Lord, possessor.

The Sun-god and the male or generative principle in nature. The principal seat and source of his cult was Phoenicia (1 Kgs. 16: 31). He was worshipped with different ideas and rites (cf. plural Baalim) in different places; by Moabites, etc., as Baal-peor (Num. 25: 1-3, 17-18); at Shechem as Baal-berith (Judg. 8: 33; Judg. 9: 4); at Ekron as Baal-zebub (2 Kgs. 1: 2). Baal is by some identified with Bel of Babylon and Zeus of Greece. The word Baal expresses the relation between lord and slave. Becoming utterly abominable from its associations, its use was abjured and Bosheth (shame) was substituted in names compounded with it. (Cf. Ishbosheth, Jerubbesheth = Gideon.) The prophets call Baal The Shame (Jer. 11: 13; Hosea 9: 10). Ashtoreth was the goddess generally worshipped along with Baal.

Compounds of Baal with a second word denote (1) an attribute of the god, (2) the place or manner of his worship, or (3) something that a place possesses.