אֶתְבַּ֫עַל (et.ba.al)
et.ba.al
Ethbaal
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Ethbaal is a proper name appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible, at 1 Kings 16:31. The text identifies him as the king of Sidon and the father of Jezebel, who became the wife of King Ahab of Israel. His name carries the meaning "with Baal" or "Baal is with," reflecting the religious landscape of Phoenicia where the worship of the storm god Baal was central.
Although he appears in a single verse, his historical significance is substantial because of his daughter’s influence on the northern kingdom. By marrying Jezebel into the royal house of Israel, Ethbaal facilitated a political and religious alliance that introduced Sidonian practices to Samaria. The brevity of his mention contrasts with the lasting impact of his family’s role in the biblical narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ethbaal appears only once in Scripture, yet it carries a weight that stretches far beyond its single mention. It identifies the father of Jezebel and king of Sidon, a figure whose family connection introduced powerful foreign religious influences into the heart of Israel. His very name, meaning "with Baal," signals a life oriented around pagan worship rather than the God of Abraham.
For us today, this brief reference serves as a sobering reminder of how cultural and familial pressures can subtly shift our spiritual allegiance. When relationships or social environments pull us toward values that contradict Scripture, the cost is often higher than we realize. The story of Ahab and Jezebel shows how quickly compromise can take root when we prioritize human approval over divine truth.
Yet even in accounts of deep failure, there is hope. God’s faithfulness does not depend on the purity of our surroundings or the influence of those closest to us. He remains sovereign, calling His people back to Himself regardless of the noise around them. We are invited to examine where our loyalties truly lie and to choose the path that leads to life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Ethbaal1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֶתְבַּ֙עַל֙1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 16:31
As if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him.
This verse explicitly links Ethbaal to Jezebel, showing how his identity as king of Sidon and follower of Baal set the stage for a dangerous religious alliance that would challenge Israel's worship.