Βάαλ
Báal
G896 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun designating Baal, a prominent title meaning 'lord' used for various deities, especially among Phoenician and Canaanite peoples. In Hellenistic and Judean contexts, the term primarily refers to the male god of the Canaanites and Phoenicians, symbolizing authority and control, often in opposition to Israelite religious fidelity. In Greek texts, the term may refer generically to 'a Baal' (i.e., local divine lord) or specifically to the principal god Baal of Tyre or other Phoenician city-states.
Semantic Range
Baal (Canaanite or Phoenician deity), title for a local or regional god, symbolic of idolatrous worship, opponent to Israelite/Yahwistic religion
Root / Etymology
From Hebrew בַּעַל (baʿal), meaning 'lord, master, possessor,' itself from the Semitic root בעל, with cognates found throughout Northwest Semitic languages. Borrowed directly into Greek as a proper noun.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Βάαλ (Báal) enters Greek usage as a direct borrowing from Hebrew, reflecting the name or title of various local and pan-Canaanite deities, most notably the storm and fertility god worshipped in Tyre, Sidon, and other Phoenician centers. In the Septuagint, Βάαλ is used to render Hebrew בַּעַל, representing both the specific deity and local manifestations (e.g., 'Baals' of individual towns). In the New Testament (e.g., Romans 11:4), Βάαλ is used in citation of the Hebrew Scriptures and carries the antagonistic connotation of idolatry. The Greek term does not carry the full range of meaning of the Hebrew (which includes 'owner, husband, chief'), but focuses on the deity as a symbol of religious opposition to Israelite worship. Standard translations render as 'Baal,' often narrowly as a personal name, but in ancient contexts the title could denote various local deities or even human lords in Semitic languages.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (בַּעַל); Baal, a Phœnician deity (used as a symbol of idolatry):--Baal.
Root Family
Βάαλ (Baal) — lord, master, possessor; Canaanite deity
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G896-01 |
Βάαλ | baal | N GEN M SG |
Baal | of Baal | Baal | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G896-01 |
Romans 11:4 | Βάαλ | baal | N GEN M SG |
Baal | of Baal | Baal |