Baal

7 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Baal \Ba"al\ (b[=a]"al), n.; Heb. pl. {Baalim} (-[i^]m). [Heb.
     ba'al lord.]
     1. (Myth.) The supreme male divinity of the Phoenician and
        Canaanitish nations.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     Note: The name of this god occurs in the Old Testament and
           elsewhere with qualifying epithets subjoined, answering
           to the different ideas of his character; as,
           Baal-berith (the Covenant Baal), Baal-zebub (Baal of
           the fly).
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. pl. The whole class of divinities to whom the name Baal
        was applied. --Judges x. 6.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Bel \Bel\, n.
     The Babylonian name of the god known among the Hebrews as
     {Baal}. See {Baal}. --Baruch vi. 41.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Baal
       n : any of numerous local fertility and nature deities
           worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples; the Hebrews
           considered Baal a false god

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  68 Moby Thesaurus words for "Baal":
     Adad, Adapa, Anu, Anunaki, Ashtoreth, Ashur, Astarte, Beltu, Ceres,
     Dagon, Damkina, Demeter, Dionysus, Dumuzi, Ea, Enlil, Ereshkigal,
     Frey, Gibil, Girru, Gish Bar, Gishzida, Gula, Igigi, Inanna,
     Isimud, Isis, Juggernaut, Ki, Lahmu, Mama, Marduk, Merodach,
     Moloch, Nabu, Nammu, Namtar, Nanna, Nebo, Nergal, Neti, Nina,
     Ningal, Ningirsu, Ninhursag, Ninlil, Ninmah, Ninsar, Nintoo, Nusku,
     Pan, Papsukai, Priapus, Ramman, Shala, Shamash, Sin, Utnapishtim,
     Uttu, Utu, Zarpanit, Zubird, devil-god, fetish, golden calf,
     graven image, idol, joss
  
  

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Baal
     lord. (1.) The name appropriated to the principal male god of
     the Phoenicians. It is found in several places in the plural
     BAALIM (Judg. 2:11; 10:10; 1 Kings 18:18; Jer. 2:23; Hos. 2:17).
     Baal is identified with Molech (Jer. 19:5). It was known to the
     Israelites as Baal-peor (Num. 25:3; Deut. 4:3), was worshipped
     till the time of Samuel (1 Sam 7:4), and was afterwards the
     religion of the ten tribes in the time of Ahab (1 Kings
     16:31-33; 18:19, 22). It prevailed also for a time in the
     kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 8:27; comp. 11:18; 16:3; 2 Chr. 28:2),
     till finally put an end to by the severe discipline of the
     Captivity (Zeph. 1:4-6). The priests of Baal were in great
     numbers (1 Kings 18:19), and of various classes (2 Kings 10:19).
     Their mode of offering sacrifices is described in 1 Kings
     18:25-29. The sun-god, under the general title of Baal, or
     "lord," was the chief object of worship of the Canaanites. Each
     locality had its special Baal, and the various local Baals were
     summed up under the name of Baalim, or "lords." Each Baal had a
     wife, who was a colourless reflection of himself.
     
       (2.) A Benjamite, son of Jehiel, the progenitor of the
     Gibeonites (1 Chr. 8:30; 9:36).
     
       (3.) The name of a place inhabited by the Simeonites, the same
     probably as Baal-ath-beer (1 Chr. 4:33; Josh. 19:8).
     

From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:

  Baal, master; lord
  

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  BAAL, n.  An old deity formerly much worshiped under various names. 
  As Baal he was popular with the Phoenicians; as Belus or Bel he had
  the honor to be served by the priest Berosus, who wrote the famous
  account of the Deluge; as Babel he had a tower partly erected to his
  glory on the Plain of Shinar.  From Babel comes our English word
  "babble."  Under whatever name worshiped, Baal is the Sun-god.  As
  Beelzebub he is the god of flies, which are begotten of the sun's rays
  on the stagnant water.  In Physicia Baal is still worshiped as Bolus,
  and as Belly he is adored and served with abundant sacrifice by the
  priests of Guttledom.