בָּלַע
𐤁𐤋𐤏
bâlaʻ
H1104 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To swallow, engulf, or consume entirely. This verb is used both in literal contexts (such as the physical swallowing of food or objects) and figuratively to express destruction, obliteration, or being overwhelmed. In some contexts, it denotes the act of disappearing or vanishing as if being swallowed up.
Semantic Range
to swallow literally, to engulf entirely, to consume, to annihilate or destroy (especially in metaphor), to be brought to an end, to disappear (as if swallowed), to devour
Root / Etymology
The verb derives from the root בלע, meaning 'to swallow' or 'to engulf.' While the root has the core physical sense of swallowing, it functions in broader metaphorical senses related to consumption and destruction in derived forms.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בָּלַע is attested throughout the Hebrew Bible, with its most common use describing the swallowing action—either of animate entities (e.g., animals, people) or of inanimate ones (such as earth swallowing Korah’s company in Numbers 16:32). In poetic and prophetic texts, it is frequently employed metaphorically for catastrophic destruction (e.g., death 'swallowing up' or defeat in battle). In the patriarchal narratives, usage is generally literal, reflecting everyday actions. In monarchic and prophetic periods, the metaphorical extension develops, associated with acts of divine judgment or overwhelming calamity. It overlaps partially with terms like אכל (to eat), especially in contexts relating to consumption, but בלע is unique for its imagery of complete engulfment without trace. Standard English translations, with terms like 'swallow up' or 'destroy,' may not always capture the vivid, often totalizing imagery inherent in the Hebrew.
Translation Consistency
Most common and natural rendering across occurrences (19x "swallowed" + 14x "swallow"). "Swallow" covers the literal sense (eat/ingest) and the frequent figurative senses (engulf, consume, be swallowed up, vanish) by using constructions like "swallow up" or passive forms ("be swallowed"). More formal alternatives (e.g., "devour" or "engulf") are narrower or less idiomatic, so "swallow" best fits the typical usage and will yield natural English across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy; cover, destroy, devour, eat up, be at end, spend up, swallow down (up).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בלע (b-l-ʿ) — to swallow, engulf, consume
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1105 | בֶּלַע | his swallowed-portion |
| H1106 | בֶּלַע | Bela |
| H1108 | בַּלְעִי | the Belaite |
Word Forms
42 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1104-07 |
בִּלַּ֤ע | bila | HVpp3ms |
he has swallowed up | he utterly engulfed | he utterly swallowed | 4 |
H1104-30 |
וַ/תִּבְלַ֥ע | vativela | HC/Vqw3fs |
and swallowed | and she swallowed | and it swallowed | 3 |
H1104-03 |
בַּלַּ֣ע | bala | HVpv2ms |
Destroy | Swallower | Swallower | 2 |
H1104-38 |
יְבַלְּעֶֽ/נּוּ | yevaleenu | HVpi3ms/Sp3ms |
it-swallows-him | He will engulf him | He will swallow him | 2 |
H1104-39 |
יְבֻלַּ֣ע | yevula | HVPi3ms |
be swallowed up | he will be engulfed | he will be engulfed | 2 |
H1104-33 |
וַ/תִּבְלַ֨עְנָה֙ | vativelaenah | HC/Vqw3fp |
and they swallowed | and they swallowed up | and they swallowed up | 1 |
H1104-06 |
בְּ/בַלַּ֥ע | bevala | HR/Vpc |
when devouring | in utterly engulfing | in swallowing | 1 |
H1104-27 |
וּ/בָלְעָ֤ה | uvaleah | HC/Vqq3fs |
and swallows | and she swallowed | and it swallows | 1 |
H1104-35 |
בלע/נו | vlnv | HVqp3ms/Sp1cp |
swallowed-us | he swallowed us | he swallowed us | 1 |
H1104-02 |
אֲבַלֵּ֑עַ | avalea | HVpi1cs |
I-will-swallow-up | I will swallow up | I will swallow up | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
50 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1104-33 |
Genesis 41:7 | וַ/תִּבְלַ֨עְנָה֙ | vativelaenah | HC/Vqw3fp |
and they swallowed | and they swallowed up | and they swallowed up |
H1104-32 |
Genesis 41:24 | וַ/תִּבְלַ֨עְןָ֙ | vativelaena | HC/Vqw3fp |
and swallowed | they swallowed | they swallowed |
H1104-34 |
Exodus 7:12 | וַ/יִּבְלַ֥ע | vayivela | HC/Vqw3ms |
but swallowed up | he swallowed | and it swallowed |
H1104-24 |
Exodus 15:12 | תִּבְלָעֵ֖/מוֹ | tivelaemo | HVqi3fs/Sp3mp |
swallowed them | she will swallow them | she swallowed them |
H1104-12 |
Numbers 4:20 | כְּ/בַלַּ֥ע | kevala | HR/Vpc |
like a swallow | as devouring | as swallowing |
H1104-27 |
Numbers 16:30 | וּ/בָלְעָ֤ה | uvaleah | HC/Vqq3fs |
and swallows | and she swallowed | and it swallows |
H1104-30 |
Numbers 16:32 | וַ/תִּבְלַ֥ע | vativela | HC/Vqw3fs |
and swallowed | and she swallowed | and it swallowed |
H1104-26 |
Numbers 16:34 | תִּבְלָעֵ֖/נוּ | tivelaenu | HVqi3fs/Sp1cp |
swallow us | she will swallow us | it will swallow us |
H1104-30 |
Numbers 26:10 | וַ/תִּבְלַ֥ע | vativela | HC/Vqw3fs |
and swallowed | and she swallowed | and it swallowed |
H1104-31 |
Deuteronomy 11:6 | וַ/תִּבְלָעֵ֥/ם | vativelaem | HC/Vqw3fs/Sp3mp |
and swallowed them | she swallowed them | she swallowed them |