Original Word: בְּלִי
Part of Speech: substantive; adverb of negation
Transliteration: bliy
Pronunciation: beh-LEE
Phonetic Spelling: (bel-ee')
KJV: corruption, ig(norantly), for lack of, where nois, so that no, none, not, un(awares), without
NASB: without, no, lack, no one, one, cannot, no more
Word Origin: [from H1086 (בָּלָה - wear)]

1. (properly) failure
2. nothing or destruction
3. (usually, with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc

corruption, ignorantly, for lack of, where no

From balah; properly, failure, i.e. Nothing or destruction; usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc. -- corruption, ig(norantly), for lack of, where no...is, so that no, none, not, un(awares), without.

see HEBREW balah

Word Origin
from balah
Definition
a wearing out
NASB Translation
because* (6), cannot (1), lack (4), no (6), no more (1), no one (3), nor (1), nothing (1), nothing* (1), nothingness (1), one (2), overflows* (1), so* (3), unconcerned* (1), unintentionally* (2), unobserved* (1), unrestrained* (1), want (1), without (20), without* (1), yet so (1).

בְּלִי substantive wearing out (, wearing out of a garment), hence

1 figurative destruction Isaiah 38:17 שַׁחַת בְּלִי pit of destruction (of Sh®°ôl).

2 defect, failure, hence

adverb of negation (compare אֶפֶס), chiefly poetic for לֹא, אֵין: —

a. with finite vb. rare and only once in prose, Genesis 31:20 (E) עַלבְּֿלִי הִגִּיד לוֺ because he told him not, Isaiah 14:6; Isaiah 32:10; Hosea 8:7; Hosea 9:16 (Kt) Job 41:18.

b. used to negative an adj. or participle 2 Samuel 1:21 בְּלִי מָשִׁיחַ not anointed, Psalm 19:4; Hosea 7:8: more frequently, especially in Job, joined with a substantive in sense of without, Job 8:11 will the reed-grass grow בְּלִימָֿ֑יִם without water? Job 24:10 they go about naked בְּלִי לְבוּשׁ without clothing, Job 31:39; Job 33:9; Job 34:6; Job 38:2 words בְּלִידַֿעַת without knowledge, Job 39:16; Job 42:3; Psalm 59:5 בְּלִיעָֿוֺן יְרוּצוּן without (my) iniquity they run (against me), compare Psalm 59:4 לֹא, Psalm 63:2 a dry land בְּלִי מָ֑יִם without water, Isaiah 28:8; Job 30:8 בְּנֵי בְלִישֵֿׁם children of (men of) no name.

With prepositions a. בִּבְלִי, in בִּבְלִי דַעַת Deuteronomy 4:42; Deuteronomy 19:4; Joshua 20:3,5 D (= unawares: all in D's law of homicide); without knowledge Job 35:16; Job 36:12.

b. לִבְלִי in a state of (see below לְ) no..., i.e. without,Isaiah 5:14 לִבְלִיחֹֿק regardless of, without measure, Job 38:41; Job 41:25 that is made לִבְלִיחֵֿת (to be) in a state of no fear, i.e. to be fearless.

c. מִבְּלִי (a) from want of, followed by a substantive or infin., מִן expressing causation, Deuteronomy 9:28 ׳מִבְּלִי יְכֹלֶת י on account of Jehovah's not being able... (in Numbers 14:16 מִבִּלְתִּי), Numbers 28:55 (Ew^238d; but also RS^{JPh xvi. 72}), Isaiah 5:13 for want of knowledge, Hosea 4:6; Ezekiel 34:5; Lamentations 1:4 מִבְּלִי בָּאֵי מוֺעֵד for lack of comers to the stated feast. Followed by a pleonastic אֵין in the phrase הֲמִבְּלִי אֵין ֗֗֗ is it on account of there being no...? (literally is it from the deficiency of no...? compare in Syriac; PS⁵²⁸), Exodus 14:11; 2 Kings 1:3,6,16. (β) so that there is no... (literally away from there being no..., מִן expressing negation, and בְּלִי being pleonastic, as in מֵאֵין, see below אַיִן 6d β); Jeremiah 2:15 its cities are burnt מִבְּלִי יוֺשֵׁב so that there is no inhabitant, Jeremiah 9:9-11 Ezekiel 14:15; Zephaniah 3:6. Once as a conjunction מִבְּלִי אֲשֶׁר, with pleonastic לֹא, so that not... Ecclesiastes 3:11. In Job מִבְּלִי is used more freely = without, the connection with a preceding verb being no longer distinctly felt: Job 4:20 without any heeding, they perish for ever, Job 6:6; Job 24:7,8; probably also Job 4:11; Job 31:19 (though here the sense (α) would be admissible). (γ) in Job 18:15 תִּשְׁכּוֺן בְּאָהֳלוֺ מִבְּלִילֿוֺ, מִן is probably partitive (so Hi): there shall dwell in his tent what is naught of his: Ew^{§ 323a} De less probably even naught, compare below אַיִן 6d γ; Ges 'terror (supplied from Job 18:14) shall dwell in his tent so that it is no more his.'

d. עַדבְּֿלִי till there be no... Psalm 72:7; Malachi 3:10.

General Overview

בְּלִי (belî) functions adverbially or as a preposition to express privation: “without,” “lacking,” “except,” or “not.” In the Hebrew canon it marks the absence of something necessary, good, or expected, and occasionally the exemption of something evil. The term appears in every major division of the Old Testament—Law, Prophets, Writings—approximately fifty-eight times, giving it a modest yet thematically significant footprint.

Principal Spheres of Usage

1. Material Lack and Physical Want

• Job 4:20 depicts frail humanity that “perishes forever without anyone regarding it,” emphasizing sheer neglect.
• Proverbs 6:32 employs בְּלִי for moral lack: “He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.”
• Isaiah 24:10 speaks of a devastated city: “Every house is shut up so that none may enter,” literally “without entry,” stressing utter desolation.

2. Moral and Spiritual Vacuity

• In Psalms the word repeatedly underscores wickedness as the absence of moral substance. “They speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts” (Psalm 28:3). The implied “without sincerity” derives from the belî idea.
• In Deuteronomy 32:28, the faithless nation is described as “a nation without sense,” a warning against covenant infidelity.

3. Continual or Unceasing States

When paired with “day” or “night,” בְּלִי can mean “unceasing.” Job 7:3 laments “months of futility,” literally “months without purpose,” capturing relentless suffering.

4. Legal and Cultic Exclusion

• Exodus 21:11 lists conditions under which a female servant is to be freed “without payment of money,” highlighting social justice within covenant law.
• Leviticus 22:14 uses it for restitution “without adding a fifth,” demonstrating precision in cultic reparation.

5. Poetic Intensification

Hebrew poetry uses belî to heighten contrast: “My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’” (Psalm 42:3). The unending (“without ceasing”) taunt deepens the psalmist’s lament.

Link to the Concept of Belial

The related compound בְּלִיַּעַל (beliyyaal, “worthlessness”) fuses בְּלִי with עַל (“usefulness, profit”) and occurs for morally bankrupt individuals (e.g., 1 Samuel 2:12). The root idea—“without value”—helps explain how New Testament writers inherit “Belial” (2 Corinthians 6:15) as a name for Satan, the personification of utter worthlessness and lawlessness.

Distribution by Canonical Section

• Pentateuch – 8 instances (social, legal).
• Historical Books – 10 instances (moral character assessments).
• Wisdom Literature – 24 instances (Job 16; Psalms 11; Proverbs 6; etc.).
• Major Prophets – 9 instances (national judgment).
• Minor Prophets – 7 instances (covenant lawsuits and lament).

Theological Themes

1. Human Insufficiency Apart from God

The word’s regular pairing with human need underscores dependence on the LORD for wisdom (Deuteronomy 32:28), protection (Psalm 59:15), and purpose (Job 7:3).

2. Total Depravity Without Divine Grace

A life described by בְּלִי is one stripped of righteousness or hope (Proverbs 6:32; Isaiah 59:4). The term anticipates the New Testament declaration, “apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

3. Social Justice and Covenant Faithfulness

Instances in the legal code reveal God’s concern for the vulnerable, ensuring no one remains “without compensation” (Exodus 21:11). The church’s diaconal ministry finds precedent here.

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

• Addressing Spiritual Emptiness – Preaching can expose areas where believers attempt to live “without God and without hope” (cf. Ephesians 2:12) and direct them to the fullness in Christ.
• Discipleship Toward Wholeness – Proverbs uses belî to diagnose folly that discipleship seeks to remedy by the fear of the LORD.
• Community Care – Legal uses challenge congregations to ensure no member is left “without daily bread” (James 2:15-16).

Representative Occurrence List

Exodus 21:11; Deuteronomy 32:28; 1 Samuel 21:15; 2 Samuel 23:7; Job 4:20; Job 7:3; Job 11:15; Job 31:39; Psalm 35:16; Psalm 59:15; Psalm 73:12; Proverbs 6:32; Proverbs 10:21; Isaiah 24:10; Isaiah 59:4; Jeremiah 2:31; Hosea 4:6; Micah 2:5; Habakkuk 2:10.

Each reference displays belî’s power to illustrate life emptied of what God designed it to possess—truth, righteousness, compassion—thereby calling readers to the fullness found in covenant faithfulness and ultimately in the saving work of Jesus Christ.

בְּ֝לִ֗י בְּֽלִ֫י בְּֽלִי־ בְּלִ֔י בְּלִ֖י בְּלִ֣י בְּלִ֥י בְּלִי֙ בְּלִי־ בְלִי־ בִּבְלִי־ בִבְלִי־ בַֽל־ בבלי־ בל־ בלי בלי־ הַֽמִבְּלִ֤י המבלי וּֽמִבְּלִ֥י ומבלי כִּבְלִי־ כבלי־ לִבְלִי־ לבלי־ מִבְּלִ֖י מִבְּלִ֞י מִבְּלִ֣י מִבְּלִ֥י מִבְּלִי֙ מִבְּלִי־ מבלי מבלי־ ḇal- bə·lî bə·lî- ḇə·lî- beLi bəlî bəlî- ḇəlî- biḇ·lî- ḇiḇ·lî- biḇlî- ḇiḇlî- bivli ha·mib·bə·lî hamibbeLi hamibbəlî kiḇ·lî- kiḇlî- kivli liḇ·lî- liḇlî- livli mib·bə·lî mib·bə·lî- mibbeLi mibbəlî mibbəlî- ū·mib·bə·lî umibbeLi ūmibbəlî val veli vivliInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts