Bible Word Study
בָּלֶה
bâleh · worn out
בָּלֶה
worn out
Definition
The Hebrew noun בָּלֶה (bâleh) describes something that is worn out, old, or used up. It primarily refers to physical objects that have deteriorated through age or use, such as old sacks and wineskins in Joshua 9:4-5. In Ezekiel 23:43, the term is used metaphorically to describe a woman worn out by adultery, extending the sense to moral or physical exhaustion. The word consistently carries a negative connotation of depletion and uselessness.
Biblical Usage
בָּלֶה appears only three times in the Old Testament. In Joshua 9:4-5, it describes the Gibeonites' deceptive props—old sacks and worn-out wineskins—to feign a long journey. In Ezekiel 23:43, the prophet uses it figuratively for the adulterous Oholibah, who is 'worn out' by her promiscuity. The usage shows a pattern from literal, physical wear (Joshua) to metaphorical, moral decay (Ezekiel).
Etymology
בָּלֶה derives from the root בָּלָה (H1086), meaning 'to wear out,' 'become old,' or 'consume.' This root conveys the process of deterioration through use or time. Cognates in other Semitic languages share similar meanings related to aging and decay. The noun form specifically denotes the state or result of that wearing-out process.
Semantic Range
This word highlights the biblical theme of impermanence and decay in contrast to God's enduring nature. In Joshua, it underscores human deceit and the consequences of not consulting God (Joshua 9:14). In Ezekiel, it illustrates the spiritual exhaustion resulting from idolatry and unfaithfulness, serving as a warning against moral corruption. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by emphasizing the tangible results of sin and time. In ancient Israel, items like wineskins and sacks were essential for travel and storage; when worn out (בָּלֶה), they were unreliable and needed replacement. The Gibeonites' use of such items in Joshua 9 would have been a culturally recognizable sign of a long journey, making their deceit plausible. The metaphorical use in Ezekiel reflects a cultural view of adultery as physically and socially depleting. יָשָׁן (yāšān, H3465) — general term for 'old' without the negative connotation of wear; בָּלָה (bālâ, H1086) — the verbal root meaning 'to wear out' or 'consume.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]