בְּעֵל (be.el)
be.el
commander
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun be.el translates to "owner" or "lord," functioning as a direct cognate of the Hebrew ba.al. It denotes a person who holds authority, possession, or mastery over something or someone. Though rare in the biblical text, appearing only three times, its meaning is straightforward and grounded in concepts of property and leadership.
Its single most notable occurrence is in Ezra 7:21, where King Artaxerxes commands that all resources needed for the temple be provided by the royal treasury. Here, the king acts as the supreme owner or lord of the empire’s wealth, delegating authority to facilitate the restoration project. The term underscores a legal and social reality: one who has the right to command because they possess.
As an Aramaic form, it reflects the linguistic shift occurring during the post-exilic period when Aramaic became the administrative language of the Persian Empire. While the Hebrew ba.al carries heavier theological baggage regarding pagan deities, this Aramaic variant remains a secular term for human ownership and jurisdiction. It highlights how language adapts to political contexts without necessarily inheriting religious connotations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word be.el appears in Aramaic texts to describe a person with authority or ownership. In Ezra 4:8, Rehum is called a chancellor, holding power over others. This shows how leaders manage resources and people under God's sovereignty.
Understanding this term helps us see human roles in history. Kings and officials exercise control, but ultimately serve God's purposes. We can trust that authority exists to maintain order and support His work.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lord of3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּעֵל\־3×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 4:8
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows.
This verse identifies Rehum as a chancellor, directly illustrating the word's meaning of a high-ranking official with command authority.
-
Ezra 4:9
Then Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,
The list of companions includes officials like scribes and commanders, showing the structured hierarchy where be.el denotes leadership roles.
-
Ezra 4:17
Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace.
The king's reply to Rehum highlights the chain of command, where the chancellor acts as a representative of royal authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does be.el mean in the Bible?
How is be.el different from ba.al?
Where does be.el appear in Scripture?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Ezra 3 verses
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows.
Ezra 4:9Then Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the…
Ezra 4:17Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions…