# \*bal-: 'without'

> Proto-Semitic *bal-, 'without': reflexes in 15 language(s).

A page of the Linear A Lexicon's research wiki, in [Wiki](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/index.md>) › [Kaphtor Semitic Roots](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/index.md>) › [B](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/b/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*bal- |
| Meaning | 'without' |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akkadian | balu (balum, bali, bala, bal) (CAD B 70) | CAD B 70 | gloss withheld |
| Geez | ʾənbala 'without' | Anderson–Moser 2024 root bal |  |
| Hebrew | bal (Kogan 2015, ch. 3 §5.2 no. 11) | Kogan 2015 ch. 3 §5.2 no. 11; Anderson–Moser 2024 root bal | gloss withheld |
| Punic | bl (T 46); N.Pu. ʾybl (T 13) | T 46; T 13; Anderson–Moser 2024 root bal | gloss withheld |
| Ugaritic | bl (Kogan 2015, ch. 3 §5.2 no. 11) | Kogan 2015 ch. 3 §5.2 no. 11; Anderson–Moser 2024 root bal | gloss withheld |
| Epigraphic South Arabian | Sab bltn, blty, bly (SD 28; Sabaweb lemmas 2228, 3935, 3936) | SD 28; Sabaweb lemmas 2228, 3935, 3936 | gloss withheld |
| Amorite | balte (HALOT 136) | HALOT 136 |  |
| Soqotri | di-bal (LGz. 27) | LGz. 27 |  |
| Syrian Aramaic | bəlay (LGz. 27; Payne Smith 46) | LGz. 27; Payne Smith 46 |  |
| Tigre | ʾəmbäl (LGz. 27) | LGz. 27 |  |
| Tigrinya | ʾənbälä (LGz. 27) | LGz. 27 |  |
| East Ethiopic | Zwy. balä (EDG 138 apud SEDonline 1126) | EDG 138; SEDonline 1126 | gloss withheld |
| Arabic | bilā (Lane 142 apud SEDonline 1126) | Lane 142; SEDonline 1126 | gloss withheld |
| Phoenician | bl (Kogan 2015, ch. 3 §5.2 no. 11); blt (T 47) | Kogan 2015 ch. 3 §5.2 no. 11; T 47 | gloss withheld |
| Eblaitic | ba-li, ba-lu /balā, balī, balū/; name si-ba-la-gi-nu /šī=bala=kīnu/ (Sanmartín GlOS 1, 119) | Sanmartín GlOS 1, 119 | gloss withheld |

A form keeps its source's gloss only when the source is public domain or openly licensed.

## Notes

Pun. ʾbl 'not' and Heb. ʾăbāl 'truly; but' (HALOT 7, with Ph. (ʾ)bl 'not'). Tomback (T 47) compares B.Heb. bilti 'not, except' and Ug. blt with Ph. blt. Tomback (T 13–14) gives Ph. ʾbl as an emphatic particle, comparing Heb. ʾabāl 'verily' and Ug. bl 'surely'.

## Linked from

- [B](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/b/index.md>)

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/b/K0008_without/
Licence: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cite as: di Mino, Tom. 2026. Linear A Lexicon. Plasma AI. https://linear-a.ai/. Data: kaphtor, commit add28e94.