Word Study for H1086 (בָּלָה)

bâlâh /baw-law'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto fail; by implication to wear out, decay (causatively, consume, spend)

KJV usageconsume, enjoy long, become (make, wax) old, spend, waste.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of bâlâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word bâlâh, represented by H1086, is a primitive root meaning to fail, wear out, or decay. It appears 16 times across 15 verses in the Bible. While its primary sense is to grow old or be worn out, it can also be used causatively to mean consume or spend, and in one instance, to enjoy for a long time.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The word H1086 is used to describe the process of aging and decay in various contexts. It illustrates the temporary nature of the created world, where the heavens and the earth "shall wax old H1086 like a garment H899" (Isaiah 51:6; Psalms 102:26). It also describes the natural aging process, as when Sarah H8283 questions if she can have pleasure after she has "waxed old H1086" Genesis 18:12. The term can signify decay brought on by suffering, as in "My flesh H1320 and my skin H5785 hath he made old H1086" Lamentations 3:4. In a positive sense, it signifies endurance, as God's elect "shall long enjoy H1086 the work H4639 of their hands H3027" Isaiah 65:22. Conversely, it can mean to waste, as the "children H1121 of wickedness H5766" will no longer "waste H1086" Israel 1 Chronicles 17:9.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller picture of the concept of age and decay:

H2204 zâqên (to be old): This word is a direct descriptor of age and is used alongside H1086 in Genesis 18:12, where Sarah has "waxed old" H1086 while her lord is also "old" H2204, highlighting the natural process of aging.
H899 beged (a garment): This word is frequently the object that "waxes old," serving as a powerful simile for transience. The enemies of God's servant will "wax old H1086 as a garment H899" Isaiah 50:9, and even the earth itself will decay in the same manner Isaiah 51:6.
H2498 châlaph (to change, renew): This word offers a direct contrast to decay. In Psalms 102:26, while the heavens "wax old H1086," God will "change H2498" them, demonstrating his power to renew what is worn out.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1086 lies in its powerful contrast between the temporary and the eternal.

The Frailty of Creation: The heavens and earth will "wax old H1086" and perish, but God's salvation H3444 and righteousness H6666 will endure forever (Isaiah 51:6; Psalms 102:26). This illustrates the fleeting nature of the physical world compared to God's eternal character and promises.
Divine Preservation: God's power over decay is shown in the wilderness wanderings, where the Israelites' clothes H8008 and shoes H5275 did not "waxen old H1086" over forty years (Deuteronomy 29:5; Nehemiah 9:21). This miracle demonstrates His sustaining power.
Human Mortality and Hope: The word describes the decay of the human body through aging Genesis 18:12, suffering Lamentations 3:4, and even anguish Psalms 32:3. However, it is also used to promise that God's chosen people will "long enjoy H1086" the fruits of their labor, pointing to a future of enduring blessing Isaiah 65:22.

Summary

In summary, H1086 is a versatile term that primarily conveys the idea of decay, consumption, and growing old. It is applied to garments, the human body, and the cosmos itself to underscore their temporary and perishable nature. However, its usage also reveals a deeper theological truth: the very decay that defines creation stands in stark contrast to the eternal, unchanging, and preserving power of God.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 15 occurrences, inflected in 9 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Qal Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 4×
Piel Infinitive Construct 2×
Qal Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 2×
Qal Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 2×
Piel Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
Piel Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
Qal Infinitive Construct 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender: Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Qal: The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Piel: The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Construct: Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 15 verses across 9 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms and Isaiah (3 verses each); never once in the other 30.

Genesis

Deuteronomy

Joshua

1 Chronicles

Nehemiah

Job

Psalms

Isaiah

Lamentations

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.