Baal, Etymology

The spelling of the English term "Baal" derives from the Greek Báal (Βάαλ) which appears in the New Testament^[16] and Septuagint,^[17] and from its Latinized form Baal, which appears in the Vulgate.^[17] These forms in turn derive from the vowel-less Northwest Semitic form BʿL (Phoenician and Punic: 𐤁𐤏𐤋𐤁𐤏𐤋).^[18] The word's biblical senses as a Phoenician deity and false gods generally were extended during the Protestant Reformation to denote any idols, icons of the saints, or the Catholic Church generally.^[19] In such contexts, it follows the anglicized pronunciation and usually omits any mark between its two As.^[6] In close transliteration of the Semitic name, the ayin is represented, as Baʿal.

In the Northwest Semitic languages—Ugaritic, Phoenician, Hebrew, Amorite, and Aramaic—the word baʿal signified 'owner' and, by extension, 'lord',^[17] a 'master', or 'husband'.^[20][21] Cognates include the Akkadian Bēlu (𒂗𒂗),^[b] Amharic bal (ባል),^[22] and Arabic baʿl (بعل). Báʿal (בַּעַל) and baʿl still serve as the words for 'husband' in modern Hebrew and Arabic respectively. They also appear in some contexts concerning the ownership of things or possession of traits.

The feminine form is baʿalah (Hebrew: בַּעֲלָה;^[23] Arabic: بَعْلَة), meaning 'mistress' in the sense of a female owner or lady of the house^[23] and still serving as a rare word for 'wife'.^[24]

Suggestions in early modern scholarship also included comparison with the Celtic god Belenus, however this is now widely rejected by contemporary scholars.^[25]