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בְּלִיַּעַל

𐤁𐤋𐤉𐤏𐤋

bᵉlîyaʻal

H1100 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בלי to lack, be without, be lacking in value

Definition

A state or quality of worthlessness, lawlessness, or utter disregard for social or cultic norms; used substantively to denote individuals characterized by such traits, i.e., 'worthless person,' often with the implication of dangerous rebellion or wickedness against established community standards. In later usage, occasionally personified as a designation for an ultimate adversary, though this is absent from the Hebrew Bible.

Semantic Range

worthlessness, lawlessness, wickedness, destructiveness or ruination, lawless/ruinous person, one opposed to social or religious order, persons of criminal intent, by extension (post-biblical): ultimate adversary, demon

Root / Etymology

Formed as a compound from the particle בְּלִי (belî, 'without') and the root יעל (yʻl, 'to be of benefit, profit'), literally 'without benefit' or 'without value.' The term shifted from an abstract sense ('worthlessness') to a fixed label for those exhibiting such qualities. The actual form and meaning derive directly from this composition; the idea of personification arises only in later literature.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, בְּלִיַּעַל (belîyaʻal) functions mainly as a descriptor or substantive, not as a proper noun or demonic figure. Phrases such as 'sons of belîyaʻal' (בני בליעל) mean 'worthless men' or 'people who act lawlessly or with malice.' The term conveys both social and moral disapproval—those described as 'belîyaʻal' are rebellious, lawless, ruinous to society, or flagrantly outside the boundaries of accepted conduct. In Deuteronomy, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, the term is associated with sedition, insurrection, or severe criminality. During post-exilic and early Second Temple usage, the term begins to appear—with some reinterpretation—in apocalyptic and intertestamental literature as a proper noun (Belial), representing a chief adversary or a demon; however, this development lies outside Hebrew Bible usage, where the word never refers to a specific being. English translations sometimes misleadingly render the term as a proper name ('Belial'); such renderings derive from post-biblical developments and do not reflect its original status as a common noun or label for anti-social, destructive individuals.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בְּלִי and יַעַל;(often in connection with אִישׁ, אִשָּׁה, בֵּן, etc.); without profit, worthlessness; by extension, destruction, wickedness; Belial, evil, naughty, ungodly (men), wicked.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בלי (b-l-y) — lack, absence, without value, worthlessness

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1100-01 בְּלִיָּ֑עַל beliyaal HNcmsa worthless worthless one 11
H1100-04 בְלִיַּ֨עַל֙ veliyaal HNcmsa Belial worthless one 11
H1100-02 הַ/בְּלִיַּ֨עַל habeliyaal HTd/Ncmsa of worthlessness the worthless one 3
H1100-03 וּ/בְלִיַּ֗עַל uveliyaal HC/Ncmsa and worthless worthless man 2

Occurrences in Scripture

27 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1100-04 Deuteronomy 13:14 בְלִיַּ֨עַל֙ veliyaal HNcmsa worthlessness worthless one
H1100-04 Deuteronomy 15:9 בְלִיַּ֜עַל veliyaal HNcmsa wicked worthless one
H1100-04 Judges 19:22 בְלִיַּ֗עַל veliyaal HNcmsa Belial worthless one
H1100-04 Judges 20:13 בְלִיַּ֜עַל veliyaal HNcmsa Belial worthless one
H1100-01 1 Samuel 1:16 בְּלִיָּ֑עַל beliyaal HNcmsa of Belial worthless one
H1100-04 1 Samuel 2:12 בְלִיָּ֑עַל veliyaal HNcmsa of worthlessness worthless one
H1100-04 1 Samuel 10:27 בְלִיַּ֣עַל veliyaal HNcmsa Belial worthless one
H1100-01 1 Samuel 25:17 בְּלִיַּ֔עַל beliyaal HNcmsa Belial worthless one
H1100-02 1 Samuel 25:25 הַ/בְּלִיַּ֨עַל habeliyaal HTd/Ncmsa of worthlessness the worthless one
H1100-03 1 Samuel 30:22 וּ/בְלִיַּ֗עַל uveliyaal HC/Ncmsa and worthless worthless man
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