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בָּעַל

𐤁𐤏𐤋

bâʻal

H1166 verb

SILEX Entry

Root בעל to own, to possess, to be master

Definition

To own, possess, or be master of; to exercise authority or control over. In personal relationships, to act as husband or lord, particularly in the context of a marriage relationship, denoting the traditional role of the man as the household authority. Used more broadly for assuming authority, possession, or mastery over people, animals, lands, or abstract qualities. The semantic range includes not only social or marital mastery but also rulership, ownership, or dominance in various contexts.

Semantic Range

to own, possess, exercise authority, be master (of), be husband (of), marry (a woman), have dominion (over), act as lord; also rarely to be associated with as an owner or possessor

Root / Etymology

From the root בָּעַל (b-'-l), originally meaning 'to own, possess,' which developed into a broader sense of 'to be master' or 'to exercise lordship.' The denominative connection with the noun בַּעַל (baʿal, 'lord, owner, master') informs the verbal sense. While the noun sometimes refers to a specific Canaanite deity (Baʿal), the verb itself roots in the more general idea of mastery or possession.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical Hebrew, בָּעַל primarily conveys ownership, authority, or mastery, ranging from property rights to the social structure of the household. In matrimonial contexts, it designates the husband as the one exercising authority or fulfilling the traditionally recognized role as 'master' of the household. The act of 'marrying' (in the masculine role) is conceptualized as taking a wife in possession or under authority, reflecting ancient Near Eastern social norms. The verb diverges from other marriage-related terms (such as לָקַח 'to take [a wife]' or יָבֵם 'to perform levirate marriage'), emphasizing control or mastery. Later usage, especially in post-biblical literature, often distances the verb from possessive connotations in favor of more mutual relational dynamics. Modern translations may soften or obscure the nuance of ownership or mastery, rendering the term simply as 'to marry' or 'to be husband' without conveying the underlying social norms. The same root is used in titles and theonyms (e.g., Baʿal as a deity), but this entry addresses the verb, not the divine name.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; also as denominative from בַּעַל; to be master; hence, to marry; have dominion (over), be husband, marry(-ried, [idiom] wife).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בעל (b-ʿ-l) — to own, to possess, to be master

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1010 בֵּית בַּעַל מְעוֹן master
H1120 בָּמוֹת master
H1167 בַּעַל master
H1168 בַּעַל master
H1169 בְּעֵל master-owner

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1166-01 בָּעַ֣לְתִּי baaleti HVqp1cs am your master I possessed 2
H1166-06 תִּבָּעֵֽל tibael HVNi3fs she gets married she will be possessed 2
H1166-02 בָּעֲל֥וּ baalu HVqp3cp ruled they were masters 1
H1166-13 יִבְעַ֤ל yiveal HVqi3ms marries he will possess 1
H1166-14 יִבְעָל֖וּ/ךְ yivealukhe HVqi3mp/Sp2fs will-marry-you they will be masters of you 1
H1166-11 בְעֻֽלַת veulat HVqsfsc married possessed woman of 1
H1166-12 בֹעֲלַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ voalayikhe HVqrmpc/Sp2fs your husband your masters 1
H1166-03 בְּעָל֥וּ/נוּ bealunu HVqp3cp/Sp1cp have ruled over us they mastered us 1
H1166-07 וּ/בָעַ֖ל uvaal HC/Vqp3ms and has married and master of 1
H1166-09 וּ/בְעַלְתָּ֔/הּ uvealetah HC/Vqq2ms/Sp3fs and you shall be her husband and you mastered her 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1166-05 Genesis 20:3 בְּעֻ֥לַת beulat HVqsfsc is married possessed woman of
H1166-09 Deuteronomy 21:13 וּ/בְעַלְתָּ֔/הּ uvealetah HC/Vqq2ms/Sp3fs and you shall be her husband and you mastered her
H1166-11 Deuteronomy 22:22 בְעֻֽלַת veulat HVqsfsc married possessed woman of
H1166-08 Deuteronomy 24:1 וּ/בְעָלָ֑/הּ uvealah HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3fs and marries her and he mastered her
H1166-03 Isaiah 26:13 בְּעָל֥וּ/נוּ bealunu HVqp3cp/Sp1cp have ruled over us they mastered us
H1166-10 Isaiah 54:1 בְעוּלָ֖ה veulah HVqsfsa the married wife mastered woman
H1166-12 Isaiah 54:5 בֹעֲלַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ voalayikhe HVqrmpc/Sp2fs your husband your masters
H1166-04 Isaiah 62:4 בְּעוּלָ֑ה beulah HVqsfsa Married owned woman
H1166-06 Isaiah 62:4 תִּבָּעֵֽל tibael HVNi3fs will be married she will be possessed
H1166-13 Isaiah 62:5 יִבְעַ֤ל yiveal HVqi3ms marries he will possess
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