בַּעַל הָמוֹן
𐤁𐤏𐤋 𐤄𐤌𐤅𐤍
Baal Hamon
H1174 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Baal-Hamon: a toponym referring to a place characterized by abundance, likely signifying 'Lord/Owner of abundance' or 'Possessor of a multitude.' The term is formed from two elements: 'baʿal' meaning 'lord, owner, master,' and 'hamon' meaning 'multitude, abundance.' Used as a place name, it denotes a site associated with prosperity, fertility, or possibly a local deity linked to such attributes, depending on the context. It appears in reference to a vineyard location in Song of Songs 8:11, but its precise geographical identification remains uncertain.
Semantic Range
owner or lord of abundance, place name Baal-Hamon, possessor of a multitude, lord of crowds or riches
Root / Etymology
From the root ב-ע-ל (בעל, baʿal) meaning 'to own, possess, lord over,' and ה-מ-ן (המון, hamon) meaning 'multitude, crowd, abundance.' The compound form is constructed as a genitive phrase, 'baʿal hāmôn' — 'lord/possessor of abundance.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name Baal-Hamon occurs only in Song of Songs 8:11, serving as a toponym for a vineyard. The meaning likely emphasizes abundance or a very fruitful place. The use of 'baʿal' as an element in ancient place names was common in the Levant, signifying ownership or lordship, and was not necessarily a direct reference to the Canaanite deity Baal but could indicate a local patron or owner of the region's fertility. In English translations, the term often appears untranslated or as 'Baal-hamon,' obscuring its descriptive or symbolic connotations. Some traditions or interpreters may conflate this with later concepts or deities, but the term as used in the Hebrew Bible designates a property or area notable for its wealth or productivity. Its exact geographic location has not been established from extant records, and the phrase functions more as a symbolic or literary designation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בַּעַל and הָמוֹן; possessor of a multitude; Baal-Hamon, a place in Palestine; Baal-hamon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בעל זבב (b-ʿ-l; z-b-b) — to rule, possess, be lord; to fly, to swarm (of flies)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1174-02 |
הָמ֔וֹן | hamon | HNp |
Hamon | roaring multitude of | 1 |
H1174-01 |
בְּ/בַ֣עַל | bevaal | HR/Np |
in Baal | in Baal-of-the-Fly | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1174-01 |
Song of Songs 8:11 | בְּ/בַ֣עַל | bevaal | HR/Np |
in Baal | in Baal-of-the-Fly |
H1174-02 |
Song of Songs 8:11 | הָמ֔וֹן | hamon | HNp |
Hamon | roaring multitude of |