Dear Philip, You are partially correct. As a common noun, "baal" simply means "lord", "master", "owner", "possessor", and the like, and in the patriarchal society of the biblical world, also "husband". It is used as a common noun dozens of times in the Bible. It is not really the name of any deity, but rather an epithet of the Northwestern Semitic storm-god, often know by the name of Hadad (also Haddu, Adad and the like). "Baal" was also used as a title for other deities with similar properties. In the Bible, it is sometimes used in the construct, such as Baal-peor, Baal-gad, Baal-hermon etc., usually assumed to be local manifestations of the deity, and sometimes becoming place-names. Because it is a title and not a proper name, in Hebrew, if the deity is meant, it is usually preceded by the article, "Ha-Baal", "The Baal"m (proper names, such as YHWH, Chemosh etc. do not receive the article). In English this is unnecessary because just the use of the transliteration, especially with a capital initial letter, "Baal", makes it clear that this refers to the deity, and not just to "a master".
Hope that clarifies things. Yigal Levin -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Philip Hardy Sent: Friday, August 03, 2012 7:54 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [b-hebrew] יהוה vs הבעל Hello. My Name is Philip A. Hardy. I have noticed that in most instance in the King James Bible where The word BAAL is or any english word(s) that derived from the same Hebrew word that BAAL derived from, namley בעל, the original Hebrew almost always has "הבעל". This I believe is best conveyed or rendered in Enlish as "the owner", "the husband", "the master", or "the lord". Now where is found היהוה only once and possibly could be be tranlated "he the life", conversley is found הבעל thirty eight times. Now if הבעל can be translated "the lord" and the name "יהוה" is not transliterated as is "בעל" but is (mis)translated as "The Lord" and Certain persons choose not to "proclaim the name" or "Publish the name" as the word says we should, then could it be that This is a fulfillment of the prophecy found in JER 23:26-27 "Jer 23:26 How long shall [this] be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, [they are] prophets of the deceit of their own heart;Jer 23:27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. wherein BAAL is really הבעל "The Lord" or "...as their fathers have forgotten my name for "The Lord"." Any insight, conveyed musings, or constructive criticisms would be welcome. Good Day Philip Hardy _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
