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

tribute

(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to balah; excise (on articles consumed) -- tribute.

see HEBREW balah

Word Origin
(Aramaic) of foreign origin
Definition
tribute
NASB Translation
custom (2).

בְּלוֺ noun [masculine] tribute (loan-word from Assyrian biltu, √ ובל, according to most modern; but Scheft⁸⁰ compare Old Iranian bali, tribute, Old Persian * bari, payment in kind, so (in Babylonian bara) Mey^{G.d.Altert.iii.88} Scheft^{MGWJ 47 (1903), 316} Buhl^{14'vielleicht'}); — absolute מִנְדְּה וַהֲלָח ׳ב Ezra 4:13,20; Ezra 7:24.

Word Origin: Derived from the root בְּלָא (bela), which means "to wear out" or "to consume."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • While there is no direct Greek equivalent for בְּלוֹ, the concept of taxation and tribute can be related to Greek terms such as φόρος (phoros • Strong's Greek 5411), which also refers to a tax or tribute. This Greek term is used in the New Testament to describe similar financial obligations imposed by governing authorities.

In the Berean Standard Bible, the relevant passages in Ezra highlight the historical and socio-political context of the Jewish returnees under Persian rule, emphasizing the economic pressures they faced.

Usage: The word בְּלוֹ is used in the context of taxation or tribute, particularly in the Aramaic sections of the Old Testament. It appears in the book of Ezra, where it describes the tribute or tax imposed by the Persian authorities.

Context: • בְּלוֹ (belô) is an Aramaic term found in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Ezra. It is used to describe a form of tax or tribute that was levied by the Persian Empire on its provinces. In Ezra 4:13, 4:20, and 7:24, the term is used to denote the financial obligations imposed on the people, which were a source of burden and contention. The context in Ezra highlights the administrative and economic control exerted by the Persian rulers over their subjects, reflecting the broader theme of foreign domination and the challenges faced by the Jewish community during the post-exilic period. The imposition of such taxes was a common practice in ancient empires to maintain control and fund governmental activities.

בְל֛וֹ בְל֤וֹ בְלוֹ֙ בלו ḇə·lōw ḇəlōw veLoInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts