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בָּלָה

𐤁𐤋𐤄

Balah

H1088 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בלה to wear out, to decay, to consume, to fail

Definition

Proper noun: Balah, a location mentioned in the tribal allotments in the Hebrew Bible. The name Balah is likely derived from a root meaning 'to fail, wear out, decay,' though as a place-name it functions purely as a toponym and does not carry the verbal or adjectival sense. In context, Balah refers specifically to a geographic location, not to the action or quality suggested by the root.

Semantic Range

proper noun for a place (Balah); rarely, by extension or derivation, decay, failure, consumption (as reflected in the root); in this form, strictly a place-name without broader lexical meaning

Root / Etymology

From the root בלה (b-l-h), which primarily means 'to wear out, consume, decay.' The form בָּלָה is a feminine singular proper noun, possibly reflecting an adjectival or participial background, but functioning in the biblical text solely as a toponym. Its derivation as a place-name may suggest a site associated with waste, depletion, or possibly an area known for being worn or ruined, but this is not explicit in the text.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Balah appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (Joshua 19:3), listed among the southern towns allotted to the tribe of Simeon. The precise historical location is uncertain, and no clear archaeological identification has been established. The LXX transliterates the name, and many English versions follow suit. While traditional translations like the KJV insert the English place-name 'Balah,' more recent scholarship notes the parallel with Baalah (בַּעֲלָה), possibly referring to the same or a related site (see Joshua 15:29). There is no evidence that the location’s name was meant to bear any implication from the root meaning, and there is no indication of an ongoing Israelite presence beyond the initial allotment list.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of בָּלֶה; failure; Balah, a place in Palestine; Balah.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בלה (b-l-h) — to wear out, to decay, to consume, to fail

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1077 בַּל not at all
H1079 בָּל not at all
H1080 בְּלָא he will wear down
H1086 בָּלָה they wore out
H1087 בָּלֶה worn-out ones

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1088-01 וּ/בָלָ֖ה uvalah HC/Np and Balah and Balah 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1088-01 Joshua 19:3 וּ/בָלָ֖ה uvalah HC/Np and Balah and Balah
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