H1089 בָּלַהּ bâlahh → ← H1086 בָּלָה bâlâh
10 languagesTo become worn out, decayed, or consumed; to waste away or deteriorate over time, whether of material things, flesh, or vitality. The verb emphasizes the process of exhaustion, destruction through use, or natural decline rather than a sudden fright or terror.
Etymology
Root: בלה. The root generally carries the sense of wearing out, decaying, or being consumed with age or use. The lexical form בָּלַהּ derives directly from this root, conveying the process of being worn away, deteriorated, or failing due to time or use. Though Strong's suggested a connection with 'palpitate' and 'terrify,' modern lexicography confirms its primary semantic range is firmly associated with wearing out and decay rather than with alarm (which belongs to בהל).
Reflexes · not yet grouped by proto-form
| Language | Word | Meaning | Segmentation | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bemba | bola | to rot, decay, go bad (esp. of plants or flesh) | -bol- (Bantu stem, vowel final -a) | |
| Chichewa | kubola | to rot, decay | bol- | |
| Kinyarwanda | kubora | to rot, decay | bor- | |
| Kirundi | kubora | to rot, decay | bor- | |
| Lozi | kubola | to rot, decay | bol- | |
| Luganda | kubola | to rot, decay | bol- | |
| Lunda | kubola | to rot, decay | bol- | |
| Shona | kubora | to rot, decay | bor- | |
| Swahili | bora | to rot, decay | bol-/bor- | |
| Tonga (Zambia) | kubola | to rot, decay | bol- |