בְּלוֹ

בְּלוֹ

excise (on articles consumed)

Definition

The Hebrew noun בְּלוֹ (bᵉlôw) refers to a specific type of tax or tribute, specifically an excise or duty levied on goods consumed or used. It denotes a regular payment or revenue stream to a governing authority, likely from agricultural produce or commercial goods. In its biblical usage, it is a term for a Persian imperial tax, as seen in the context of the Aramaic letters in Ezra 4:13, 4:20, and 7:24. The word consistently carries this singular, administrative meaning across all its occurrences.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in the book of Ezra, within official Aramaic correspondence to and from the Persian royal court. It appears in the context of accusations against Jerusalem (Ezra 4:13, 4:20) and in a decree from King Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:24). In each case, it refers to a tax or tribute owed to the Persian Empire, highlighting the administrative and financial obligations of the province of Judah under foreign rule. The usage is purely secular and bureaucratic.

Etymology

The word בְּלוֹ is an Aramaic loanword used in the Hebrew Bible. It derives from an Aramaic root corresponding to the Hebrew root בָּלָה (H1086), which means 'to wear out' or 'to consume.' This etymological connection directly informs its meaning as a tax on articles that are consumed or used up, linking the financial levy to the act of consumption itself.

Semantic Range

In the cultural context of the Persian Empire, a 'belo' was a recognized form of tax revenue. Its mention in Ezra underscores the reality of Jewish life under imperial domination, where even the rebuilding of the temple and city occurred within a framework of political subjugation and financial obligation to a foreign king. This tax was part of the complex administrative system that defined the relationship between the Persian central government and its provinces. מִנְדָּה (mindâh, H4503) — a general term for tribute or tax, often used alongside בְּלוֹ (Ezra 4:13, 4:20).

Word Details