Hebrew · H1104, G2654 · unreviewed

בָּלַע

To make away with (specifically by swallowing ); generally, to destroy · to consume utterly

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

בָּלַע H1104 to make away with (specifically by swallowing ); generally, to destroy
Pronunciation bala
Swallowing as annihilation: physical ingestion metaphor for total obliteration, often divine judgment consuming the wicked.
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καταναλίσκω G2654 to consume utterly
Pronunciation katanalískō
Complete consumption or destruction, often by fire; emphasizes total exhaustion rather than partial use.
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What does בָּלַע (bala) mean in the Bible?

בָּלַע · καταναλίσκω is a Hebrew word meaning "to swallow up, consume completely".

Full entry for בָּלַע (H1104, G2654) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to swallow up, consume completely
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 11×
Perfect Isa 25:8 · Lam 2:2 · Lam 2:5 · Isa 3:12 · Lam 2:16
Imperfect 2Sam 20:20 · Isa 19:3 · 2Sam 20:19 · Prov 19:28
Sequential imperfect Ps 55:10
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject
Imperfect 2Sam 17:16 · Job 37:20
Participle passive Isa 9:15
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action
Perfect Hos 8:8 · Isa 28:7
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense
Perfect Job 20:15
Imperfect Job 20:18
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others
Imperfect Ps 107:27
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 19 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Perfect 9 Imperfect 8 Participle passive 1 Imperative 1
Stem
Piel 11 Pual 3 Niphal 2 Qal 2 Hithpael 1
Mood
Indicative 9 Indicative/jussive 6 Indicative/cohortative 2 Imperative 1

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Sources