בָּלַע
to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy
Definition
The verb בָּלַע (bâlaʻ) fundamentally means 'to swallow' or 'to engulf.' In a literal sense, it describes the physical act of swallowing, as when Pharaoh's thin cows swallow the fat ones in his dream (Genesis 41:7, 24). More often, it is used metaphorically to signify destruction, consumption, or being overwhelmed, such as the earth swallowing Korah and his rebellious followers (Numbers 16:30, 32) or the deep waters covering the Egyptian army (Exodus 15:12). It can also convey the idea of something being completely used up or coming to an end.
Biblical Usage
בָּלַע is used 48 times across the Pentateuch, Prophets, and Writings. It frequently appears in contexts of divine judgment and overwhelming power. In the Pentateuch, key examples include the earth swallowing rebels (Numbers 16) and the Nile swallowing the magicians' staffs (Exodus 7:12). Prophetic books like Jeremiah and Isaiah use it for nations being 'swallowed' by enemies or by God's wrath (e.g., Jeremiah 51:34). It also describes the destructive power of fire (Numbers 16:35) and the finality of death (Psalm 69:15).
Etymology
בָּלַע is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to the act of swallowing or ingesting. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian (balā'u) and Arabic (bala'a), with similar meanings of 'swallowing.' This basic physical action naturally extended to metaphorical uses of destruction, consumption, and disappearance.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it vividly portrays God's power in judgment and salvation. The earth 'swallowing' Korah demonstrates God's direct intervention against rebellion (Numbers 16). In Exodus 15:12, the earth 'swallowing' the Egyptians celebrates God's deliverance of Israel. The metaphor emphasizes complete and irreversible action—what God swallows in judgment is gone forever, but His swallowing can also mean protection for His people (as in the imagery of being taken in). It underscores themes of God's sovereignty over creation and the ultimate finality of His decrees.
In an ancient Near Eastern context, being 'swallowed' by the earth or sea was a profound image of total annihilation and disgrace, often seen as a direct act of the gods. The sudden disappearance of people or armies into the ground (Numbers 16) or water (Exodus 15:12) would have been understood as a powerful supernatural judgment, far more dramatic than simple death in battle. It signified being removed from the community and memory entirely.
אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — 'to eat'; more general consumption, often for food. כִּלָּה (kâlâh, H3615) — 'to finish, complete, consume'; focuses on bringing to an end or using up. שָׁחַת (shâchath, H7843) — 'to destroy, corrupt'; implies ruin or spoiling, not necessarily by swallowing.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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