גּוּר־בָּ֑֫עַל (gur-ba.al)
gur-ba.al
Gurbaal
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Gurbaal, meaning "dwelling of Baal," appears only once in Scripture, recorded in 2 Chronicles 26:7. It identifies a location where Arabians resided, situated likely between Palestine and the Arabian peninsula. This single mention highlights the geographic reach of King Uzziah’s military victories, showing that his influence extended into territories associated with other religious traditions.
The etymology is striking for its time: combining "gur" (dwelling or sojourner) with "baal" (lord), it explicitly references a place dedicated to a Canaanite deity. Its presence in the historical record serves as a marker of cultural and religious boundaries during the divided monarchy period, illustrating how political expansion intersected with the spiritual landscape of the ancient Near East.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Gurbaal appears just once in the Bible, tucked into a list of military victories for King Uzziah. Its meaning, "dwelling of Baal," marks a place tied to Canaanite worship, yet it stands as proof that God’s influence reached even there. This single detail reminds us that no territory is beyond the scope of His sovereignty.
When we read about ancient borders and rival gods, it can feel distant from our daily lives. Yet this verse shows that God works in complex, messy histories to bring about His purposes. It encourages us to trust that He is present even in places or situations that seem far removed from faith.
We do not need to fear the reach of evil or the depth of human history. God’s hand was active in Gurbaal, and His grace extends to every corner of our world today. This truth offers a quiet hope: no place is too far for His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ Gur1×
- Baal1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בָּ֖עַל1×
- בְּ/גוּר\־1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 26:7
God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunim.
This verse records the only biblical occurrence of Gurbaal, noting that God helped King Uzziah defeat Arabians living in this location associated with Baal worship.