Hi Philip Philip, >
If I understand you right, your proposed meaning of ha-baal is the exact opposite of the way the definite article is used on a proper noun in Biblical Hebrew. It seems you are saying that when "baal" has the definite article, it is not a name, but "the husband". In English that would be true, but in Hebrew it is the opposite. Baal can be a word or a proper name. To refer to the name, Baal, rather than the word baal, in Hebrew you put the definite article on it. So Ha-Baal means Baal the idol (unless the context might refer to a previously-mentioned husband). Baal without the definite article is usually the word baal, meaning husband, etc. […] I think it is similar the elohim (gods) and ha'Elohim when talking about the God (of Israel). The definite article is almost never translated into English (except for using a capital 'G'). But once again, the context help to determine the meaning, since sometimes Elohim without the article is also used with singular verbs to still talk about the God of Israel (e.g. Gen.1). Shalom Chavoux Luyt _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
