בַּעַל בְּרִית (ba.al be.rit)
ba.al be.rit
Baal-berith
N:N-M-TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-T
Word Overview
The name Baal-berith, meaning "lord of the covenant," refers to a deity worshipped by the Philistines in the region of Shechem. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the book of Judges (9:4, 20). The term combines baal, often translated as owner or lord, with berith, meaning covenant or treaty.
This title likely described a local manifestation of the storm god Baal, specifically associated with agreements or treaties. In the narrative context, the people of Shechem made a covenant with this god after Abimelech was murdered, highlighting how political alliances and religious devotion were intertwined in ancient Israelite history. The rarity of the name underscores its specific regional and historical significance rather than widespread national worship.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Baal-berith means "lord of the covenant." It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both in the book of Judges. This title likely described a local manifestation of the storm god Baal, specifically associated with agreements or treaties. The people of Shechem made a covenant with this god after Abimelech was murdered, highlighting how political alliances and religious devotion were intertwined in ancient Israelite history.
For your faith, this word serves as a sobering reminder of how easily loyalty can shift. When Gideon died, the children of Israel turned again and played the prostitute following the Baals, and made Baal Berith their god (Judges 8:33). It shows that even after deliverance, people often seek new lords to serve. This rarity underscores its specific regional and historical significance rather than widespread national worship.
Reflecting on this helps us examine our own commitments. Are we holding fast to the one true covenant God made with us, or are we drawn to other promises? The story of Baal-berith invites us to consider what truly governs our lives and where our ultimate trust lies in times of uncertainty.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Berith2×
- Baal-2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ֥עַל1×
- בְּרִ֖ית1×
- בְּרִ֑ית1×
- בַ֣עַל1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 8:33
As soon as Gideon was dead, the children of Israel turned again and played the prostitute following the Baals, and made Baal Berith their god.
This verse marks the immediate apostasy of Israel after Gideon's death, showing how quickly they replaced their deliverer with a new idol.
-
Judges 9:4
They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows who followed him.
Here the temple treasury funds Abimelech's violent rise to power, illustrating how religious corruption enables political injustice.