בַּעַל (H1167) — Hebrew Lexicon

בַּעַל

𐤁𐤏𐤋

baʻal

H1167 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בעל to possess, to own, to rule, to have dominion

Definition

Principal, master, or lord; one who possesses, controls, or is responsible for something (person, place, attribute, or item). Used of individuals of social, household, or tribal authority (such as husband, landowner, or head of household), and also as a title of foreign or local deities. In extended senses, designates one characterized by a certain quality, function, or possession (e.g., 'owner of wisdom,' 'possessor of dreams').

Semantic Range

lord, master, owner, husband, possessor; head or principal of a group or household; captains or chiefs; a person characterized by a quality or possession (e.g., dreamer, archer); title or name for Canaanite deities; figurative usage for agency or mastery

Root / Etymology

From the root בָּעַל (b-'-l), meaning 'to possess, to own, to have dominion.' בַּעַל is a derived noun indicating a possessor or master. The root carries the sense of possession or control.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בַּעַל appears widely from early Israelite texts through later periods, most often signifying a person with authority or possession: husband in familial contexts, land or property owner, or one responsible for a certain role. In the patriarchal and monarchic periods, it frequently marks the head of a household or domain. Later, particularly in the prophetic and historical books, it is notable as the name or title of non-Israelite (Canaanite) deities—especially Baal, a chief deity of the Levant—and so is sometimes used polemically. This divine title fell into disfavor in Israelite religion as worship limited to Yahweh became central. Biblical translations often render בַּעַל as 'lord,' 'master,' or 'husband,' but these may not capture all consistent usages, especially the extensive use for 'possessor' or as a term connoting agency/characteristics (e.g., 'masters of bows' = archers). Related terms include אָדוֹן (adon), similarly meaning 'lord' but not implying ownership to the same extent. The meaning of בַּעַל is frequently clarified or modified by a following noun in construct (smikhut), indicating what is possessed or mastered.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בָּעַל; a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense); [phrase] archer, [phrase] babbler, [phrase] bird, captain, chief man, [phrase] confederate, [phrase] have to do, [phrase] dreamer, those to whom it is due, [phrase] furious, those that are given to it, great, [phrase] hairy, he that hath it, have, [phrase] horseman, husband, lord, man, [phrase] married, master, person, [phrase] sworn, they of.

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Root Family

בעל (b-ʿ-l) — to possess, to own, to rule, to have dominion

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H1010	בֵּית בַּעַל מְעוֹן	master
H1120	בָּמוֹת	master
H1166	בָּעַל	I possessed
H1168	בַּעַל	master
H1169	בְּעֵל	master-owner
H1170	בַּעַל בְּרִית	master
H1171	בַּעַל גָּד	master
H1172	בַּעֲלָה	female owner
H1173	בַּעֲלָה	Lord-place
H1175	בְּעָלוֹת	Bealoth
H1179	בַּעַל חֶרְמוֹן	master
H1180	בַּעֲלִי	my lord
H1183	בְּעַלְיָה	and Yah-is-Master
H1186	בַּעַל מְעוֹן	master
H1188	בַּעַל פְּרָצִים	master
H1191	בַּעֲלָת	Mistress
H1485	גּוּר־בַּעַל	master
H4807	מְרִיב בַּעַל	master
H4810	מְרִי בַעַל	master of
H5921	עַל	masters of
H7154	קִרְיַת בַּעַל	master

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H1167-02`	בַּעֲלֵ֥י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of	23
`H1167-01`	בָּֽעַל	baal	`HNcmsa`	owner	master	21
`H1167-05`	בְּעָלָ֖י/ו	bealayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	its owner	his masters	9
`H1167-03`	בַּעְלָ֣/הּ	baelah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	her husband	her master	6
`H1167-14`	וּ/בַ֥עַל	uvaal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and a master of	and master of	4
`H1167-10`	לִ/בְעָלָ֑י/ו	livealayv	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	to its owner	to his masters	3
`H1167-17`	בַעֲלֵי	vaaley	`HNcmpc`	citizens of	masters of	3
`H1167-16`	בַ֥עַל	vaal	`HNcmsc`	has	master of	2
`H1167-08`	לְ/בַ֣עַל	levaal	`HR/Ncmsc`	for the master of	to the Master	2
`H1167-18`	בְעָלָ֑י/ו	vealayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	its owner	and upon him	1
`H1167-11`	לִ/בְעָלֶ֔י/הָ	livealeyha	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3fs`		her masters	1
`H1167-09`	לְ/בַעְלֵי/הֶ֔ן	levaeleyhen	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3fp`	to-their-husbands	to the masters of them	1
`H1167-07`	בִּ/בְעָלָי/ו֙	bivealayv	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	to its owner	his masters	1
`H1167-12`	מִ/בַּעֲלֵ֤י	mibaaley	`HR/Ncmpc`	from-lords of	from possessors of	1
`H1167-06`	בְּעָלֶ֣י/הָ	bealeyha	`HNcmpc/Sp3fs`	of its owners	her masters	1
`H1167-13`	מִ/בְּעָלָ֑י/ו	mibealayv	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	from its owners	from his possessors	1
`H1167-19`	בְעָלֶֽי/הָ	vealeyha	`HNcmpc/Sp3fs`		her masters	1
`H1167-04`	בַּעְלֵי/הֶ֖ן	baeleyhen	`HNcmpc/Sp3fp`	their husbands	their masters	1
`H1167-15`	וּ/בַעֲלֵ֥י	uvaaley	`HC/Ncmpc`	and masters of	and possessors of	1

Occurrences in Scripture

83 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H1167-02`	Genesis 14:13	בַּעֲלֵ֥י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of
`H1167-01`	Genesis 20:3	בָּֽעַל	baal	`HNcmsa`	to a husband	master
`H1167-01`	Genesis 37:19	בַּ֛עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	master	master
`H1167-02`	Genesis 49:23	בַּעֲלֵ֥י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	the archers	possessors of
`H1167-01`	Exodus 21:3	בַּ֤עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	husband	master
`H1167-01`	Exodus 21:22	בַּ֣עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	the husband	master
`H1167-14`	Exodus 21:28	וּ/בַ֥עַל	uvaal	`HC/Ncmsc`	but the owner	and master of
`H1167-07`	Exodus 21:29	בִּ/בְעָלָי/ו֙	bivealayv	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	to its owner	his masters
`H1167-05`	Exodus 21:29	בְּעָלָ֖י/ו	bealayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	its owner	his masters
`H1167-01`	Exodus 21:34	בַּ֤עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	the owner	master
`H1167-10`	Exodus 21:34	לִ/בְעָלָ֑י/ו	livealayv	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	to its owner	to his masters
`H1167-05`	Exodus 21:36	בְּעָלָ֑י/ו	bealayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	owners-his	his masters
`H1167-01`	Exodus 22:7	בַּֽעַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	owner	master
`H1167-05`	Exodus 22:10	בְּעָלָ֖י/ו	bealayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	the owner of it	his masters
`H1167-10`	Exodus 22:11	לִ/בְעָלָֽי/ו	livealayv	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	to-its-owner	to his masters
`H1167-05`	Exodus 22:13	בְּעָלָ֥י/ו	bealayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	its owner	his masters
`H1167-05`	Exodus 22:14	בְּעָלָ֥י/ו	bealayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	its owner	his masters
`H1167-16`	Exodus 24:14	בַ֥עַל	vaal	`HNcmsc`	has	master of
`H1167-01`	Leviticus 21:4	בַּ֣עַל	baal	`HNcmsa`	a husband	master
`H1167-02`	Numbers 21:28	בַּעֲלֵ֖י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of
`H1167-01`	Deuteronomy 15:2	בַּ֨עַל֙	baal	`HNcmsa`	creditor/master	master
`H1167-01`	Deuteronomy 22:22	בַּ֗עַל	baal	`HNcmsa`	to a husband	master
`H1167-03`	Deuteronomy 24:4	בַּעְלָ֣/הּ	baelah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	her-husband	her master
`H1167-02`	Joshua 24:11	בַּעֲלֵֽי	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords-of	possessors of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:2	בַּעֲלֵ֣י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:3	בַּעֲלֵ֣י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:6	בַּעֲלֵ֤י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:7	בַּעֲלֵ֣י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:18	בַּעֲלֵ֣י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords	possessors of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:20	בַּעֲלֵ֥י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of
`H1167-12`	Judges 9:20	מִ/בַּעֲלֵ֤י	mibaaley	`HR/Ncmpc`	from-lords of	from possessors of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:23	בַּעֲלֵ֣י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of
`H1167-17`	Judges 9:23	בַעֲלֵי	vaaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	masters of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:24	בַּעֲלֵ֣י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of
`H1167-17`	Judges 9:25	בַעֲלֵ֨י	vaaley	`HNcmpc`	the lords of	masters of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:26	בַּעֲלֵ֥י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:39	בַּעֲלֵ֣י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	the lords of	possessors of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:46	בַּעֲלֵ֖י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:47	בַּעֲלֵ֖י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	the leaders of	possessors of
`H1167-02`	Judges 9:51	בַּעֲלֵ֣י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords-of	possessors of
`H1167-01`	Judges 19:22	בַּ֣עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	master of	master
`H1167-01`	Judges 19:23	בַּ֣עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	master	master
`H1167-02`	Judges 20:5	בַּעֲלֵ֣י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	the lords of	possessors of
`H1167-17`	1 Samuel 23:11	בַעֲלֵי֩	vaaley	`HNcmpc`	citizens of	masters of
`H1167-02`	1 Samuel 23:12	בַּעֲלֵ֧י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	the men of	possessors of
`H1167-15`	2 Samuel 1:6	וּ/בַעֲלֵ֥י	uvaaley	`HC/Ncmpc`	and masters of	and possessors of
`H1167-03`	2 Samuel 11:26	בַּעְלָֽ/הּ	baelah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	her husband	her master
`H1167-02`	2 Samuel 21:12	בַּעֲלֵ֖י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	men of	possessors of
`H1167-01`	2 Kings 1:8	בַּ֣עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	owner	master
`H1167-05`	Isaiah 1:3	בְּעָלָ֑י/ו	bealayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	its master's	his masters
`H1167-02`	Isaiah 16:8	בַּעֲלֵ֤י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords	possessors of
`H1167-01`	Isaiah 41:15	בַּ֖עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	having	master
`H1167-16`	Isaiah 50:8	בַ֥עַל	vaal	`HNcmsc`	master	master of
`H1167-01`	Jeremiah 37:13	בַּ֣עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	captain	master
`H1167-01`	Joel 1:8	בַּ֥עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	the husband	master
`H1167-14`	Nahum 1:2	וּ/בַ֣עַל	uvaal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and-lord	and master of
`H1167-01`	Proverbs 1:17	בַּ֥עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	possessor	master
`H1167-05`	Proverbs 1:19	בְּעָלָ֣י/ו	bealayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	of its possessors	his masters
`H1167-13`	Proverbs 3:27	מִ/בְּעָלָ֑י/ו	mibealayv	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	from its owners	from his possessors
`H1167-03`	Proverbs 12:4	בַּעְלָ֑/הּ	baelah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	her husband	her master
`H1167-05`	Proverbs 16:22	בְּעָלָ֑י/ו	bealayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	to its possessors	his masters
`H1167-18`	Proverbs 17:8	בְעָלָ֑י/ו	vealayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	its owner	and upon him
`H1167-08`	Proverbs 18:9	לְ/בַ֣עַל	levaal	`HR/Ncmsc`	to master-of	to the Master
`H1167-01`	Proverbs 22:24	בַּ֣עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	owner	master
`H1167-01`	Proverbs 23:2	בַּ֖עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	a master of	master
`H1167-01`	Proverbs 24:8	בַּֽעַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	master	master
`H1167-14`	Proverbs 29:22	וּ/בַ֖עַל	uvaal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and a master of	and master of
`H1167-03`	Proverbs 31:11	בַּעְלָ֑/הּ	baelah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	of her husband	her master
`H1167-03`	Proverbs 31:23	בַּעְלָ֑/הּ	baelah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	her husband	her master
`H1167-03`	Proverbs 31:28	בַּ֝עְלָ֗/הּ	baelah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	her husband	her master
`H1167-06`	Job 31:39	בְּעָלֶ֣י/הָ	bealeyha	`HNcmpc/Sp3fs`	of its owners	her masters
`H1167-11`	Ecclesiastes 5:10	לִ/בְעָלֶ֔י/הָ	livealeyha	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3fs`		her masters
`H1167-10`	Ecclesiastes 5:12	לִ/בְעָלָ֖י/ו	livealayv	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`		to his masters
`H1167-19`	Ecclesiastes 7:12	בְעָלֶֽי/הָ	vealeyha	`HNcmpc/Sp3fs`		her masters
`H1167-05`	Ecclesiastes 8:8	בְּעָלָֽי/ו	bealayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`		his masters
`H1167-08`	Ecclesiastes 10:11	לְ/בַ֖עַל	levaal	`HR/Ncmsc`	for the master of	to the Master
`H1167-14`	Ecclesiastes 10:20	וּ/בַ֥עַל	uvaal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and possessor-of	and master of
`H1167-02`	Ecclesiastes 12:11	בַּעֲלֵ֣י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	masters of	possessors of
`H1167-04`	Esther 1:17	בַּעְלֵי/הֶ֖ן	baeleyhen	`HNcmpc/Sp3fp`	their husbands	their masters
`H1167-09`	Esther 1:20	לְ/בַעְלֵי/הֶ֔ן	levaeleyhen	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3fp`	to-their-husbands	to the masters of them
`H1167-01`	Daniel 8:6	בַּ֣עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	that had	master
`H1167-01`	Daniel 8:20	בַּ֣עַל	baal	`HNcmsc`	having	master
`H1167-02`	Nehemiah 6:18	בַּעֲלֵ֤י	baaley	`HNcmpc`	lords of	possessors of

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