The Hebrew name Baʻal Pᵉrâtsîym, represented by H1188, means possessor of breaches. It appears 4 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. This term is not a common noun but the proper name given to a specific place in Palestine to commemorate a significant military and spiritual victory.
In the biblical narrative, Baalperazim is the name David gives to the site of a decisive victory. After coming up to the location, David and his men smote their enemies 2 Samuel 5:20. David explains the new name by declaring, "The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters" 2 Samuel 5:20. The parallel account states that David attributed the victory to God, saying, "God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters" 1 Chronicles 14:11. Therefore, the place is explicitly named Baalperazim to remember this divine event.
The meaning of Baʻal Pᵉrâtsîym is illuminated by the words used to describe the event:
- H6555 pârats (a primitive root; to break out): This is the action God performs. David exclaims that God has "broken in" or "broken forth" upon his enemies. This word is also used to describe God's people when "The breaker" H6555 goes up before them Micah 2:13.
- H6556 perets (a break; breach, breaking forth): This noun forms the basis for "Pᵉrâtsîym" (breaches). David's comparison is to a "breach of waters" 2 Samuel 5:20, signifying an overwhelming and sudden force. This word can also mean a "gap" in a wall that needs defending Ezekiel 22:30.
- H5221 nâkâh (to strike): This describes David's role in the battle, where he and his men "smote" the enemy 1 Chronicles 14:11. This action, enabled by God, is also seen when Moses is commanded to "smite" the rock to bring forth water Exodus 17:6.
- H4325 mayim (water): This word is key to understanding the imagery. The breakthrough was not just a small crack but like a powerful flood of water, an unstoppable force of nature unleashed by God 1 Chronicles 14:11.
The theological weight of H1188 is centered on God's direct intervention in history.
- Commemorative Naming: The primary significance is in the practice of naming a place to create a memorial of God's actions. The name Baalperazim itself becomes a testimony to divine power, forever marking the spot where the "possessor of breaches" demonstrated His might.
- Divine Breakthrough: The event shows that God is the one who creates the "breach." David is the agent who smites the enemy, but he gives full credit to God, who "hath broken forth" on his behalf 2 Samuel 5:20.
- The Power of Water Imagery: The comparison to a "breach of waters" 2 Samuel 5:20 conveys the overwhelming and irresistible nature of God's power. Just as a flood breaks through all barriers, God's intervention shatters the enemy's resistance completely.
In summary, H1188 Baʻal Pᵉrâtsîym is far more than a geographical marker. It is a name born from a specific, miraculous event, encapsulating a theological truth. It stands as a permanent reminder in scripture that God is the "possessor of breaches," the one who can break through any opposition with overwhelming force, creating a path to victory for His people.
TRV