from רִיב and בַּעַל; Baal will contend; Jerubbaal, a symbolic name of Gideon; Jerubbaal.
Transliteration:Yᵉrubbaʻal
Pronunciation:yer-oob-bah'-al
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name Yᵉrubbaʻal (`{{H3378}}`) is a compound term derived from two distinct roots: `{{H7378}}` (rîḇ), meaning "to contend, strive, dispute, plead a cause," and `{{H1167}}` (baʿal), which primarily refers to the Canaanite storm god Baal, though it can also mean "lord" or "master." The most direct and widely accepted interpretation of Yᵉrubbaʻal is "Baal will contend" or, more dynamically, "Let Baal contend for himself." This latter interpretation implies a challenge or a dare for the deity Baal to demonstrate his power and defend his own honor. The name is not merely descriptive but profoundly symbolic, encapsulating a theological confrontation. It is exclusively associated with Gideon, serving as a powerful epithet rather than a birth name, reflecting a pivotal event in his life and in Israel's spiritual history.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The name Jerubbaal is introduced and explained in [[Judges 6:32]]. Following Gideon's audacious act of destroying his father's altar to Baal and cutting down the Asherah pole, the men of the city demanded his execution. However, Gideon's father, Joash, intervened with a poignant challenge: "If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has torn down his altar." It was from this event and Joash's defiant statement that Gideon received the name Jerubbaal.
Subsequent occurrences of the name reinforce its significance:
* [[Judges 7:1]]: "Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early..." This verse explicitly links Jerubbaal with Gideon, indicating it as an alternative or additional name.
* [[Judges 8:29]]: "Gideon son of Joash returned and lived in his own house."
* [[Judges 8:35]]: "Nor did they show kindness to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good he had done for Israel." Here, the name serves to identify Gideon's lineage and legacy.
* [[Judges 9:1]], [[Judges 9:5]], [[Judges 9:16]], [[Judges 9:19]], [[Judges 9:24]], [[Judges 9:28]]: In the narrative of Abimelech, Gideon's son, the name Jerubbaal is frequently invoked, often by Abimelech or those opposing him, to highlight his father's identity and the complex legacy of his rule, which began with a challenge to Baal.
* [[1 Samuel 12:11]]: The prophet Samuel lists Jerubbaal among the deliverers whom Yahweh sent to rescue Israel from their enemies, underscoring his role in divine salvation history.
The consistent usage of Jerubbaal throughout the book of Judges, particularly after the account of Gideon's initial act, underscores its enduring symbolic weight as a testament to Gideon's pivotal role in challenging idolatry and asserting Yahweh's supremacy.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of Yᵉrubbaʻal is deeply intertwined with several key Hebrew terms and theological concepts:
* `{{H7378}}` (rîḇ): This root signifies contention, dispute, or a legal case. Its inclusion in Jerubbaal highlights the confrontational and judicial nature of Gideon's act—it was a direct challenge to Baal's authority and a test of his supposed divine power.
* `{{H1167}}` (baʿal): The name of the Canaanite storm god, widely worshipped in ancient Israel. The very presence of "Baal" in the name Jerubbaal signifies the direct theological conflict between Yahweh and the false gods of the surrounding nations.
* `{{H1168}}` (Baʿal Bĕrîṯ): "Baal of the Covenant," a specific manifestation of Baal worshipped in Shechem, mentioned in [[Judges 8:33]] and [[Judges 9:4]]. This shows the pervasive nature of Baal worship even after Gideon's actions.
* `{{H1414}}` (Gidʻôn): Gideon's original name, meaning "hewer" or "feller," which ironically foreshadows his act of hewing down Baal's altar and Asherah pole.
* `{{H3379}}` (Yᵉrubbesheth): This later variant of Jerubbaal, found in [[2 Samuel 11:21]], replaces "Baal" with "bosheth" (`{{H1322}}`), meaning "shame" or "disgrace." This linguistic alteration reflects the growing Israelite aversion to uttering the name of the pagan deity and a deliberate theological reinterpretation to denigrate Baal as a "shameful thing." This variant underscores the ultimate theological victory over Baal worship.
### Theological Significance
The name Jerubbaal carries profound theological significance, primarily serving as a potent symbol of Yahweh's sovereignty over false gods and a definitive challenge to idolatry.
1. **Assertion of Yahweh's Supremacy:** By daring Baal to contend for himself, Gideon, through his father's words, implicitly asserts that only the true God, Yahweh, possesses the power to defend His honor and deliver His people. If Baal cannot even protect his own altar, he is no god at all. This act shifts the responsibility of divine defense from human zeal to the supposed deity's own impotence.
2. **Condemnation of Idolatry:** Jerubbaal stands as a perpetual reminder of the futility and blasphemy of worshipping pagan deities. It encapsulates a decisive moment where the spiritual battle against Baal worship was fought and won, at least symbolically, through a direct confrontation.
3. **Prophetic Naming and Divine Purpose:** Like other symbolic names in Scripture (e.g., Immanuel, Hosea's children), Jerubbaal is a name imbued with divine purpose. It marks Gideon not merely as a military leader but as an instrument of Yahweh's judgment against idolatry and a catalyst for spiritual renewal.
4. **Legacy of Faithfulness and Defiance:** The name Jerubbaal serves as a lasting testament to Gideon's initial act of courageous obedience and faith in Yahweh, despite his later struggles. It reminds future generations of the importance of standing against the prevailing spiritual darkness and trusting in Yahweh's power to contend for His own name.
### Summary
Yᵉrubbaʻal (`{{H3378}}`) is a significant symbolic name given to Gideon (`{{H1414}}`) in [[Judges 6:32]]. Derived from `{{H7378}}` ("to contend") and `{{H1167}}` ("Baal"), it translates as "Baal will contend" or, more forcefully, "Let Baal contend for himself." This name was bestowed upon Gideon after he destroyed his father's altar to the Canaanite god Baal, a direct challenge to the prevailing idolatry in Israel. Theologically, Jerubbaal encapsulates the assertion of Yahweh's supreme sovereignty over false gods, serving as a powerful condemnation of idolatry and a testament to Gideon's role as an instrument of divine judgment. Its continued usage throughout the book of Judges and its later alteration to `{{H3379}}` (Jerubbesheth, "shameful Baal") underscore its enduring theological significance in the biblical narrative of Israel's spiritual struggles and Yahweh's ultimate triumph.
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