BDB1131
[בֵּ֫לֶת] substantive (from בָּלָה, of the form דֶּלֶת Ol§ 146 b) properly failure, hence used as particle [of negation], not, except (compare בְּלִי, אֶפֶס ), twice with suffix (see below), elsewhere always בִּלְתִּי (with binding vowel יִ֯, as mark of construct state: Sta§ 343 Ges«GKC:90»§ 90, 3), (Phoenician בלת only: Tabnith-Inscription5) —
1.
adverb
not, with an adjective 1Sam 20:26
בִּלְתִּי טָהוֺר
not clean, with a substantive Isa 14:6
מַכַּת בִּלְתִּי סָרָה a stroke of non-cessation, i.e. a never-ceasing
stroke, with a finite verb (si vera lectio) Ezek 13:3 (
RVm
: but see Dr§ 41 Obs.).
2. after a preceding negation, not = except (synonym זוּלָתִי
), Gen 21:26 I
have not heard בִּלְתִּי הַיּוֺם
except to-day, Exod 22:19 he that sacrificeth ׳
בִּלְתִּי לי
except unto ׳
י,
Num 32:12;
Josh 11:19: so בִּלְתִּי אִם
Gen 47:18; Judg 7:14 (compare
כִּי אִם
Gen 28:17; Neh 2:2). With suffix
(attached to the ground-form בֵּלֶת) בִּלְתִּי
except me Hos 13:4, בִּלְתֶּ֑ךָ
expect thee 1Sam 2:2.
3.
conjunction (likewise after a negative, expressed or implied) Gen 43:3
בִּלְתִּי אֲחִיכֶם אִתְּכֶם
except your brother (be) with you, Gen 43:5; Num 11:6 our soul is dry, there is nothing at all;
save that our eyes are toward the manna, Isa 10:4 (and where will ye leave your glory ?) save that
they bow down under the prisoners, and fall under the slain! i.e. (iron.) their only refuge will be
among the corpses of a battle-field. So בִּלְתִּי אִם
Amos 3:3; Amos 3:4. — Dan 11:18,
where no negative precedes, it is difficult to extract a sense consistent with the general usage of
בִּלְתִּי: Ges
besides that his reproach he will return unto him, Ew
only, nothing but, Hi
certainly, Drechsler (on Isa 10:4) nay, even (compare
RV
).
4. With prepositions
a.
לְבִלְתִּי86
so as not…, in order not… negation of לְ followed by
infinitive), usually followed by infinitive construct, as Gen 4:15 gave a sign to Cain לְבִלְתִּי הַכּוֺתאֹֿתוֺ
in order that any finding him should not smite him, Gen 19:21;
Gen 38:9; Exod 8:18; Exod 8:25; Exod 9:17; Lev 18:30;
Lev 20:4; Lev 26:15;
Deut 8:11; Deut 17:12
the
man that doeth presumptuously לְבִלְתִּי שְׁמֹעַ
so as not to hearken etc. (compare Jer 16:12; Jer 17:23; Jer 18:10; Jer 42:13; Dan 9:11) Dan 9:20; Judg 2:23 +;
לְבִלְתִּי הוֺעִיל
in order not to profit (the result represented forcibly as the design; compare below
לְמַעַן) Isa 44:10; Jer 7:8 after verbs of commanding Gen 3:11 which I commanded thee
לְבִלְתִּי
אֲכָלמִֿמֶּנּוּ
not to eat thereof, 2Kgs 17:15; Jer 35:8f.; Jer 35:14; Ruth 2:9, swearing Deut 4:21; Josh 5:6; Judg 21:7; Ezek 20:15, agreeing 2Kgs 12:9,
interceding Jer
36:25. Once לְבִלְתִּי לְ
2Kgs 23:10
(compare לְמַעַן לְ
Ezek 21:20
,
בַּעֲבוּר לְ
1Chr 19:3).
Twice
as conjunction with the imperfect, Exod 20:20; 2Sam 14:14 (compare בַּעֲבוּר, & מִן
Deut 33:11
). In
Jer 23:14;
Jer 27:18
followed by perfect, which is inconsistent with the nature of a final conjunction: read either יָשׁוּבוּ
, יָבאֹוּ, or שׁוּב, בוֺא (compare Dr§ 41 Obs.). On Ezek 13:3 see above
b.
מִבִּלְתִּי
an account of not… (negation of מִן followed by infinitive): followed by
infinitive Num
14:16
׳
מִבִּלְתִּי יְכֹלֶת י; a verbal noun Ezek 16:28
מִבִּלְתִּי שָׂבְעָתֵךְ.
c.
עַדבִּֿלְתִּי
until not…, followed by a perf. (Ges; RSJPh xvi. 72), or an infinitive (
Ew§ 238 d), in the phrase (לָהֶם) עַדבִּֿלְתִּי הִשְׁאִירלֿוֺ
שָׂרִיד
until one left him (them) not a remnant, Num 21:35; Deut 3:3; Josh 8:22; Josh 10:33;
Josh 11:8; 2Kgs 10:11
. — Job 14:12
עַדבִּֿלְתִּי שָׁמַיִם
till there be no heaven (compare עַדבְּֿלִי
Ps 72:7).