Baal

Baal (Hebrew: בַּעַל, transliteration: *Baʿal*; Arabic: بعل, transliteration: *Baʿal*; Ugaritic: 𐎁𐎓𐎍, transliteration: *bʿl*) is a term with multiple meanings in the ancient Near East. Primarily, it refers to a title or epithet meaning "lord," "master," or "owner," often used in reference to various deities, particularly the storm and fertility god of the Canaanites and other ancient Semitic peoples. In the context of ancient Canaanite religion, Baal was a prominent deity associated with storms, rain, fertility, and agriculture. The most well-known Baal is Baal Hadad, the storm god who was part of the Canaanite pantheon. The term "Baal" is also found in the Hebrew Bible, where it is often used to refer to foreign gods or idols, reflecting the biblical authors' disapproval of the worship of deities other than Yahweh. In modern Hebrew, the term "Baal" (בעל) can also mean "husband" or "owner."