בְּלוֹא (be.lo)
be.lo
old
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun be.lo refers to items that have been thoroughly worn out or reduced to rags. It describes fabric or material that has lost its integrity through use, leaving behind only tattered remnants. The term carries a sense of finality, pointing to something beyond repair or utility.
This word appears in only two verses, both within the book of Jeremiah. In these contexts, it serves as a vivid metaphor for decay and loss, often illustrating the fate of those who have turned away from God. The imagery is stark, evoking the visual of discarded clothing that can no longer serve its original purpose.
Its rarity in Scripture highlights the intensity of the message. By using such a concrete image of ruin, the biblical authors emphasize the severity of spiritual decline. The word forces readers to confront the reality of what happens when something is pushed to its absolute limit, leaving nothing but scraps behind.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word be.lo describes fabric that has been worn down to nothing but tattered scraps. It is not just old; it is beyond repair, reduced to rags with no remaining utility. In Jeremiah, this image captures the stark reality of spiritual decay when one turns away from God. The material loses its integrity completely, leaving behind only remnants of what once was.
Yet this word appears in a moment of unexpected mercy. Ebedmelech used these very rags to cushion Jeremiah’s suffering in the dungeon. What seemed like useless waste became an instrument of comfort and protection. This reminds us that even in our most worn-out moments, God can use what the world discards for good.
When you feel spiritually frayed or exhausted, remember that your value does not depend on your strength. You are held by grace, not by your own durability. There is hope and care available even when you feel like nothing remains but scraps.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- worn out things of1×
- and/ worn out things of1×
- [the] worn out things of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/בְלוֹיֵ֖1×
- בְּלוֹיֵ֣1×
- בְּלוֹאֵ֨י1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 38:11
So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took from there rags and worn-out garments, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.
This verse establishes the physical reality of be.lo as discarded rags taken from the treasury, setting the stage for an act of compassion.
-
Jeremiah 38:12
Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Now put these rags and worn-out garments under your armpits under the cords.” Jeremiah did so.
Here the word highlights how these worn-out garments were repurposed to protect Jeremiah, showing God’s care through human action.