A gentlic adjective meaning 'of Bela' — a descendant of Bela, son of Benjamin. Though appearing briefly in the genealogies, it anchors the tribal identity of the Benjaminites and reminds us that every name in Scripture belongs to a covenant community.
Even the briefest genealogical entry in Scripture carries weight. Bal'iy points to Bela, the firstborn son of Benjamin — the beloved youngest son of Jacob. Benjamin's tribe bore a complex legacy: the violence at Gibeah (Judges 19-21), yet also the faithfulness of Mordecai and the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Every name in the covenant lineage matters. God does not forget a single descendant in His redemptive plan. The genealogies are not filler — they are the skeleton of promise.