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 )
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
בָּלָה H1086
Pronunciation bālāh
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 It wear out 5× Deuteronomy 8:4, Deuteronomy 29:5, Nehemiah 9:21, Psalms 102:26
. . . 1× Deuteronomy 29:5
are worn out 1× Joshua 9:13
became brittle 1× Psalms 32:3
He has worn away 1× Lamentations 3:4
I am worn out 1× Genesis 18:12
oppress them 1× 1 Chronicles 17:9
They spend 1× Job 21:13
wastes away 1× Job 13:28
will decay 1× Psalms 49:14
will fully enjoy 1× Isaiah 65:22
will wear out 1× Isaiah 51:6
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 18:12 בְלֹתִי֙ to I am worn out Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular Deuteronomy 8:4 בָֽלְתָה֙ to wear out Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Deuteronomy 29:5 בָלְתָ֖ה to . . . Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Deuteronomy 29:5 בָל֤וּ to wear out Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Joshua 9:13 בָּל֕וּ to are worn out Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 1 Chronicles 17:9 לְבַלֹּת֔וֹ to oppress them Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular Nehemiah 9:21 בָל֔וּ to wear out Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Job 13:28 יִבְלֶ֑ה to wastes away Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Job 21:13 יְבַלּוּ to They spend Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Psalms 32:3 בָּל֣וּ to became brittle Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 18:12
Aligned rows 16
Books represented 9
Genesis 1 Deuteronomy 3 Joshua 1 1 Chronicles 1 Nehemiah 1 Job 2 Psalms 3 Isaiah 3 Lamentations 1
Source forms
בִּלָּ֤ה 1x bil·lāh Lamentations 3:4
בָל֤וּ 1x ḇā·lū Deuteronomy 29:5
בָל֔וּ 1x ḇā·lū Nehemiah 9:21
בָּל֕וּ 1x bā·lū Joshua 9:13
בָּל֣וּ 1x bā·lū Psalms 32:3
בָֽלְתָה֙ 1x ḇā·lə·ṯāh Deuteronomy 8:4
בָלְתָ֖ה 1x ḇā·lə·ṯāh Deuteronomy 29:5
בְלֹתִי֙ 1x ḇə·lō·ṯî Genesis 18:12
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 4x Deuteronomy 29:5, Joshua 9:13, Nehemiah 9:21, Psalms 32:3
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 2x Job 21:13, Isaiah 65:22
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 2x Psalms 102:26, Isaiah 50:9
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular 2x Deuteronomy 8:4, Deuteronomy 29:5
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct 1x Psalms 49:14
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular 1x 1 Chronicles 17:9
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular 1x Lamentations 3:4
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 1x Isaiah 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 definition Source: 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 groups 2 Aligned forms 13
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 10×
Perfect Deut 29:4 · Josh 9:13 · Neh 9:21 · Ps 32:3 · Deut 8:4 6×
Imperfect Isa 50:9 · Ps 102:27 · Isa 51:6 · Job 13:28 4×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 3×
Imperfect Isa 65:22 · Job 21:13 2×
Perfect Lam 3:4 1×
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain