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בַּעַל פְּעוֹר

𐤁𐤏𐤋 𐤐𐤏𐤅𐤓

Baal Peor

H1187 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The proper name of a local deity worshipped at Mount Peor, associated with the Moabites. In biblical context, 'Baʿal Peʿor' chiefly refers to the god linked to sexual rites or licentious practices at Peor, as well as the locus of his cult. The phrase also appears as a toponym to denote the principal sanctuary or region where this deity was venerated, particularly in narratives concerning Israelite interaction with Moabite religion and cultic practices. Semantic range includes (1) name of the Moabite deity, (2) place associated with this deity (i.e., sanctuary or region), (3) sometimes used metonymically for the specific cultic rites practiced there.

Semantic Range

Baal of Peor (deity's name), the deity worshipped at Peor, cult center or sanctuary of Peor, sometimes metonym for licentious or idolatrous rites at Peor

Root / Etymology

Compound of the noun בַּעַל (baʿal, 'lord, master, owner, husband, or chief') and פְּעוֹר (peʿor), the name of a location (Peor) east of the Jordan. Thus, 'Baʿal Peʿor' likely means 'Lord of Peor' or 'Master belonging to Peor.' The second element is topographical—see Numbers 23:28, where Peor is a mountain. The root of פְּעוֹר (p-ʿ-r) means 'to open wide,' which may allude to cultic or geographical features, but this connection remains uncertain. Together, the name identifies a deity considered the patron of the site.

Historical & Contextual Notes

'Baʿal Peʿor' is primarily encountered in Torah narratives on the wilderness period (Numbers 25, Deuteronomy 4:3), describing an episode where some Israelites engaged in Moabite cultic worship at Peor. The term connotes illicit and possibly sexualized worship practices—though the exact rites are not described, later tradition associates the cult with fertility or licentious behavior. The designation is both cultic (the deity) and locational (the sanctuary/mountain). This deity and associated rites are portrayed negatively from the Israelite perspective. English translations sometimes render 'Baʿal Peʿor' as 'god of Peor,' but this erases the proper noun and diminishes the localization inherent in the original. In post-biblical literature and later translations, 'Baʿal Peʿor' was sometimes erroneously equated with other Baʿal deities, but the distinction is significant in the Hebrew context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בַּעַל and פְּעוֹר; Baal of Peor; Baal-Peor, a Moabitish deity; Baal-peor.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בעל, פעור (b-ʿ-l; p-ʿ-r) — lordship, ownership, mastery; (Peor) opening, place name

Root בעל, פעור to own, rule, be lord; (uncertain: to open wide/place name Peor)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1047 בֵּית פְּעוֹר Lord of Peor

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1187-03 פְּע֑וֹר peor HNp of Peor Lord of Peor Baal Peor 6
H1187-02 לְ/בַ֣עַל levaal HR/Np to Baal to Baal of Peor to Baal Peor 3
H1187-04 בַֽעַל vaal HNp Baal Lord of Peor Baal Peor 2
H1187-01 בְּ/בַ֣עַל bevaal HR/Np at Baal at Baal-of-Peor in Baal Peor 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1187-02 Numbers 25:3 לְ/בַ֣עַל levaal HR/Np to Baal to Baal of Peor to Baal Peor
H1187-03 Numbers 25:3 פְּע֑וֹר peor HNp of Peor Lord of Peor Baal Peor
H1187-02 Numbers 25:5 לְ/בַ֥עַל levaal HR/Np to Baal to Baal of Peor to Baal Peor
H1187-03 Numbers 25:5 פְּעֽוֹר peor HNp of Peor Lord of Peor Baal Peor
H1187-01 Deuteronomy 4:3 בְּ/בַ֣עַל bevaal HR/Np at Baal at Baal-of-Peor in Baal Peor
H1187-03 Deuteronomy 4:3 פְּע֑וֹר peor HNp Peor Lord of Peor Baal Peor
H1187-04 Deuteronomy 4:3 בַֽעַל vaal HNp Baal Lord of Peor Baal Peor
H1187-03 Deuteronomy 4:3 פְּע֔וֹר peor-2 HNp Peor Lord of Peor Baal Peor
H1187-04 Hosea 9:10 בַֽעַל vaal HNp to Baal Lord of Peor Baal Peor
H1187-03 Hosea 9:10 פְּע֗וֹר peor HNp Peor Lord of Peor Baal Peor
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