Who was Bela in the bible?
Bela is a biblical name shared by a place (also called Zoar) and by individuals in genealogies and Edom’s kings lists (Genesis 14; 36; 46; Numbers 26; 1 Chronicles 1; 5; 7–8).
Benjamin Descendant
“The sons of Benjamin: Bela…” (Genesis 46:21; cf. 1 Chronicles 7:6). “Of Bela, the family of the Belaites” is listed among Benjamin’s families (Numbers 26:38).
Learn More →Place Named Bela
In a war list, Scripture mentions “the king of Bela (also called Zoar)” (Genesis 14:2; 14:8). The lexicon also glosses Bela as the name of a place and of multiple people.
Learn More →Bela is a biblical name borne by multiple figures and also associated with a place. A lexicon gloss identifies it as “the name of a place, also of an Edomite and of two Israelites,” and Scripture uses the name for an Edomite king, for men listed within Benjaminite genealogies, and for a city also called Zoar.
Bela in Scripture
The earliest occurrences here refer to a city named Bela, identified with Zoar in the setting of a regional conflict.
“they made war with Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king of Admah; Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; and the king of Bela (also called Zoar).” (Genesis 14:2, WEB)
“The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim” (Genesis 14:8, WEB)
Another bearer of the name is an Edomite king. Genesis describes him in brief, and 1 Chronicles repeats the same identification while placing him within a longer genealogy-and-kings framework.
“Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. The name of his city was Dinhabah.” (Genesis 36:32, WEB)
“Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zerah of Bozrah, reigned in his place.” (Genesis 36:33, WEB)
In 1 Chronicles 1, Bela is mentioned within a chapter that traces lines of descent from Adam onward and then lists rulers connected with Edom. The chapter begins with a sequence of names, opening with:
“Adam, Seth, Enosh,” (1 Chronicles 1:1, WEB)
It continues through major ancestral lines (including “Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth” in 1 Chronicles 1:4) and then proceeds to trace descendants through Abraham’s line (“Abram (also called Abraham).” in 1 Chronicles 1:27). After naming “Esau and Israel” (1 Chronicles 1:34), it follows Esau’s line and then turns to a list of Edomite rulers. Within that list, Bela appears as the first named king in the sequence given here:
“Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah.” (1 Chronicles 1:43, WEB)
“Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.” (1 Chronicles 1:44, WEB)
Chronicles then continues the succession of kings beyond Bela and Jobab (1 Chronicles 1:45–50) and concludes the section by listing “the chiefs of Edom” (1 Chronicles 1:51–54). In this narrative setting, Bela’s scriptural role is tightly defined: he is presented as a king in Edom, identified by his father Beor, associated with the city Dinhabah, and followed in rule by Jobab.
Other occurrences attach the name Bela to Israelites, presented in genealogical lists. Genesis includes Bela among Benjamin’s sons:
“The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.” (Genesis 46:21, WEB)
Numbers also includes Bela within Benjamin’s family structure, using his name as the basis for a clan designation:
“The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites;” (Numbers 26:38, WEB)
Chronicles similarly lists Bela among Benjamin’s sons, and then expands with descendants attributed to him. First, Bela is named among three sons:
“The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jediael, three.” (1 Chronicles 7:6, WEB)
Then the genealogical record continues with a list explicitly introduced as Bela’s sons, along with a brief characterization and a census-style total:
“The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of fathers’ houses, mighty men of valor; and they were listed by genealogy twenty-two thousand thirty-four.” (1 Chronicles 7:7, WEB)
Later, another Chronicles list again presents Bela with sons (in a different grouping of names):
“Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud,” (1 Chronicles 8:3, WEB)
Finally, 1 Chronicles 5 supplies yet another bearer of the name within a different genealogical line, describing him as the son of Azaz and giving a geographic notice of where he lived:
“and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, even to Nebo and Baal Meon;” (1 Chronicles 5:8, WEB)
Multiple Bearers
The name Bela is used for distinct persons and a place in the passages provided.
(1) Bela as a place (also called Zoar). Genesis mentions “the king of Bela (also called Zoar)” (Genesis 14:2; 14:8), indicating a city named Bela identified with Zoar, represented in the account by its king (whose personal name is not supplied in these verses).
(2) Bela son of Beor, king in Edom. Both Genesis and 1 Chronicles describe the same figure: “Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. The name of his city was Dinhabah.” (Genesis 36:32; cf. 1 Chronicles 1:43). His death and the succession are recorded: “Bela died, and Jobab… reigned in his place.” (Genesis 36:33; 1 Chronicles 1:44).
(3) Bela within Benjamin’s lines. Bela appears as one of “The sons of Benjamin” (Genesis 46:21; 1 Chronicles 7:6). Numbers 26:38 further reflects his name in the clan label “the family of the Belaites.” Chronicles expands by listing descendants: “The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri” (1 Chronicles 7:7), and in another list, “Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud” (1 Chronicles 8:3). These passages present Bela as a progenitor within Benjamin, with his descendants and associated family structures recorded in multiple genealogical contexts.
(4) Bela son of Azaz. In a separate genealogical notice, “Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel” is said to have lived in a defined area: “who lived in Aroer, even to Nebo and Baal Meon” (1 Chronicles 5:8). This description distinguishes him from the Edomite king and from Bela as a son of Benjamin.
Name and Meaning
The name is written in Hebrew as בֶּלַע and transliterated Bela’, pronounced beh’-lah. A lexicon derivation connects it with the same root as H1105, using a component word bela’ (בֶּלַע) meaning “a gulp,” used figuratively for “destruction.”
Observation
Across these passages, the name Bela is attached to different kinds of identification—“the king of Bela (also called Zoar)” (Genesis 14:2), a ruler whose city is named (“the name of his city was Dinhabah,” Genesis 36:32), and genealogical lines that branch into clans and counted households (“of Bela, the family of the Belaites,” Numbers 26:38; “they were listed by genealogy,” 1 Chronicles 7:7).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Bela mean?
Bela is used as the name of a place, and also as the name of an Edomite and of two Israelites.
How many times does Bela appear in the Bible?
Bela appears 13 times.
Who was Bela in the Bible?
Bela is the name of a place (also called Zoar) and also the name of individuals including an Edomite king and Israelites from Benjamin (Genesis 14:2; Genesis 36:32; Genesis 46:21).
Who succeeded Bela as king in Edom?
After Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place (Genesis 36:33; 1 Chronicles 1:44).
Explore Further
If you found this page about Bela interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
