בַּעַל גָּד
𐤁𐤏𐤋 𐤂𐤃
Baal Gad
H1171 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Baʽal-Gad is a place name found in the Hebrew Bible, signifying a location dedicated to or associated with a local deity called Baʽal (lord/master) and the name Gad (fortune/luck). The primary lexical meaning is 'Baal of Fortune' or 'Lord of Good Fortune,' indicating a site where the worship of a Baalic deity connected to the concept of fortune or luck was practiced. The term refers specifically to a town or area near Mount Hermon in the northernmost region claimed by the Israelites.
Semantic Range
place name, location associated with a fortune deity, shrine or sanctuary of Baʽal, border landmark
Root / Etymology
A compound of the noun בַּעַל (baʽal, 'lord, master, owner, or title for a deity') and the noun גָּד (gad, 'fortune, luck'). The name constructs these elements to suggest a local deity with a connection to fortune/luck, typical of northwest Semitic religious traditions. The name is thus to be understood as 'Baʻal of Fortune.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Baʽal-Gad occurs in the context of Israelite conquest of Canaan, geographically marking the northern limit of the territory described in Joshua (e.g., Joshua 11:17, 12:7, 13:5). Its precise location is debated, but it is identified with the region at the foot of Mount Hermon or in the Valley of Lebanon. The name is indicative of local religious practices: Baʽal, as a divine title, was associated with various local manifestations (hence place-names like Baʽal-Gad, Baʽal-Hermon, Baʽal-Peor). The inclusion of 'Gad' aligns with evidence for veneration of divinities associated with fate or fortune in ancient Syria-Palestine. English translations give the toponym unaltered; however, later traditions sometimes associate these Baal-names with generic polytheistic idolatry. In the biblical context, 'Baal-Gad' strictly designates a non-Israelite locale and cultic site, not an ethnic nor religious group. The name has no direct connection with later designations of inhabitants as Judeans or religious adherents as Jews, and its religious associations are specific to the period of Canaanite and broader Levantine polytheism.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בַּעַל and גָּד; Baal of Fortune; Baal-Gad, a place in Syria; Baal-gad.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot 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 |
| H1168 | בַּעַל | master |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1171-02 |
גָּד֙ | gad | HNp |
Gad | Fortune (Gad) | 3 |
H1171-03 |
מִ/בַּ֤עַל | mibaal | HR/Np |
from Baal | from Baʽal of Fortune | 2 |
H1171-01 |
בַּ֤עַל | baal | HNp |
Baal | master | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1171-01 |
Joshua 11:17 | בַּ֤עַל | baal | HNp |
Baal | master |
H1171-02 |
Joshua 11:17 | גָּד֙ | gad | HNp |
gad | Fortune (Gad) |
H1171-03 |
Joshua 12:7 | מִ/בַּ֤עַל | mibaal | HR/Np |
from Baal | from Baʽal of Fortune |
H1171-02 |
Joshua 12:7 | גָּד֙ | gad | HNp |
Gad | Fortune (Gad) |
H1171-03 |
Joshua 13:5 | מִ/בַּ֣עַל | mibaal | HR/Np |
from-Baal | from Baʽal of Fortune |
H1171-02 |
Joshua 13:5 | גָּ֔ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Fortune (Gad) |