בָּלַג (ba.lag)
ba.lag
be cheerful
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb balag is rare, appearing in only three verses, and carries the vivid sense of gleaming or smiling. In its sole conjugation form, the Hiphil, it describes showing a pleasant expression or looking cheerful. This meaning is grounded in the imagery of light breaking through darkness, suggesting an outward radiance that reflects an inner state.
Its usage highlights a stark contrast between divine favor and human suffering. In Job 39:18, God notes that He does not give the horse its "smile" or joy, emphasizing that such exuberant vitality is a gift of creation rather than a natural right. Conversely, Amos 6:3 warns that the day of disaster will come when those who feel secure will no longer have cause to smile, linking this expression directly to their false sense of peace.
Translators often render balag as "smile" or "gleam," capturing the physical manifestation of joy. The word’s scarcity in Scripture underscores its specific function: it marks moments where divine presence or absence is visually evident in the countenance of people and animals alike.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word balag paints a vivid picture of light breaking through darkness. It describes a cheerful expression or a gleaming face, suggesting that true joy is not just an internal feeling but something visible in our countenance. When we are at peace with God, that inner stability often shines outward, offering comfort to those around us.
Yet Scripture reminds us that this radiance is a gift of grace, not a human achievement. In Job, the protagonist struggles to maintain this cheerful demeanor despite deep suffering, showing us that even when our faces feel heavy, the hope for restoration remains. We do not manufacture joy; we receive it as a reflection of divine favor.
This word invites us to look beyond surface-level happiness. It points to a deeper security that comes from trusting in God’s character. Whether in moments of celebration or times of waiting, we can rest in the knowledge that our true comfort is found in Him alone, not in fleeting circumstances.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ [who] causes to flash1×
- so/ I may be cheerful1×
- and/ I will be cheerful1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אַבְלִֽיגָה\׃1×
- וְ/אַבְלִ֥יגָה1×
- הַ/מַּבְלִ֥יג1×
Key Verses
-
Job 9:27
If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’
This verse highlights the human struggle to maintain a cheerful exterior when inner sorrow runs deep, showing the effort required to 'put off' a sad face.
-
Amos 5:9
who brings sudden destruction on the strong, so that destruction comes on the fortress.
Here the absence of this cheerful expression is linked to impending judgment, warning that false security will eventually lead to a loss of joy.