Original Word: בְּלוֹא
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: blow'
Pronunciation: beh-lo
Phonetic Spelling: (bel-o')
Definition: wearing out, decay, consumption
Meaning: rags

old

Or (fully) blowy {bel-o'ee}; from balah; (only in plural construction) rags -- old.

see HEBREW balah

Word Origin
from balah
Definition
worn-out things, rags
NASB Translation
worn-out (3).

[בְּלוֺא] noun [masculine] worn out things, rags (Syriac id.) plural construct בְּלֹויֵ Jeremiah 38:11 (twice in verse), בְּלוֺאֵי Jeremiah 38:12.

Word Origin: Derived from the root בָּלָה (balah), which means "to wear out" or "to decay."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G4935: σάκκος (sakkos) • sackcloth, a coarse material often associated with mourning or penitence, similar in its connotation of humility and lowliness.
• G5411: φόρος (phoros) • a tax or tribute, not directly related to clothing but indicative of burdens or obligations, which can metaphorically relate to the weight of sin or societal pressures.

These Greek terms, while not direct translations of בְּלוֹא, share thematic elements of humility, burden, and the human condition, providing a broader understanding of the biblical narrative concerning human frailty and the need for divine grace.

Usage: This word is used in the context of describing old, tattered clothing, often symbolizing poverty, neglect, or the passage of time.

Context: The Hebrew word בְּלוֹא (belo) appears in the Old Testament to describe garments that have become worn and tattered. This term is often used metaphorically to illustrate the transient nature of material possessions and human life. In the ancient Near Eastern context, clothing was a significant indicator of one's social status and wealth. Therefore, the imagery of rags or worn-out garments would evoke a sense of destitution and humility.

In the Berean Standard Bible, the concept of worn-out garments is used to convey deeper spiritual truths. For instance, in Isaiah 64:6, the prophet uses the imagery of filthy rags to describe the inadequacy of human righteousness compared to God's holiness: "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."

The use of בְּלוֹא in the Hebrew Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the impermanence of earthly things and the need for spiritual renewal and dependence on God.

בְּל֥וֹא בְּלוֹאֵ֨י בְּלוֹיֵ֣ בלוא בלואי בלוי וּבְלוֹיֵ֖ ובלוי bə·lō·w bə·lō·w·’ê bə·lō·w·yê beLo beloEi bəlōw bəlōw’ê bəlōwyê beloYe ū·ḇə·lō·w·yê ūḇəlōwyê uveloYeInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts