### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **bâleh**, represented by `{{H1087}}`, means **worn out; old**. It is a specific term that appears **5 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. Its meaning is primarily literal, describing physical objects that have deteriorated through use and time, but it is also used metaphorically to characterize a long-standing state of moral decay.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H1087}}` is most prominently featured in the narrative of the Gibeonites' deception of Israel. To feign a long journey from a distant land, the Gibeonites presented themselves with provisions and clothing that were intentionally dilapidated. They took **old** sacks, **old** and rent wine bottles [[Joshua 9:4]], and wore **old** shoes and **old** garments [[Joshua 9:5]]. In a striking metaphorical shift, the word is used in Ezekiel to describe a woman who is **old** in adulteries, indicating a life long-practiced in unfaithfulness [[Ezekiel 23:43]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the state of being **bâleh**:
* `{{H1234}}` **bâqaʻ** (to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open): This word is used alongside `{{H1087}}` to describe the wine bottles as not only old but also rent, emphasizing their state of disrepair [[Joshua 9:4]].
* `{{H2181}}` **zânâh** (to commit adultery; figuratively, to commit idolatry): This term defines the sinful state in which the woman in Ezekiel is described as **old** `{{H1087}}`, connecting physical weariness to spiritual corruption and idolatry [[Ezekiel 23:43]].
* `{{H3001}}` **yâbêsh** (to dry up or wither): Paired with the old garments and shoes, the Gibeonites' bread was described as **dry** and mouldy, reinforcing the theme of decay and the passage of time [[Joshua 9:5]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1087}}` is found in its contrast between the physical and the spiritual.
* **Deception through Decay:** The Gibeonites' use of **old** `{{H1087}}` items was a core element of their successful ruse, or `ʻormâh` (wilily) `{{H6195}}`. It demonstrates how the appearance of age and wear can be a powerful tool of manipulation and deception [[Joshua 9:4]].
* **The Chronic Nature of Sin:** In Ezekiel, describing a person as **old** in adulteries `{{H5004}}` paints a picture of sin not as an isolated act, but as a deep-seated, habitual condition. It suggests that persistent unfaithfulness has a "wearing out" effect on a person's moral and spiritual state [[Ezekiel 23:43]].
* **Tangible Evidence:** The **old** clothes and provisions served as tangible, physical evidence for the Gibeonites' claims. This highlights how decay and deterioration are visible markers of history, whether that history is real or fabricated for a specific purpose [[Joshua 9:5]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1087}}` provides a potent image of being "worn out." While its primary use is literal, describing the decay of physical objects like garments and wine bottles, its metaphorical application is profound. The word effectively illustrates how the concept of aging and deterioration can be applied to a person's character, portraying long-term sin as a state of being **old** and worn down by corruption.
TRV