בַּל

From the study of Isaiah 33:24

Range of meaning

A negative particle used almost only in poetry: 'not, never.' With an imperfect verb it makes a strong statement that something will not happen. Prohibitions ('do not…') in Hebrew are normally formed with al plus a jussive (a command form). Bal is not the ordinary way of giving an order.

Against the English

The KJV's 'shall not say' is ambiguous to modern ears. It can sound like a command ('you shall not say'). In 1611 'shall' often expressed a simple future, as here.

How it drifted

In modern English, 'shall not' is heard mostly in commandments ('thou shalt not'). That makes a prediction sound like an instruction.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 33 uses bal four times in a row (33:20 twice, 33:21, 33:23, 33:24). Each time it describes what will or will not be true of the city: tent pegs that will never be pulled up, ships that will not pass, ropes that cannot hold the mast. None of them is a command.

From the study of Psalm 16:2

Range of meaning

A negative particle, “not,” almost entirely limited to poetry (often in Psalms, Proverbs and Isaiah). It tends to be emphatic and flat: “never,” “not at all.” Some scholars (e.g. Dahood) argued it could sometimes be an emphatic “surely,” but most lexicons do not accept that sense here.

Against the English

Translations turn it into “no … apart from” (BSB), “not … to thee” (KJV), or describe the line positively (“every good thing … comes from you,” NLT). The flat Hebrew denial is softened or rearranged.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ps 10:6, 11; 21:7 (Eng.); Prov 10:30; Isa 26:10–11. It is a feature of elevated poetic style.

From the study of Psalm 32:9

Range of meaning

Literally 'no coming near to you'. Bal is a negative found in poetry; qārab means 'to draw near, approach', used of people approaching each other, of armies attacking, and very often of approaching God or bringing offerings.

Against the English

Most modern versions (BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV, NASB): without restraint the animal 'will not come near/stay near you'. KJV: 'lest they come near unto thee', i.e. the bridle stops them coming at you. The Hebrew allows both; the first fits the flow of thought better.

Used elsewhere in the period

Qārab with 'to' commonly means a simple approach (Genesis 37:18; Exodus 3:5), a hostile advance (Deuteronomy 20:10), or drawing near to God (Psalm 65:4; Leviticus 9:7).