בֵּל
𐤁𐤋
Bel
H1078 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun referring to Bel, the principal god of the Babylonian pantheon, especially identified with Marduk in Neo-Babylonian religion. Used in the Hebrew Bible to denote a specific foreign deity rather than a generic term for 'lord.'
Semantic Range
proper name for Marduk, chief Babylonian god; title for foreign deity; used in contexts opposing Babylonian idolatry
Root / Etymology
בֵּל is a loanword from the Akkadian belu ("lord"), itself a general title meaning 'lord' or 'master.' In Babylonian religion, Bel became a name specifically identified with the high god Marduk. The Hebrew form reflects the Babylonian usage rather than deriving from the Hebrew root בּעל (to rule, control, possess).
Historical & Contextual Notes
בֵּל appears exclusively in exilic/post-exilic biblical texts (e.g., Isaiah 46:1; Jeremiah 50:2; 51:44) as a reference to a Babylonian deity, commonly associated with the god Marduk. Its usage signals the polemical stance against Babylonian religion during or after the exile. בֵּל is distinct from the more general Hebrew term בַּעַל (Baal), which refers to various local deities in the Levant. English translations often render בֵּל as 'Bel'; older translations may use 'Baal' due to similarity, but this obscures the specific Babylonian context. The term is never used to refer to an Israelite deity or practice. In later periods, Bel continued as a title for gods in the region, but its biblical references are confined to Babylon’s religious sphere.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
by contraction for בַּעַל; Bel, the Baal of the Babylonians; Bel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בֵּל (bēl) — lord, master (Babylonian title), chief deity
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1078-01 |
בֵּל֙ | bel | HNp |
Bel | Bel | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1078-01 |
Isaiah 46:1 | בֵּל֙ | bel | HNp |
Bel | Bel |
H1078-01 |
Jeremiah 50:2 | בֵּל֙ | bel | HNp |
Bel | Bel |
H1078-01 |
Jeremiah 51:44 | בֵּ֜ל | bel | HNp |
Bel | Bel |