבלענו׃ תבלעני תתבלע׃ ’ă·ḇal·la‘ ’ă·ḇal·lê·a‘ ’ăḇalla‘ ’ăḇallêa‘ avalLa avalLea bā·la‘ bal·la‘ Bala bāla‘ balLa balla‘ bə·ḇal·la‘ bə·lā·‘a·nî bə·lā·‘ū·nū bəḇalla‘ bəlā‘anî bəlā‘ūnū belaAni belaUnu bevalLa bil‘î bil·‘î bil·la‘ bil·la·‘ă·nū·hū bil·lā·‘ə·nū bil·lê·‘ū bilI bilLa billa‘ billa‘ănūhū billā‘ənū BillaaNuhu bilLaenu billê‘ū bilLeu kə·ḇal·la‘ kəḇalla‘ kevalLa lə·ḇal·lə·‘ōw ləḇallə‘ōw levalleO liḇ·lō·a‘ liḇlōa‘ livLoa mə·ḇal·lə·‘ā·yiḵ mə·ḇul·lā·‘îm məḇallə‘āyiḵ məḇullā‘îm mevalleAyich mevullaIm mib·bal·lê·a‘ mibbalLea mibballêa‘ niḇ·la‘ niḇ·lā·‘êm niḇ·lə·‘ū niḇla‘ niḇlā‘êm niḇlə‘ū nivLa Nivlaem nivleU ṯə·ḇal·la‘ tə·ḇal·lə·‘en·nū ṯəḇalla‘ təḇallə‘ennū tevalLa tevalleEnnu tiḇ·lā·‘ê·mōw tiḇ·lā·‘ê·nî tiḇ·lā·‘ê·nū tiḇlā‘êmōw tiḇlā‘ênî tiḇlā‘ênū tiṯ·bal·lā‘ titbalLa tiṯballā‘ tivlaEmov tivlaEni tivlaEnu ū·ḇā·lə·‘āh ū·ḇil·la‘ ūḇālə‘āh ūḇilla‘ uvalAh uvilLa vaiyivLa VattevalleEni vattivLa vattivlaEm vattivLana vattivLanah wat·tə·ḇal·lə·‘ê·nî wat·tiḇ·la‘ wat·tiḇ·la‘·nā wat·tiḇ·la‘·nāh wat·tiḇ·lā·‘êm wattəḇallə‘ênî wattiḇla‘ wattiḇlā‘êm wattiḇla‘nā wattiḇla‘nāh way·yiḇ·la‘ wayyiḇla‘ yə·ḇal·la‘- yə·ḇal·lə·‘êm yə·ḇal·lə·‘en·nū yə·ḇul·la‘ yə·ḇul·lā‘ yəḇalla‘- yəḇallə‘êm yəḇallə‘ennū yəḇulla‘ yəḇullā‘ yevalla yevalleEm yevalleEnnu yevulLa yiḇ·lā‘ yiḇ·lā·‘en·nāh yiḇ·lā·‘u·hū yiḇlā‘ yiḇlā‘ennāh yiḇlā‘uhū yivLa yivlaEnnah yivlaUhu

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 41:7
HEB: וַתִּבְלַ֙עְנָה֙ הַשִּׁבֳּלִ֣ים הַדַּקּ֔וֹת
NAS: ears swallowed up the seven
KJV: ears devoured the seven
INT: swallowed ears the thin

Genesis 41:24
HEB: וַתִּבְלַ֙עְןָ֙ הָשִׁבֳּלִ֣ים הַדַּקֹּ֔ת
NAS: ears swallowed the seven
KJV: ears devoured the seven
INT: swallowed ears and the thin

Exodus 7:12
HEB: וַיִּהְי֖וּ לְתַנִּינִ֑ם וַיִּבְלַ֥ע מַטֵּֽה־ אַהֲרֹ֖ן
NAS: staff swallowed up their staffs.
KJV: rod swallowed up their rods.
INT: turned serpents swallowed staff Aaron's

Exodus 15:12
HEB: נָטִ֙יתָ֙ יְמִ֣ינְךָ֔ תִּבְלָעֵ֖מוֹ אָֽרֶץ׃
NAS: The earth swallowed them.
KJV: the earth swallowed them.
INT: stretched your right swallowed the earth

Numbers 4:20
HEB: יָבֹ֧אוּ לִרְא֛וֹת כְּבַלַּ֥ע אֶת־ הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ
NAS: the holy [objects] even for a moment, or they will die.
KJV: when the holy things are covered, lest they die.
INT: go to see A moment the holy will die

Numbers 16:30
HEB: אֶת־ פִּ֙יהָ֙ וּבָלְעָ֤ה אֹתָם֙ וְאֶת־
NAS: its mouth and swallows them up with all
KJV: her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that [appertain] unto them, and they go down
INT: and the ground mouth and swallows all after

Numbers 16:32
HEB: אֶת־ פִּ֔יהָ וַתִּבְלַ֥ע אֹתָ֖ם וְאֶת־
NAS: its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households,
KJV: her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses,
INT: and the earth mouth and swallowed and their households and all

Numbers 16:34
HEB: אָֽמְר֔וּ פֶּן־ תִּבְלָעֵ֖נוּ הָאָֽרֶץ׃
NAS: The earth may swallow us up!
KJV: Lest the earth swallow us up [also].
INT: said lest may swallow the earth

Numbers 26:10
HEB: אֶת־ פִּ֗יהָ וַתִּבְלַ֥ע אֹתָ֛ם וְאֶת־
NAS: its mouth and swallowed them up along with Korah,
KJV: her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah,
INT: and the earth her mouth up with Korah

Deuteronomy 11:6
HEB: אֶת־ פִּ֔יהָ וַתִּבְלָעֵ֥ם וְאֶת־ בָּתֵּיהֶ֖ם
NAS: its mouth and swallowed them, their households,
KJV: her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households,
INT: the earth mouth and swallowed their households their tents

2 Samuel 17:16
HEB: תַּעֲב֑וֹר פֶּ֚ן יְבֻלַּ֣ע לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּלְכָל־
NAS: who are with him will be destroyed.'
KJV: lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people
INT: cross or up the king and all

2 Samuel 20:19
HEB: בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָ֥מָּה תְבַלַּ֖ע נַחֲלַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃
NAS: Why would you swallow up the inheritance
KJV: in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance
INT: Israel Why swallow the inheritance Jehovah

2 Samuel 20:20
HEB: לִ֔י אִם־ אֲבַלַּ֖ע וְאִם־ אַשְׁחִֽית׃
NAS: be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!
KJV: far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
INT: far should swallow or destroy

Job 2:3
HEB: וַתְּסִיתֵ֥נִי ב֖וֹ לְבַלְּע֥וֹ חִנָּֽם׃
NAS: although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.
KJV: although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
INT: his integrity incited to ruin without

Job 7:19
HEB: תַ֝רְפֵּ֗נִי עַד־ בִּלְעִ֥י רֻקִּֽי׃
NAS: until I swallow my spittle?
KJV: from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
INT: let until swallow spit-ting

Job 8:18
HEB: אִם־ יְבַלְּעֶ֥נּוּ מִמְּקוֹמ֑וֹ וְכִ֥חֶשׁ
NAS: If he is removed from his place,
KJV: If he destroy him from his place,
INT: If is removed his place will deny

Job 10:8
HEB: יַ֥חַד סָ֝בִ֗יב וַֽתְּבַלְּעֵֽנִי׃
NAS: me altogether, And would You destroy me?
KJV: round about; yet thou dost destroy me.
INT: together about destroy

Job 20:15
HEB: חַ֣יִל בָּ֭לַע וַיְקִאֶ֑נּוּ מִ֝בִּטְנ֗וֹ
NAS: He swallows riches, But will vomit
KJV: He hath swallowed down riches,
INT: riches swallows again his belly

Job 20:18
HEB: יָ֭גָע וְלֹ֣א יִבְלָ֑ע כְּחֵ֥יל תְּ֝מוּרָת֗וֹ
NAS: And cannot swallow [it]; As to the riches
KJV: for shall he restore, and shall not swallow [it] down: according to [his] substance
INT: what and cannot swallow to the riches of his trading

Job 37:20
HEB: אִ֝֗ישׁ כִּ֣י יְבֻלָּֽע׃
NAS: say that he would be swallowed up?
KJV: speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
INT: A man for would be swallowed

Psalm 21:9
HEB: יְ֭הוָה בְּאַפּ֣וֹ יְבַלְּעֵ֑ם וְֽתֹאכְלֵ֥ם אֵֽשׁ׃
NAS: The LORD will swallow them up in His wrath,
KJV: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath,
INT: the LORD his wrath will swallow will devour and fire

Psalm 35:25
HEB: אַל־ יֹ֝אמְר֗וּ בִּֽלַּעֲנֽוּהוּ׃
NAS: Do not let them say, We have swallowed him up!
KJV: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
INT: not say have swallowed

Psalm 55:9
HEB: בַּלַּ֣ע אֲ֭דֹנָי פַּלַּ֣ג
NAS: Confuse, O Lord, divide
KJV: Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide
INT: Confuse Lord divide

Psalm 69:15
HEB: מַ֭יִם וְאַל־ תִּבְלָעֵ֣נִי מְצוּלָ֑ה וְאַל־
NAS: the deep swallow me up, Nor
KJV: me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit
INT: of water Nor swallow the deep Nor

Psalm 106:17
HEB: תִּפְתַּח־ אֶ֭רֶץ וַתִּבְלַ֣ע דָּתָ֑ן וַ֝תְּכַ֗ס
NAS: opened and swallowed up Dathan,
KJV: opened and swallowed up Dathan,
INT: opened the earth and swallowed Dathan and engulfed

49 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1104
49 Occurrences

’ă·ḇal·la‘ — 1 Occ.
’ă·ḇal·lê·a‘ — 1 Occ.
bā·la‘ — 1 Occ.
bal·la‘ — 1 Occ.
bə·lā·‘a·nî — 1 Occ.
bə·lā·‘ū·nū — 1 Occ.
bə·ḇal·la‘ — 1 Occ.
bil·‘î — 1 Occ.
bil·la‘ — 4 Occ.
bil·la·‘ă·nū·hū — 1 Occ.
bil·lā·‘ə·nū — 1 Occ.
bil·lê·‘ū — 1 Occ.
kə·ḇal·la‘ — 1 Occ.
lə·ḇal·lə·‘ōw — 1 Occ.
liḇ·lō·a‘ — 1 Occ.
mə·ḇal·lə·‘ā·yiḵ — 1 Occ.
mə·ḇul·lā·‘îm — 1 Occ.
mib·bal·lê·a‘ — 1 Occ.
niḇ·la‘ — 1 Occ.
niḇ·lā·‘êm — 1 Occ.
niḇ·lə·‘ū — 1 Occ.
ṯə·ḇal·la‘ — 1 Occ.
tə·ḇal·lə·‘en·nū — 1 Occ.
tiṯ·bal·lā‘ — 1 Occ.
tiḇ·lā·‘ê·mōw — 1 Occ.
tiḇ·lā·‘ê·nî — 1 Occ.
tiḇ·lā·‘ê·nū — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇā·lə·‘āh — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇil·la‘ — 1 Occ.
way·yiḇ·la‘ — 1 Occ.
wat·tə·ḇal·lə·‘ê·nî — 1 Occ.
wat·tiḇ·la‘ — 3 Occ.
wat·tiḇ·lā·‘êm — 1 Occ.
wat·tiḇ·la‘·nā — 1 Occ.
wat·tiḇ·la‘·nāh — 1 Occ.
yə·ḇal·la‘- — 1 Occ.
yə·ḇal·lə·‘êm — 1 Occ.
yə·ḇal·lə·‘en·nū — 2 Occ.
yə·ḇul·la‘ — 2 Occ.
yiḇ·lā‘ — 1 Occ.
yiḇ·lā·‘en·nāh — 1 Occ.
yiḇ·lā·‘u·hū — 1 Occ.