בַּעַל תָּמָר
𐤁𐤏𐤋 𐤕𐤌𐤓
Baal Tamar
H1193 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A toponym meaning 'Lord of (the) Palm(-tree)' or 'Place/Owner of the Palm'; the name of a locality mentioned in the book of Judges (specifically, a site near Gibeah where Israelite forces encamped). The term combines a theophoric element or a generic title of ownership (baʿal) with 'tamar' (palm tree), indicating local association with palm trees or a cultic or territorial lordship over such a feature. The precise location is unknown but contextually it is situated in the territory occupied by the tribe of Benjamin.
Semantic Range
toponym meaning 'Lord/Owner of the Palm,' location associated with palm trees, place-name compounded with a term for lord/master and palm tree, possible local cultic or territorial reference
Root / Etymology
Compound of the noun בַּעַל (baʿal, 'lord, owner, master') and תָּמָר (tamar, 'palm tree'). Root of 'baʿal' is בעל, meaning 'to possess, to rule, to be lord over'; root of 'tamar' is תמר, meaning 'palm tree'. The compound structure is typical of toponyms denoting ownership or a distinguishing feature of a location. There is no evidence suggesting a specific deity named 'Baal-Tamar'; rather, 'baʿal' here is likely a generic term for master or lord, or possibly an ancient place-name title.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Judges 20:33, Baal-Tamar serves as a strategic encampment in the narrative describing the Israelite conflict with Benjamin. The term follows a common naming convention in the southern Levant where 'baʿal' plus a natural element marks a place, indicating possession or a distinctive resource (cf. Baal-Hazor, Baal-Hermon). While 'baʿal' later came to be associated with Canaanite deities, it also functioned more generically as 'owner' or 'lord.' English versions sometimes render the name as 'Baal-tamar' or translate the meaning, but such renderings may obscure the cultural and linguistic nuance of Iron Age place-names. There is no evidence that the location was named after a specific deity; rather, it likely referenced a prominent palm or grove or the function of the location in local identity or worship. The name is attested only in the context of early Israelite/Judahite settlement and does not appear in later Judean or post-exilic sources.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בַּעַל and תָּמָר; possessor of (the) palm-tree; Baal-Tamar, a place in Palestine; Baal-tamar.
Bantu Hebrew
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בעל, תמר (b-ʿ-l; t-m-r) — to possess, to rule, to be lord over; palm tree
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1193-01 |
בְּ/בַ֣עַל | bevaal | HR/Np |
at Baal | in Lord-of-the-Palm | 1 |
H1193-02 |
תָּמָ֑ר | tamar | HNp |
Tamar | Lord-of-the-Palm | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1193-01 |
Judges 20:33 | בְּ/בַ֣עַל | bevaal | HR/Np |
at Baal | in Lord-of-the-Palm |
H1193-02 |
Judges 20:33 | תָּמָ֑ר | tamar | HNp |
Tamar | Lord-of-the-Palm |