a primitive root; to break off or loose (in a favorable or unfavorable sense), i.e. desist (from grief) or invade (with destruction); comfort, (recover) strength(-en).
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **bâlag**, represented by `{{H1082}}`, is a primitive root meaning to break off or loose. This concept is applied in both favorable and unfavorable ways, such as desisting from grief to find comfort, or invading with destruction to display strength. It is a rare term, appearing only **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H1082}}` conveys two distinct but related ideas: finding personal relief and exercising divine power. In the book of Job, it is used twice as a plea for a moment of peace. Job asks that God would let him alone "that I may take **comfort** a little" [[Job 10:20]] and resolves to "leave off my heaviness, and **comfort** myself" [[Job 9:27]]. In Psalms, the word shifts to mean recovering one's vitality, as the psalmist begs God to spare him "that I may **recover strength**" [[Psalms 39:13]]. Finally, in Amos, the word describes God's sovereign power, as He is the one "That **strengtheneth** the spoiled against the strong" [[Amos 5:9]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the context in which one might find comfort or strength:
* `{{H8159}}` **shâʻâh**: This root means to gaze at or about, often for help, and can be translated as spare or look away. In [[Psalms 39:13]], the plea to be "spared" precedes the hope of recovering strength.
* `{{H2308}}` **châdal**: Meaning to desist or cease, this word is used alongside `{{H1082}}` in Job's request to "cease then, and let me alone" [[Job 10:20]], showing that comfort comes from a cessation of affliction.
* `{{H5800}}` **ʻâzab**: This word means to loosen or relinquish. Job uses it when he decides, "I will **leave off** my heaviness, and comfort myself" [[Job 9:27]], linking the act of relinquishing sorrow to finding comfort.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1082}}` lies in its portrayal of the source of true strength and comfort.
* **Respite from Suffering:** In Job, the word captures the deep human need for a break from overwhelming grief. The comfort sought is a temporary "breaking off" from sorrow, a moment of peace granted by being let alone [[Job 10:20]].
* **Strength from God:** The connection between being spared by God and recovering strength is made explicit in [[Psalms 39:13]]. It suggests that human vitality is not self-generated but is a gift that can be restored when God relents from judgment.
* **Divine Empowerment:** [[Amos 5:9]] elevates the concept from personal restoration to an act of divine justice. God actively intervenes in the world to "strengthen" the oppressed, demonstrating His power to break the hold of the strong.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1082}}` is a potent, though infrequently used, term that encompasses a spectrum from personal emotional relief to an expression of God's sovereign might. It illustrates that the act of "breaking loose" can be a personal choice to desist from grief [[Job 9:27]], a recovery of strength dependent on God's mercy [[Psalms 39:13]], or a divine action that strengthens the weak to overcome the powerful [[Amos 5:9]].
TRV