Strong's Lexicon balaq: Balak Original Word: בָּלַק Word Origin: Derived from the Hebrew root בָּלַק (balaq), meaning "to waste" or "to lay waste." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Greek equivalent for Balak in the Strong's Greek Dictionary, as Balak is a specific historical figure from the Old Testament. Usage: Balak is a proper noun referring to a Moabite king mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. His name is associated with the narrative in the Book of Numbers, where he seeks to curse the Israelites through the prophet Balaam. Cultural and Historical Background: Balak was the king of Moab during the time when the Israelites were journeying to the Promised Land. The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, and had a complex relationship with the Israelites. Balak, fearing the encroaching Israelites due to their victories over neighboring nations, sought to protect his kingdom by hiring Balaam, a prophet, to curse them. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of using divination and curses in warfare and diplomacy. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to waste, lay waste NASB Translation devastates (1), waste (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [בָּלַק] verb waste, lay waste (Assyrian balâ‡u, Pi`el destroy, LyonSargon 61; compare Arabic a desert) — Po`el Participle without מ, suffix בּוֺלְקָהּ Isaiah 24:1 ("" בּוֺקֵק, subject ׳י, object הארץ); — on form (which might also be Qal Participle) compare Ol§ 254 LagGN 1882, 403; also בקק Po. Jeremiah 51:2, and intensive use of Infinitive absolute Niph`al Isaiah 24:3; further Punic (i.e. intensive) Participle Nahum 2:11 (this however perhaps largely influenced by assonance). Pu`al Participle מְבֻלָּקָ֑ה Nahum 2:11 (׳בּוּקָה וּמְבוּקָה ומב), devastated, or as substantive a devastated city. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance make waste A primitive root; to annihilate -- (make) waste. Forms and Transliterations וּבֽוֹלְקָ֑הּ וּמְבֻלָּקָ֑ה ובולקה ומבלקה ū·ḇō·wl·qāh ū·mə·ḇul·lā·qāh ūḇōwlqāh ūməḇullāqāh umevullaKah uVolKahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 24:1 HEB: בּוֹקֵ֥ק הָאָ֖רֶץ וּבֽוֹלְקָ֑הּ וְעִוָּ֣ה פָנֶ֔יהָ NAS: waste, devastates it, distorts KJV: empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth INT: lays the earth devastates distorts surface Nahum 2:10 2 Occurrences |