בְּלִימָה
(as indefinitely) nothing whatever
Definition
The Hebrew noun בְּלִימָה (bᵉlîymâh) is a compound word meaning 'nothing whatever' or 'not anything at all.' It functions as an emphatic negation, stressing the complete absence of something. In its sole biblical occurrence in Job 26:7, it describes God stretching out the north over the void, emphasizing the concept of absolute nothingness. The word is used to intensify the idea of emptiness or non-existence, making it a powerful term for describing total absence.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the entire Old Testament, in the poetic book of Job (Job 26:7). It is used in a cosmological context where Job describes God's creative power and sovereignty over creation, specifically how He 'hangs the earth on nothing.' The usage is highly poetic and emphatic, serving to magnify the concept of a void or complete absence upon which the world is suspended.
Etymology
בְּלִימָה is a compound word derived from בְּלִי (H1097), meaning 'without' or 'not,' and מָה (H4100), the interrogative pronoun 'what?' or 'anything.' The combination literally means 'without anything' or 'not a thing,' forming an emphatic negative. This construction is similar to other Hebrew compounds that use מָה to create indefinite or negative expressions.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, בְּלִימָה carries significant theological weight in its context. In Job 26:7, it underscores God's creative power and sovereignty, highlighting that the earth is suspended in space by His word alone, without any material support. This enriches the biblical understanding of creation ex nihilo (out of nothing) and God's sustaining power. For modern readers, it deepens appreciation for passages describing God's mastery over the cosmos and the fragility of creation dependent solely on His will.
In the ancient Near Eastern worldview, the concept of a void or 'nothingness' was often associated with primordial chaos or waters. Job's use of this term to describe the 'nothing' upon which the earth hangs would have contrasted with surrounding pagan myths that depicted the earth resting on pillars, water, or a deity. This emphasized the distinct Israelite belief in a transcendent God who creates and sustains by His word alone, without physical supports.
אַיִן (ʾayin, H369) — a more common term for 'nothing' or 'non-existence,' but less emphatic than בְּלִימָה. תֹּהוּ (tōhû, H8414) — 'formlessness' or 'emptiness,' often used for chaotic void (e.g., Genesis 1:2).
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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