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בַּעַל

𐤁𐤏𐤋

Baal

H1168 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בעל to own, possess, rule, be master

Definition

Proper noun: Baʻal, the name/title given to various Canaanite and West Semitic deities, most prominently associated with storm and fertility gods, but also used as a generic term for local divinities. The term sometimes refers to specific places, personal names, or titles of leadership. In some contexts, used generically for a master, lord, or proprietor.

Semantic Range

proper name for Canaanite god, name for various local divinities, title for authority or lordship, component in personal names, polemical label for non-Israelite worship, plural (baʻalim) referring to multiple 'lords' or deities

Root / Etymology

Root: בּעל (b-'-l), meaning 'to own, possess, be master of.' The proper noun Baʻal derives directly from the root, originally meaning 'lord' or 'owner.' In Northwest Semitic cultures, Baʻal became a standard theonym for local or major deities, evolving from the more generic meaning of 'lord.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, Baʻal refers primarily to a prominent storm and fertility god worshiped by several Canaanite groups and neighboring societies, but also encompasses a wider range of local divinities or spirits, each associated with a particular city or region (hence the plural, baʻalim). The term appears frequently in polemics against non-Israelite worship practices, particularly during the monarchic period. Over time, 'Baʻal' shifted from a neutral term for 'lord' to a polemical label connoting idolatry or apostasy in the Israelite context. In personal names, Baʻal can be used both in reference to the deity or simply as an honorific (e.g., names like Eshbaʻal). In later periods and translation traditions, 'Baʻal' was often rendered simply as 'Baal' in English Bibles, sometimes conflated with other deities or figures. The use of 'Baal' to refer to non-Israelite deities should not be confused with the root's more common noun sense of 'master' or 'husband' in other contexts (see H1167). Contrast with related terms for local deities (e.g., Asherah) and Israelite divine titles (e.g., Adonai).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as בַּעַל; Baal, a Phoenician deity; Baal, (plural) Baalim.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בעל (b-ʿ-l) — to possess, to own, to rule, to have dominion

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1010 בֵּית בַּעַל מְעוֹן master
H1120 בָּמוֹת master
H1166 בָּעַל I possessed
H1167 בַּעַל master
H1169 בְּעֵל master-owner

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1168-03 הַ/בַּ֨עַל֙ habaal HTd/Np of Baal the Baʿal 38
H1168-05 לַ/בַּ֖עַל labaal HRd/Np for Baal to Baʿal 15
H1168-04 הַ/בְּעָלִֽים habealim HTd/Np the Baals the Baals 13
H1168-06 לַ/בְּעָלִ֣ים labealim HRd/Np for the Baals to the Baals 5
H1168-02 בַּ/בָּ֑עַל babaal HRd/Np through Baal Baʿal 3
H1168-07 וּ/בַ֥עַל uvaal HC/Np and Baal and master of 2
H1168-01 בָּ֑עַל baal HNp Baal master 2
H1168-08 בַ/בַּ֔עַל vabaal HRd/Np by Baal with Baʻal 2

Occurrences in Scripture

80 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1168-04 Judges 2:11 הַ/בְּעָלִֽים habealim HTd/Np the Baals the Baals
H1168-05 Judges 2:13 לַ/בַּ֖עַל labaal HRd/Np Baal to Baʿal
H1168-04 Judges 3:7 הַ/בְּעָלִ֖ים habealim HTd/Np the Baals the Baals
H1168-03 Judges 6:25 הַ/בַּ֨עַל֙ habaal HTd/Np of Baal the Baʿal
H1168-03 Judges 6:28 הַ/בַּ֔עַל habaal HTd/Np of Baal the Baʿal
H1168-03 Judges 6:30 הַ/בַּ֔עַל habaal HTd/Np of Baal the Baʿal
H1168-05 Judges 6:31 לַ/בַּ֗עַל labaal HRd/Np for Baal to Baʿal
H1168-03 Judges 6:32 הַ/בַּ֔עַל habaal HTd/Np Baal the Baʿal
H1168-04 Judges 8:33 הַ/בְּעָלִ֑ים habealim HTd/Np the Baals the Baals
H1168-04 Judges 10:6 הַ/בְּעָלִ֣ים habealim HTd/Np the Baals the Baals
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