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Original Word:בַּעַל
Part of Speech:Proper Name
Transliteration:Ba`al
Pronunciation:bah-ahl
Phonetic Spelling:(bah'-al)
KJV: Baal, (plural) Baalim
Word Origin:[the same asH1167 (בַּעַל - owner)]

1. Baal, a Phoenician deity

Baal, plural Baalim

The same asba'al; Baal, a Phoenician deity -- Baal, (plural) Baalim.

see HEBREWba'al

Overview of Baal Worship in the Old Testament

Baal appears in Scripture as the chief male deity of the Canaanites and Phoenicians, celebrated as lord of storm, fertility, and political power. After Israel entered the land, the name surfaces about eighty times, nearly always in contexts of apostasy. Baalism combined agricultural rites, sexual immorality, and child sacrifice, drawing Israel into covenant-breaking idolatry despite repeated warnings.

Geographical Epithets and Local Manifestations

Baal was venerated under many local titles that tied him to particular places or attributes:
• Baal-peor (Numbers 25:3) – worship at Peor involving ritual harlotry.
• Baal-zebub (2 Kings 1:2) – “lord of the flies,” the Ekronite or Philistine form consulted by King Ahaziah.
• Baal-berith (Judges 8:33; 9:4) – “lord of the covenant,” honored at Shechem.
• Baal-gad (Joshua 11:17) and Baal-hermon (Judges 3:3) – deities of northern Lebanon.
• Baal-zephon (Exodus 14:2) – tied to a coastal mountain shrine near the Red Sea.

These compound names underscore how Baal worship permeated Canaanite culture and encroached on Israel’s inheritance.

Key Biblical Narratives Involving Baal

1. Settlement Era:Judges 2:11-13 records the first widespread Israelite defection—“They followed other gods, the gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger, because they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths”.
2. Gideon’s Reformation:Judges 6:25-32 depicts Gideon destroying his father’s Baal altar, earning the nickname Jerub-baal (“Let Baal contend”).
3. Monarchy Under Ahab and Jezebel:1 Kings 16:31-33 notes Ahab building a temple for Baal in Samaria, culminating in Elijah’s confrontation on Mount Carmel: “The LORD, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39).
4. Jehu’s Purge:2 Kings 10:18-27 narrates the eradication of Baal’s temple and priests in Samaria, though the reform proved temporary.
5. Southern Kingdom Decline:2 Chronicles 28:2-3 and 33:3-6 show Ahaz and Manasseh resurrecting Baal worship, including child sacrifice.
6. Josiah’s Renewal:2 Kings 23:4-5 describes Josiah removing “the vessels made for Baal,” pointing to true covenant restoration.

Prophetic Condemnation

Prophets repeatedly linked Baal worship with covenant infidelity:

Jeremiah 7:9 – “Will you steal, murder, commit adultery … and burn incense to Baal…?”

Hosea 2:13 – “She adorned herself with her earrings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but Me she forgot.”

Zephaniah 1:4 – God promises to “stretch out My hand … and cut off every remnant of Baal.”

The prophets expose Baalism not merely as false religion but as spiritual adultery that invites national judgment.

Theological Significance

1. Spiritual Adultery vs. Covenant Faithfulness: Baal demanded fertility rites and child sacrifice, antithetical to Yahweh’s holiness and compassion (Jeremiah 19:5). Israel’s flirtation with Baal reveals the human bent toward syncretism and the need for singular allegiance to the LORD.
2. Lordship Contested: While “baal” can mean “master,” Scripture insists that true mastery belongs to Yahweh alone (Isaiah 42:8). InHosea 2:16 the LORD promises, “You will call Me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘My Master [Baal].’”
3. Foreshadowing Final Triumph: Elijah’s fire on Carmel (1 Kings 18) prefigures Christ’s ultimate victory over idolatry and demonic powers (cf.Colossians 2:15). The New Testament echo “Beelzebul” (Matthew 12:24) retains the polemic against false lordship now applied to Satan himself.

Lessons for Contemporary Ministry

• Guard the Worship Center: Just as Gideon began reform at his father’s house, modern believers must first tear down private idols.
• Public Confrontation with Grace: Elijah’s boldness coupled with intercessory prayer (1 Kings 18:36-37) models engagement with a culture that still serves modern “Baals”—wealth, power, sexuality.
• Call to Exclusive Covenant Love: Hosea’s marital imagery urges pastoral emphasis on Christ as Bridegroom, fostering wholehearted devotion rather than divided affections.

Representative Scripture References

Exodus 14:2;Numbers 22:41;Numbers 25:3;Joshua 11:17;Judges 2:11-13;Judges 3:7;Judges 6:25-32;Judges 8:33;Judges 9:4;1 Samuel 7:4;1 Kings 16:31-33;1 Kings 18:17-40;2 Kings 1:2-3;2 Kings 10:18-27;2 Kings 17:16;2 Kings 21:3;2 Kings 23:4-5;2 Chronicles 28:2-3;Psalm 106:36-38;Jeremiah 2:8;Jeremiah 7:9;Jeremiah 19:5;Hosea 2:13-17;Hosea 11:2;Hosea 13:1;Zephaniah 1:4;Romans 11:3-4 (allusions to1 Kings 19).

בַּ֥עַל בַּבַּ֖עַל בַּבָּ֑עַל בַּבָּֽעַל׃ בַבַּ֔עַל בָּ֑עַל בבעל בבעל׃ בעל הַ֠בַּעַל הַבְּעָלִ֑ים הַבְּעָלִ֔ים הַבְּעָלִ֖ים הַבְּעָלִ֣ים הַבְּעָלִֽים׃ הַבְּעָלִים֙ הַבַּ֔עַל הַבַּ֖עַל הַבַּ֗עַל הַבַּ֙עַל֙ הַבַּ֜עַל הַבַּ֡עַל הַבַּ֣עַל הַבָּ֑עַל הַבָּֽעַל׃ הבעל הבעל׃ הבעלים הבעלים׃ וּבַ֥עַל ובעל לַבְּעָלִ֣ים לַבְּעָלִֽים׃ לַבְּעָלִים֙ לַבַּ֔עַל לַבַּ֖עַל לַבַּ֗עַל לַבַּ֣עַל לַבָּ֑עַל לַבָּֽעַל׃ לבעל לבעל׃ לבעלים לבעלים׃ ba‘al bā‘al ba·‘al bā·‘al Baal bab·ba·‘al bab·bā·‘al ḇab·ba·‘al babba‘al babbā‘al ḇabba‘al babBaal hab·ba·‘al hab·bā·‘al hab·bə·‘ā·lîm habba‘al habbā‘al habBaal habbə‘ālîm habbeaLim lab·ba·‘al lab·bā·‘al lab·bə·‘ā·lîm labba‘al labbā‘al labBaal labbə‘ālîm labbeaLim ū·ḇa·‘al ūḇa‘al uVaal vabBaalInterlinear Greek •Interlinear Hebrew •Strong's Numbers •Englishman's Greek Concordance •Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •Parallel Texts

Judges 2:11
HEB:וַיַּעַבְד֖וּ אֶת־ הַבְּעָלִֽים׃
NAS: of the LORD and servedthe Baals,
KJV: of the LORD, and servedBaalim:
INT: of the LORD and servedthe Baals

Judges 2:13
HEB:יְהוָ֑ה וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ לַבַּ֖עַל וְלָעַשְׁתָּרֽוֹת׃
NAS: and servedBaal and the Ashtaroth.
KJV: and servedBaal and Ashtaroth.
INT: the LORD and servedBaal and the Ashtaroth

Judges 3:7
HEB:וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ אֶת־ הַבְּעָלִ֖ים וְאֶת־ הָאֲשֵׁרֽוֹת׃
NAS: and servedthe Baals and the Asheroth.
KJV: and servedBaalim and the groves.
INT: their God and servedthe Baals and the Asheroth

Judges 6:25
HEB:אֶת־ מִזְבַּ֤ח הַבַּ֙עַל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔יךָ
NAS: the altarof Baal which
KJV: the altarof Baal that thy father
INT: and pull the altarof Baal which to your father

Judges 6:28
HEB:נֻתַּץ֙ מִזְבַּ֣ח הַבַּ֔עַל וְהָאֲשֵׁרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־
NAS: the altarof Baal was torn down,
KJV: behold, the altarof Baal was cast down,
INT: was torn the altarof Baal and the Asherah which

Judges 6:30
HEB:אֶת־ מִזְבַּ֣ח הַבַּ֔עַל וְכִ֥י כָרַ֖ת
NAS: the altarof Baal, and indeed,
KJV: the altarof Baal, and because he hath cut down
INT: has torn the altarof Baal and indeed has cut

Judges 6:31
HEB:הַאַתֶּ֣ם ׀ תְּרִיב֣וּן לַבַּ֗עַל אִם־ אַתֶּם֙
NAS: him, Will you contendfor Baal, or
KJV: against him, Will ye pleadfor Baal? will ye save
INT: will you contendBaal or will you

Judges 6:32
HEB:יָ֤רֶב בּוֹ֙ הַבַּ֔עַל כִּ֥י נָתַ֖ץ
NAS: that is to say,Let Baal contend
KJV: saying,Let Baal plead
INT: say contendBaal because had torn

Judges 8:33
HEB:וַיִּזְנ֖וּ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַבְּעָלִ֑ים וַיָּשִׂ֧ימוּ לָהֶ֛ם
NAS: played the harlotwith the Baals, and made
KJV: afterBaalim, and made
INT: played afterthe Baals and made Baal-berith

Judges 10:6
HEB:וַיַּעַבְד֣וּ אֶת־ הַבְּעָלִ֣ים וְאֶת־ הָעַשְׁתָּר֡וֹת
NAS: servedthe Baals and the Ashtaroth,
KJV: and servedBaalim, and Ashtaroth,
INT: of the LORD servedthe Baals and the Ashtaroth the gods

Judges 10:10
HEB:וַֽנַּעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־ הַבְּעָלִֽים׃ פ
NAS: our God and servedthe Baals.
KJV: our God, and also servedBaalim.
INT: our God and servedthe Baals

1 Samuel 7:4
HEB:יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־ הַבְּעָלִ֖ים וְאֶת־ הָעַשְׁתָּרֹ֑ת
NAS: removedthe Baals and the Ashtaroth
KJV: did put awayBaalim and Ashtaroth,
INT: the sons of Israelthe Baals and the Ashtaroth and served

1 Samuel 12:10
HEB:וַנַּעֲבֹ֥ד אֶת־ הַבְּעָלִ֖ים וְאֶת־ הָעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹת
NAS: and have servedthe Baals and the Ashtaroth;
KJV: and have servedBaalim and Ashtaroth:
INT: the LORD servedthe Baals and the Ashtaroth now

1 Kings 16:31
HEB:וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֣ד אֶת־ הַבַּ֔עַל וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לֽוֹ׃
NAS: to serveBaal and worshiped
KJV: and servedBaal, and worshipped
INT: and went to serveBaal and worshiped

1 Kings 16:32
HEB:וַיָּ֥קֶם מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לַבָּ֑עַל בֵּ֣ית הַבַּ֔עַל
NAS: an altarfor Baal in the house
KJV: an altarfor Baal in the house
INT: erected an altarBaal the house of Baal

1 Kings 16:32
HEB:לַבָּ֑עַל בֵּ֣ית הַבַּ֔עַל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנָ֖ה
NAS: in the houseof Baal which
KJV: in the houseof Baal, which he had built
INT: Baal the houseof Baal which built

1 Kings 18:18
HEB:וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ אַחֲרֵ֥י הַבְּעָלִֽים׃
NAS: and you have followedthe Baals.
KJV: and thou hast followedBaalim.
INT: along after thatthe Baals

1 Kings 18:19
HEB:וְאֶת־ נְבִיאֵ֨י הַבַּ֜עַל אַרְבַּ֧ע מֵא֣וֹת
NAS: prophetsof Baal and 400
KJV: and the prophetsof Baal four
INT: Carmel prophetsof Baal four hundred

1 Kings 18:21
HEB:אַחֲרָ֔יו וְאִם־ הַבַּ֖עַל לְכ֣וּ אַחֲרָ֑יו
NAS: Him; but ifBaal, follow
KJV: [be] God,follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow
INT: but ifBaal along after that

1 Kings 18:22
HEB:לְבַדִּ֑י וּנְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֔עַל אַרְבַּע־ מֵא֥וֹת
NAS: of the LORD,but Baal's prophets
KJV: of the LORD;but Baal's prophets
INT: alone prophetsBaal's four hundred

1 Kings 18:25
HEB:אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ לִנְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֗עַל בַּחֲר֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם
NAS: to the prophetsof Baal, Choose
KJV: unto the prophetsof Baal, Choose
INT: Elijah to the prophetsof Baal Choose ox

1 Kings 18:26
HEB:וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ בְשֵׁם־ הַ֠בַּעַל מֵהַבֹּ֨קֶר וְעַד־
NAS: on the nameof Baal from morning
KJV: on the nameof Baal from morning
INT: and called the nameof Baal morning until

1 Kings 18:26
HEB:הַצָּהֳרַ֤יִם לֵאמֹר֙ הַבַּ֣עַל עֲנֵ֔נוּ וְאֵ֥ין
NAS: saying,O Baal, answer
KJV: saying,O Baal, hear
INT: noon sayingBaal answer there

1 Kings 18:40
HEB:אֶת־ נְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֗עַל אִ֛ישׁ אַל־
NAS: the prophetsof Baal; do not let one
KJV: the prophetsof Baal; let not one
INT: Seize the prophetsof Baal one nay

1 Kings 19:18
HEB:לֹֽא־ כָֽרְעוּ֙ לַבַּ֔עַל וְכָ֨ל־ הַפֶּ֔ה
NAS: that have not bowedto Baal and every
KJV: which have not bowedunto Baal, and every mouth
INT: have not bowedto Baal and every mouth

80 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1168
80 Occurrences

bā·‘al — 2 Occ.
bab·bā·‘al — 3 Occ.
hab·ba·‘al — 38 Occ.
hab·bə·‘ā·lîm — 13 Occ.
lab·ba·‘al — 15 Occ.
lab·bə·‘ā·lîm — 5 Occ.
ū·ḇa·‘al — 2 Occ.
ḇab·ba·‘al — 2 Occ.