בְּלִי (be.li)
be.li
without
H:NegQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 47 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Neg
Word Overview
The Hebrew word beli is a versatile term that primarily conveys the idea of absence or lack. Derived from a root meaning "to wear out" or "decay," it functions as an adverb of negation, translating simply to "without," "no," or "not." Its usage spans both concrete physical states and abstract conditions, appearing in contexts ranging from literal scarcity to moral or intellectual deficiency.
In Scripture, beli often modifies nouns to describe a state of deprivation. For instance, it appears in poetic passages describing fields that are "without water" (Job 8:11) or people who act "ignorantly" due to a lack of knowledge (Deuterium 4:42). The term also carries a sense of failure or destruction when used substantively, as seen in Isaiah 38:17 where it refers to the "corruption" of life that God has prevented.
A notable feature of beli is its ability to form compound concepts by attaching closely to other words. In Job 30:8, for example, it combines with a word for "fame" to create a term meaning "infamy" or disgrace. This flexibility allows the text to express nuanced ideas of emptiness or defect, whether referring to physical resources, human understanding, or the consequences of sin.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word beli simply means "without." It describes a state of absence, whether that is physical lack or spiritual emptiness. In Job 8:11, it asks if plants can grow without water. This reminds us that life requires what sustains it. We often feel this absence when resources are low or support is missing.
Sometimes beli points to something deeper than material need. Deuteronomy 4:42 uses it for killing unintentionally, highlighting a lack of prior malice. This shows the word can define intent as much as inventory. It helps us see that actions matter, but so does the heart behind them.
In our daily walk, we encounter many things done without proper care or knowledge. Yet God sees the difference between negligence and genuine error. We do not have to carry the weight of perfect understanding. His grace covers the gaps in our knowledge and provision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 47 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- not18×
- because/ not15×
- with/ not4×
- ¿/ because/ not3×
- ¿/ becasue/ not1×
- with/ no1×
- to/ not1×
- like/ not1×
- for/ not1×
- destruction1×
- and/ because/ not1×
- [which] not1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/בְּלִי\־4×
- מִ/בְּלִ֣י4×
- הַֽ/מִ/בְּלִ֤י4×
- בִּ/בְלִי\־4×
- בְּלִ֥י4×
- בְלִי\־4×
- מִ/בְּלִ֥י3×
- בְּלִי\־3×
- מִ/בְּלִי֙2×
- לִ/בְלִי\־2×
- בְּלִ֣י2×
- בְּלִ֖י2×
Key Verses
-
Job 8:11
“Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
This verse uses beli to ask if papyrus can grow without mire, grounding the abstract concept of absence in a concrete agricultural reality.
-
Deuteronomy 4:42
that the man slayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unintentionally and didn’t hate him in time past, and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live:
Here beli describes the lack of past hatred, distinguishing accidental manslaughter from premeditated murder in the law of refuge cities.
-
Job 33:9
‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
Elihu uses beli to claim he is without disobedience, showing how the term can define a moral or legal state of innocence.