What does בָּלָה (bālāh) mean in the Bible?
בָּלָה (bālāh): Deterioration through use or time—both literal decay and metaphorical exhaustion of resources or strength.
Hebrew · H1086
בָּלָה
To fail ; by implication to wear out , decay (causatively, consume , spend )
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בָּלָהH1086
Pronunciationbālāh
What does בָּלָה (bālāh) mean in the Bible?
בָּלָה (bālāh): Deterioration through use or time—both literal decay and metaphorical exhaustion of resources or strength.
Full entry for בָּלָה (H1086) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1086?
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include wear out (5), . . . (1), are worn out (1), became brittle (1), He has worn away (1).
Where does בָּלָה (bālāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 18:12. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (3), Isaiah (3), Psalms (3), Job (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itwear out5×Deuteronomy 8:4, Deuteronomy 29:5, Nehemiah 9:21, Psalms 102:26
. . .1×Deuteronomy 29:5
are worn out1×Joshua 9:13
became brittle1×Psalms 32:3
He has worn away1×Lamentations 3:4
I am worn out1×Genesis 18:12
oppress them1×1 Chronicles 17:9
They spend1×Job 21:13
wastes away1×Job 13:28
will decay1×Psalms 49:14
will fully enjoy1×Isaiah 65:22
will wear out1×Isaiah 51:6
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 18:12בְלֹתִי֙toI am worn outVerb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singularDeuteronomy 8:4בָֽלְתָה֙towear outVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularDeuteronomy 29:5בָלְתָ֖הto. . .Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularDeuteronomy 29:5בָל֤וּtowear outVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralJoshua 9:13בָּל֕וּtoare worn outVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural1 Chronicles 17:9לְבַלֹּת֔וֹtooppress themPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularNehemiah 9:21בָל֔וּtowear outVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralJob 13:28יִבְלֶ֑הtowastes awayVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularJob 21:13יְבַלּוּtoThey spendVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralPsalms 32:3בָּל֣וּtobecame brittleVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 18:12
Aligned rows16
Books represented9
Genesis1Deuteronomy3Joshua11 Chronicles1Nehemiah1Job2Psalms3Isaiah3Lamentations1
Source forms
בִּלָּ֤ה1xbil·lāhLamentations 3:4
בָל֤וּ1xḇā·lūDeuteronomy 29:5
בָל֔וּ1xḇā·lūNehemiah 9:21
בָּל֕וּ1xbā·lūJoshua 9:13
בָּל֣וּ1xbā·lūPsalms 32:3
בָֽלְתָה֙1xḇā·lə·ṯāhDeuteronomy 8:4
בָלְתָ֖ה1xḇā·lə·ṯāhDeuteronomy 29:5
בְלֹתִי֙1xḇə·lō·ṯîGenesis 18:12
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural4xDeuteronomy 29:5, Joshua 9:13, Nehemiah 9:21, Psalms 32:3
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xJob 21:13, Isaiah 65:22
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xPsalms 102:26, Isaiah 50:9
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular2xDeuteronomy 8:4, Deuteronomy 29:5
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct1xPsalms 49:14
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular1x1 Chronicles 17:9
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular1xLamentations 3:4
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular1xIsaiah 51:6
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Deterioration through use or time—both literal decay and metaphorical exhaustion of resources or strength.
Source Gloss
to fail ; by implication to wear out , decay (causatively, consume , spend )
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Deterioration through use or time—both literal decay and metaphorical exhaustion of resources or strength.
to fail; by implication to wear out, decay (causatively, consume, spend) BDB: become old and worn out Usage: consume, enjoy long, become (make, wax) old, spend, waste.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms13
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense10×
PerfectDeut 29:4 · Josh 9:13 · Neh 9:21 · Ps 32:3 · Deut 8:46×
ImperfectIsa 50:9 · Ps 102:27 · Isa 51:6 · Job 13:284×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action3×
ImperfectIsa 65:22 · Job 21:132×
PerfectLam 3:41×
Word Origins
בָּלָה is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.