בָּלֶה (ba.leh)
ba.leh
old
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective bāleh describes something that has become worn out or old through use and time. It carries a sense of physical deterioration, suggesting an object that has been used until its strength or integrity is diminished. The word points to the natural process of aging where materials lose their original condition.
This term appears in only two verses in the Hebrew Bible, both found in the book of Joshua. In these passages, it describes the old wineskins that could no longer hold new wine without bursting. This specific imagery highlights the practical reality of wear and tear in ancient daily life, where containers were essential for storage and transport.
The word’s limited usage underscores its descriptive precision. It does not refer to age in a dignified or respected sense, but rather to something nearing the end of its functional life. Translators typically render it as "old" or "worn out," capturing the idea of an item that has served its purpose but is no longer reliable.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word bāleh describes objects worn thin by time and use, like the cracked wineskins in Joshua 9. These containers had served their purpose but could no longer hold new wine without bursting. This image reminds us that some things in life reach a point where they are simply past their prime.
In our own walk, this concept invites honesty about what we carry. Just as old skins must be replaced to preserve the new wine, we may need to let go of outdated habits or worn-out mindsets. This isn't about shame but about practical readiness for what God is doing next.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- worn out4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בָּלִים֙1×
- בָּלִ֔ים1×
- בָּל֤וֹת1×
- בָּל֖וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 9:4
they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and old, torn-up and bound up wineskins,
The Gibeonites use bāleh to describe wineskins that were torn and bound up, showing how thoroughly they disguised their true identity by appearing completely worn out.
-
Joshua 9:5
and old and patched sandals on their feet, and wore old garments. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy.
This verse lists old sandals and garments alongside the moldy bread, reinforcing the visual of total deterioration to convince Joshua's army of their distant origins.