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Baal

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A Canaanite deity of storms and fertility, often seen as a rival to Yahweh; in biblical poetry, he represents false worship, religious conflict, and nature's raw power, symbolizing opposition to monotheism.

Detailed Definition
Baal was worshipped as a god of rain, storms, and agricultural abundance in Canaanite religion, frequently condemned in the Hebrew Bible as a rival to Yahweh. Elijah’s contest with Baal’s prophets on Mount Carmel epitomizes this conflict. In poetry, Baal symbolizes idolatry, false power, and the seductive allure of nature worship contrasted with the ethical monotheism of Israel.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Baal worship symbolizes idolatry and rebellion against God; In William Blake’s "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," Baal represents false systems of control; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Baal’s prophets contrast with true worship; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Baal warns against divided loyalties; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Baal symbolizes the seduction of false gods; In T.S. Eliot’s "The Waste Land," Baal’s fertility rites echo in modern barrenness.
Additional Notes
Baal: Canaanite storm god, chief rival to Yahweh in Israel’s history; symbol of idolatry, syncretism, and moral compromise. In poetry, “Baal” functions as a metonym for false worship, empty promises, or the seduction of power. Elijah’s contest on Carmel (1 Kings 18) offers dramatic imagery. Avoid literalizing—use Baal to explore modern idolatries (wealth, ideology, self).
Also Known As
Baal the Canaanite deity Baal Hadad
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