Lexical Summary belil: Mixture, mixed, mingled Original Word: בְּלִיל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance corn, fodder, provender From balal; mixed, i.e. (specifically) feed (for cattle) -- corn, fodder, provender. see HEBREW balal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom balal Definition fodder NASB Translation fodder (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs בְּלִיל noun masculineIsaiah 30:24 fodder (Aramaic ![]() ![]() Topical Lexicon Agricultural settingבְּלִיל (belil) denotes the fodder or feed mixture prepared for large domesticated animals. In the Ancient Near Eastern world this consisted of cut grass, chopped grain heads, husks, and salt or oil blended together and moistened so that the ox or donkey could both chew and digest it easily. Because draft animals were the “tractors” of biblical agriculture, the daily preparation of such mash was essential for plowing, threshing, and transport. The presence or absence of adequate belil therefore became a silent indicator of prosperity, famine, righteousness, or oppression. Occurrences and immediate contexts Job 6:5 – “Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder?” Job resorts to a stable image: satisfied animals are quiet. When even beasts protest only when deprived of belil, Job implies that his cries result from genuine deprivation, not petulance. Job 24:6 – “They gather fodder in the fields and glean in the vineyards of the wicked.” Here the powerless poor must steal the fodder that should have been theirs by right of gleaning (Leviticus 19:9-10). Their pursuit of belil underscores systemic injustice that Job insists God will ultimately judge. Isaiah 30:24 – “The oxen and donkeys that work the soil will eat salted fodder, winnowed with shovel and pitchfork.” Isaiah pictures the coming restoration after Judah’s repentance: not only will people eat rich food (Isaiah 30:23), but laboring animals will receive premium belil, seasoned and carefully sifted. Peace with God brings abundance that reaches even the stalls. Theological reflections 1. Divine providence extends to animals. From creation onward the Lord shows concern for every living creature (Genesis 1:30; Psalm 104:27-28). Each mention of belil reminds readers that God ordains daily bread for beast as well as man, and that human beings are stewards, not owners, of the earth (Proverbs 12:10). Ministry significance Pastoral leaders, farmers, employers, and parents alike find in belil a reminder that those under their care—whether animals, employees, or children—require more than minimum subsistence. Adequate provision, careful preparation, and even seasoning (“salted fodder”) constitute a godly expression of love. The New Testament echoes the principle: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” applied by Paul to support fair wages for laborers in the gospel (1 Timothy 5:18). Practical stewardship 1. Compassionate husbandry: Providing quality feed aligns with Proverbs 12:10 and mirrors God’s kindness, preparing the heart for worship. Intertextual echoes While belil itself occurs only three times, its themes reverberate: • Exodus 5:12 records oppressed Israel “gathering stubble for straw,” the negative antithesis of Isaiah’s salted fodder. Conclusion Belil serves as more than an agricultural detail; it is a lens through which Scripture portrays divine generosity, human responsibility, societal righteousness, and eschatological hope. By attending to the humble fodder in stall and field, believers discern the character of God who “opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16). Forms and Transliterations בְּלִ֥יל בְּלִיל֣וֹ בְּלִילֽוֹ׃ בליל בלילו בלילו׃ bə·lî·lōw bə·lîl beLil bəlîl beliLo bəlîlōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 6:5 HEB: שּׁ֝֗וֹר עַל־ בְּלִילֽוֹ׃ NAS: low over his fodder? KJV: or loweth the ox over his fodder? INT: the ox over corn Job 24:6 Isaiah 30:24 3 Occurrences |