◄ 896. Baal ►
Lexicon Baal: Baal Original Word: Βάαλ Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Baal Pronunciation: BAH-ahl Phonetic Spelling: (bah'-al) Definition: Baal Meaning: Baal, chief deity of the Phoenicians and other Semitic nations. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Baal. Of Hebrew origin (Ba'al); Baal, a Phoenician deity (used as a symbol of idolatry) -- Baal. see HEBREW Ba'al NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin of Hebrew origin Baal Definition Baal, a Canaanite deity NASB Translation Baal (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 896: Βάαλ Βάαλ (so accented also by Pape (Eigenn. under the word), Kuenen and Cobet (Rom. as below); but L T (yet the name of the month, 1 Kings 6:5 (38), Βάαλ) Tr WH etc. Βάαλ; so Etym. Magn. 194, 19; Suidas 1746 a. etc. Dindorf in Stephanus' Thesaurus, under the word Βάαλ or Βάαλ), ὁ, ἡ, an indeclinable noun (Hebrew בַּעַל, Chaldean בּל contracted from בְּעֵל), lord: Romans 11:4. This was the name of the supreme heavenly divinity worshipped by the Shemitic nations (the Phoenicians, Canaanites, Babylonians, Assyrians), often also by the Israelites themselves, and represented by the Sun: τῇ Βάαλ, Romans 11:4. Cf. Winers RWB (and BB. DD.) under the word and J. G. Müller in Herzog i., p. 637ff; Merx in Schenkel i., 322ff; Schlottmann in Riehm, p. 126f. Since in this form the supreme power of nature generating all things, and consequently a male deity, was worshipped, with which the female deity Astarte was associated, it is hard to explain why the Sept. in some places say ὁ Βάαλ (Numbers 22:41; Judges 2:13; 1 Kings 16:1; 1 Kings 19:18, etc.), in others ἡ Βάαλ (Hosea 2:8; 1 Samuel 7:4, etc. (yet see Dillmann, as below, p. 617)). Among the various conjectures on tiffs subject the easiest is this: that the Sept. called the deity ἡ Βάαλ in derision, as weak and impotent, just as the Arabs call idols goddesses and the rabbis אֱלֹהות; so Gesenius in Rosenmüller's Repert. i., p. 139 and Tholuck on Romans, the passage cited; (yet cf. Dillmann, as below, p. 602; for other opinions and references see Meyer at the passage; cf. Winer's Grammar, § 27, 6 N. 1. But Prof. Dillmann shows (in the Monatsbericht d. Akad. zu Berlin, 16 Juni 1881, p. 601ff), that the Jews (just as they abstained from pronouncing the word Jehovah) avoided uttering the abhorred name of Βάαλ (Exodus 23:13). As a substitute in Aramaic they read טעות, דחלא or פתכרא, and in Greek αἰσχύνη (cf. 1 Kings 18:19, 25). This substitute in Greek was suggested by the use of the feminine article. Hence, we find in the Sept., ἡ Βάαλ everywhere in the prophetic books Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Hosea, etc., while in the Pentateuch it does not prevail, nor even in Judges, Samuel, Kings (except 1 Samuel 7:4; 2 Kings 21:3). It disappears, too (when the worship of Baal had died out) in the later versions of Aq., Symm., etc. The apostle's use in Romans, the passage cited accords with the sacred custom; cf. the substitution of the Hebrew בֹּשֶׁת in Ish-bosheth, Mephi-bosheth, etc. 2 Samuel 2:8, 10; 2 Samuel 4:4 with 1 Chronicles 8:33, 34, also 2 Samuel 11:21 with Judges 6:32; etc.) Topical Lexicon Word Origin: Derived from the Hebrew word בַּעַל (Ba'al) Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H1168 בַּעַל (Ba'al): The primary Hebrew term for Baal, used extensively in the Old Testament to refer to the Canaanite god and the associated idolatrous practices. • H1167 בַּעַל (ba'al): A related term meaning "lord" or "master," often used in a more general sense but sometimes associated with the deity Baal. This entry provides a comprehensive understanding of the term Βάαλ as it appears in biblical texts, emphasizing the historical and theological significance of Baal worship and its opposition by the faithful followers of Yahweh. Usage: The term Βάαλ is used in the New Testament to refer to the pagan god Baal, highlighting the idolatrous practices that were often condemned by the prophets and leaders of Israel. Context: Βάαλ, or Baal, is a term used to denote a prominent deity worshiped by various ancient Near Eastern communities, particularly the Canaanites. The name Baal means "lord" or "master" and was often used to refer to local deities or spirits of the land. In the biblical narrative, Baal worship is frequently depicted as a major religious and moral challenge for the Israelites, who were commanded to worship Yahweh alone. The worship of Baal included rituals and ceremonies that were considered abominable by the standards of Israelite religion, such as child sacrifice, temple prostitution, and other forms of idolatry. The prophets of Israel, including Elijah and Hosea, strongly opposed Baal worship, often confronting the Israelites and their leaders for turning away from the worship of Yahweh. In the New Testament, the term Βάαλ is used to remind readers of the dangers of idolatry and the importance of remaining faithful to God. The apostle Paul, for instance, warns against the worship of false gods and the moral decay that accompanies such practices. The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) does not contain direct references to Baal in the New Testament, but the concept of idolatry and the rejection of false gods is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures. Forms and Transliterations Βααλ Βάαλ βααλτάμ Baal Báal Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance Romans 11:4 N GRK: γόνυ τῇ Βάαλ NAS: HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL. KJV: bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal. INT: a knee to Baal Strong's Greek 896 1 Occurrence Βάαλ — 1 Occ.