1106. Bela'

Lexical Summary

Bela': Bela

Original Word: בֶּלַע
Part of Speech: proper name, masculine ; proper name, of a location
Transliteration: Bela`
Pronunciation: beh-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (beh'-lah)
KJV: Bela
Word Origin: [the same as H1105 (בֶּלַע - devour)]

1. Bela, the name of a place, also of an Edomite and of two Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Bela

The same as bela'; Bela, the name of a place, also of an Edomite and of two Israelites -- Bela.

see HEBREW bela'

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. בֶּ֫לַע proper name, masculine 1. בֶּלַע Genesis 36:32 = 1 Chronicles 1:43; בָּ֑לַע Genesis 36:33 = 1 Chronicles 1:44 a king of Edom, בן בעור ׳ב (compare בִּלְעָם & Di Genesis 36:32).

2 בֶּלַע 1st son of Benjamin Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:38,40; 1 Chronicles 7:6,7; 1 Chronicles 8:1,3(בָּ֑לַע).

3 בֶּלַע a Reubenite 1 Chronicles 5:8.

III. בֶּ֫לַע proper name, of a location city = צֹעַר q. v. Genesis 14:2,8.

בִּלְעֲדֵי see below בלה.

Topical Lexicon

Occurrences and Main Referents

Bela appears fourteen times in Scripture and designates:

1. A city in the plain of the Jordan—afterward called Zoar (Genesis 14:2, 8).
2. The first king of Edom, Bela son of Beor (Genesis 36:32-33; 1 Chronicles 1:43-44).
3. The firstborn son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:38, 40; 1 Chronicles 7:6-7; 8:1, 3).
4. A Reubenite chieftain, Bela son of Azaz (1 Chronicles 5:8).

Bela the City (Zoar)

Situated at the southern end of the Dead Sea, Bela was spared when the cities of the plain were overthrown (Genesis 19:22). Its earlier mention in Genesis 14:2, 8 places it among the five allied Canaanite kings who rebelled against Chedorlaomer. The deliverance of Zoar later through Abraham’s intercession underscores divine mercy toward the few in the midst of judgment and foreshadows the gospel pattern of rescue for those who seek refuge (cf. Romans 10:13).

Bela Son of Beor, King of Edom

Genesis 36:32-33 and 1 Chronicles 1:43-44 list Bela as the first monarch “before any king reigned over the Israelites.” He ruled from Dinhabah, probably north-eastern Edom. His brief regnal notice highlights two themes:
• Israel’s future kingship was not patterned after Edom; Yahweh Himself would choose Israel’s king in His time (Deuteronomy 17:15).
• Though outside the covenant line, Edom’s dynastic history is recorded, showing God’s sovereign oversight of all nations (Acts 17:26).

Bela the Firstborn of Benjamin

Bela’s stature in Benjamin is evident:
• He is named before his nine brothers (Genesis 46:21).
• His clan was the largest in Benjamin during the wilderness census—“22,200” fighting men (Numbers 26:41, implied by verses 38-40).
• By David’s era, “twenty-two thousand thirty-four mighty warriors” sprang from him (1 Chronicles 7:7).

The prominence of Bela’s line helps explain why early Judges arise from Benjamin (for example Ehud) and why the tribe could field formidable archers and slingers (1 Chronicles 8:40). God often multiplies influence through seemingly obscure beginnings, encouraging contemporary believers who labor in less-noticed spheres.

Descendants of Bela

Key sons and grandsons include Ard and Naaman (Numbers 26:40), and later Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri (1 Chronicles 7:7). Their genealogical preservation shows covenant continuity; not one family is forgotten in the divine record (Malachi 3:16-17).

Bela Son of Azaz (Reuben)

Located east of the Jordan, Bela son of Azaz “lived in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal-meon” (1 Chronicles 5:8). His mention within the context of Reuben’s settlement parallels Bela of Benjamin in establishing clan identity and territorial claims. Together the two Belas testify that God apportioned inheritances on both sides of the Jordan (Joshua 13–19).

Theological and Ministry Reflections

1. Preservation amid judgment. Bela-Zoar’s escape (Genesis 19:22) illustrates that God “knows how to rescue the godly from trials” (2 Peter 2:9).
2. Sovereignty over nations. The kingship of Bela son of Beor predates Israel’s monarchy, yet is recorded without commendation, contrasting human authority with the coming righteous rule of David’s greater Son (Luke 1:32-33).
3. The fruitfulness of the firstborn. Bela of Benjamin embodies the principle that birth order in Scripture often carries responsibility for leadership and defense (cf. Colossians 1:18 concerning Christ as “firstborn”).
4. Faithful remembrance. Genealogies featuring each Bela assure believers that their labor and lineage are known to God (Hebrews 6:10), motivating steadfast service.

Summary

Whether denoting a spared city, an Edomite king, or tribal ancestors within Israel, בֶּלַע presents a multifaceted portrait of divine judgment, mercy, sovereignty, and faithfulness—truths that continue to inform and encourage the ministry of the Church today.

Forms and Transliterations

בֶ֖לַע בֶ֗לַע בֶּ֖לַע בֶּ֚לַע בֶּ֣לַע בֶּ֤לַע בֶּ֧לַע בָּ֑לַע בלע וּבֶ֙לַע֙ ובלע לְבֶ֗לַע לְבָ֑לַע לבלע bā·la‘ Bala bāla‘ be·la‘ ḇe·la‘ Bela bela‘ ḇela‘ lə·ḇā·la‘ lə·ḇe·la‘ ləḇāla‘ ləḇela‘ leVala leVela ū·ḇe·la‘ ūḇela‘ uVela Vela

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 14:2
HEB: ק) וּמֶ֥לֶךְ בֶּ֖לַע הִיא־ צֹֽעַר׃
NAS: and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
KJV: and the king of Bela, which is
INT: Zeboiim and the king of Bela is Zoar

Genesis 14:8
HEB: ק) וּמֶ֥לֶךְ בֶּ֖לַע הִוא־ צֹ֑עַר
NAS: and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar)
KJV: and the king of Bela (the same
INT: Zeboiim and the king of Bela same Zoar

Genesis 36:32
HEB: וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ בֶּאֱד֔וֹם בֶּ֖לַע בֶּן־ בְּע֑וֹר
NAS: Bela the son of Beor
KJV: And Bela the son of Beor
INT: reigned Edom Bela the son of Beor

Genesis 36:33
HEB: וַיָּ֖מָת בָּ֑לַע וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו
NAS: Then Bela died, and Jobab
KJV: And Bela died, and Jobab
INT: died Bela became his place

Genesis 46:21
HEB: וּבְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֗ן בֶּ֤לַע וָבֶ֙כֶר֙ וְאַשְׁבֵּ֔ל
NAS: of Benjamin: Bela and Becher
KJV: of Benjamin [were] Belah, and Becher,
INT: the sons of Benjamin Bela and Becher and Ashbel

Numbers 26:38
HEB: בִנְיָמִן֮ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם֒ לְבֶ֗לַע מִשְׁפַּ֙חַת֙ הַבַּלְעִ֔י
NAS: according to their families: of Bela, the family
KJV: after their families: of Bela, the family
INT: of Benjamin to their families of Bela the family of the Belaites

Numbers 26:40
HEB: וַיִּהְי֥וּ בְנֵי־ בֶ֖לַע אַ֣רְדְּ וְנַעֲמָ֑ן
NAS: The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman:
KJV: And the sons of Bela were Ard
INT: become the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman

1 Chronicles 1:43
HEB: לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בֶּ֚לַע בֶּן־ בְּע֔וֹר
NAS: reigned. Bela was the son
KJV: of Israel; Bela the son
INT: of the sons of Israel Bela was the son of Beor

1 Chronicles 1:44
HEB: וַיָּ֖מָת בָּ֑לַע וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו
NAS: When Bela died, Jobab
KJV: And when Bela was dead, Jobab
INT: died Bela became his place

1 Chronicles 5:8
HEB: וּבֶ֙לַע֙ בֶּן־ עָזָ֔ז
NAS: and Bela the son of Azaz,
KJV: And Bela the son of Azaz,
INT: and Bela the son of Azaz

1 Chronicles 7:6
HEB: בִּנְיָמִ֗ן בֶּ֧לַע וָבֶ֛כֶר וִידִֽיעֲאֵ֖ל
NAS: [were] three: Bela and Becher
KJV: [The sons] of Benjamin; Bela, and Becher,
INT: Benjamin Bela and Becher and Jediael

1 Chronicles 7:7
HEB: וּבְנֵ֣י בֶ֗לַע אֶצְבּ֡וֹן וְעֻזִּ֡י
NAS: The sons of Bela were five: Ezbon,
KJV: And the sons of Bela; Ezbon, and Uzzi,
INT: and the sons of Bela Ezbon and Uzzi

1 Chronicles 8:1
HEB: הוֹלִ֖יד אֶת־ בֶּ֣לַע בְּכֹר֑וֹ אַשְׁבֵּל֙
NAS: became the father of Bela his firstborn,
KJV: begat Bela his firstborn,
INT: and Benjamin became of Bela his firstborn Ashbel

1 Chronicles 8:3
HEB: וַיִּהְי֥וּ בָנִ֖ים לְבָ֑לַע אַדָּ֥ר וְגֵרָ֖א
NAS: Bela had sons:
KJV: And the sons of Bela were, Addar,
INT: had sons Bela Addar Gera

14 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1106
14 Occurrences

bā·la‘ — 2 Occ.
be·la‘ — 7 Occ.
lə·ḇā·la‘ — 1 Occ.
lə·ḇe·la‘ — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇe·la‘ — 1 Occ.
ḇe·la‘ — 2 Occ.