### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **baʻălâh**, represented by `{{H1172}}`, is the feminine form of `baʻal` and is defined as **a mistress** or "that hath." It is a rare term, appearing only **4 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. Its usage consistently points to a woman who has ownership, mastery, or authority, whether over a household or over illicit spiritual forces.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its scriptural occurrences, `{{H1172}}` is used in a few key ways. In a neutral domestic context, it describes the "mistress of the house" whose son falls ill [[1 Kings 17:17]]. However, its other appearances carry a darker connotation. When King Saul seeks a medium, he asks his servants to find "a woman that **hath** a familiar spirit" [[1 Samuel 28:7]], using `{{H1172}}` to signify her possession of forbidden abilities. The most condemnatory use is in the book of Nahum, which describes a "wellfavoured harlot" as "the **mistress** of witchcrafts," who corrupts entire nations [[Nahum 3:4]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the sinister context often associated with `{{H1172}}`:
* `{{H178}}` **ʼôwb** (familiar spirit): This term is what the woman in [[1 Samuel 28:7]] possesses. Defined as a necromancer or the spirit channeled, it establishes the forbidden nature of her authority as a **mistress**.
* `{{H3785}}` **kesheph** (magic; sorcery, witchcraft): The **mistress** in [[Nahum 3:4]] is a master of **witchcrafts**. This connects her directly to practices that are condemned throughout scripture.
* `{{H2181}}` **zânâh** (harlot): The same **mistress** of witchcrafts is also identified as a **harlot** [[Nahum 3:4]]. This term is frequently used figuratively for idolatry, linking her spiritual corruption to unfaithfulness against God.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1172}}` lies in its portrayal of female authority in forbidden contexts.
* **Illicit Spiritual Authority:** The term is used for the "woman that **hath** a familiar spirit" [[1 Samuel 28:7]] and the "**mistress** of witchcrafts" [[Nahum 3:4]]. In both cases, it signifies a woman wielding power in realms that God has explicitly prohibited.
* **A Source of Corruption:** In Nahum, the **mistress** is one "that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts" [[Nahum 3:4]]. This presents such authority not as a private sin, but as a destructive force that leads many into idolatry and spiritual ruin.
* **Contrast with Domestic Authority:** The neutral application of `{{H1172}}` to the "**mistress** of the house" [[1 Kings 17:17]] highlights the perversion seen in its other uses. It contrasts a legitimate role of household management with a sinister mastery over the occult.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1172}}` is a specific and powerful term. While it can simply mean a female head of a household, its primary biblical role is to identify a woman who has mastery over condemned spiritual practices. It connects the concept of female ownership directly with the grave sins of witchcraft and idolatry, framing such a figure as a potent source of spiritual corruption. As the feminine of a word meaning "master," **baʻălâh** defines a woman's dominion, which is shown to be used for both domestic charge and profound evil.
TRV