בַּלְאֲדָן
𐤁𐤋𐤀𐤃𐤍
Baleadan
H1081 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating a Babylonian royal figure, Baladan. Most commonly appears as part of the patronymic designation 'son of Baladan' (בֶּן־בַּלְאֲדָן), referencing the father of Merodach-Baladan, a Babylonian ruler mentioned in the prophetic narratives. The element Baladan does not function as a common noun, but as a personal name in the biblical text.
Semantic Range
personal name, patronymic (son of Baladan); refers only to the Babylonian individual, not a common noun or adjective
Root / Etymology
The name appears to be of Akkadian origin, possibly from Bal-u-Adan or Bal-u-idina, meaning 'He (the god Bel/Marduk) has given.' The Hebrew form בַלְאֲדָן reflects an adaptation of the original Akkadian name to Hebrew phonology and orthography. The root-level connections to the Hebrew בֵּל (Bel, a form of the Babylonian deity Marduk) or אָדוֹן (lord) proposed in older lexicons are speculative and lack support from current Semitic philology. Direct connection to the concept of 'lord' in Hebrew cannot be established with certainty. Etymology uncertain beyond its Akkadian background.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, Baladan is not an Israelite or Judahite name, but exclusively refers to the Babylonian figure who was the father of Merodach-Baladan, an important historical Babylonian king known for his resistance against Assyrian control. The canonical references (e.g., 2 Kings 20:12; Isaiah 39:1) use Baladan only in patronymic construction, highlighting the foreign (Babylonian) context. The form in the biblical text reflects transliteration conventions for foreign names in classical Hebrew. In post-biblical and translation tradition, the name has sometimes been interpreted or rendered as though composed from Hebrew elements—an error not supported by linguistic and historical evidence. In the Akkadian sources, the equivalent name is written as Balâ(d)anu, a compound personal name meaning 'Bel has given.' Baladan is thus best understood as a foreign personal name, not analyzable as a native Hebrew compound and not carrying the semantic value of 'lord' in a Hebrew context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בֵּל and אָדוֹן (contracted); Bel (is his) lord; Baladan, the name of a Babylonian prince; Baladan.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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בלעדן (bal-ʾ-d-n (uncertain)) — proper name, personal name
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1081-01 |
בַּלְאֲדָ֧ן | baleadan | HNp |
Baladan | Baladan | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1081-01 |
2 Kings 20:12 | בַּלְאֲדָ֧ן | baleadan-2 | HNp |
Baladan | Baladan |
H1081-01 |
Isaiah 39:1 | בַּלְאֲדָ֧ן | baleadan-2 | HNp |
Baladan | Baladan |