בַּ֫עַל שָׁלִשָׁה (ba.al sha.li.shah)
ba.al sha.li.shah
Baal-shalishah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
Baal-shalishah is a proper noun designating a specific location in the territory of Ephraim, situated near Gilgal. The name itself translates to "thrice-great lord," combining the element baal with shalisha, which suggests a superlative or third degree of greatness. This etymology hints at the site’s possible significance as a local center of worship or administration before it appears in biblical narrative.
The place is mentioned only once in the Hebrew Bible, in 2 Kings 4:42. Here, it serves as the starting point for a man bringing twenty barley loaves and fresh grain to the prophet Elisha. The brief reference anchors the miracle of feeding a hundred men in a real geographical context, linking the prophetic ministry to the everyday provisions found in this Ephraimite village.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Baal-shalishah means "thrice-great lord," a title that might suggest ancient local worship or high status. Yet in Scripture, this place appears only once, not as a center of power, but as the starting point for an act of quiet generosity. A man traveled from there to bring twenty barley loaves and fresh grain to the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 4:42). This small offering became the source of a miracle that fed a hundred people.
What matters here is not the grandeur of the location, but the faithfulness of the giver. He brought what he had, trusting that God could multiply it. We often feel our contributions are too small to make a difference, yet this story reminds us that God uses ordinary acts of kindness to meet extraordinary needs. Your daily provisions, when offered in trust, can become a blessing for many.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ Baal1×
- Shalisha1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁלִ֗שָׁה1×
- מִ/בַּ֣עַל1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 4:42
A man from Baal Shalishah came, and brought the man of God some bread of the first fruits: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, “Give to the people, that they may eat.”
This verse identifies Baal-shalishah as the origin of the man who brought the barley loaves that Elisha multiplied to feed a hundred.