English · KJV
H1166

בָּעַל

bâʻal /baw-al'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root · also as denominative from בַּעַל
Meaningto be master; hence, to marry
KJV usagehave dominion (over), be husband, marry(-ried
Idioms & phrasesidiom wife).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of bâʻal — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word bâʻal, represented by H1166, is a primitive root meaning to be master, to marry, or have dominion over. It appears 16 times across 14 unique verses, establishing a powerful connection between the concepts of lordship, ownership, and the covenant of marriage. Its usage illustrates a spectrum of meaning from legal statutes to profound theological metaphors.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H1166 is used in both literal and figurative contexts. In law, it defines the marital state, such as when a man has taken a wife and married her Deuteronomy 24:1 or in the case of a woman married to a husband Deuteronomy 22:22. The word also denotes authority and control, as when other lords are said to have had dominion over Israel Isaiah 26:13 or when certain men had dominion in Moab 1 Chronicles 4:22. Figuratively, the term is elevated to describe God's relationship with His people, as when the LORD declares to Israel, "I am married unto you" Jeremiah 3:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concepts of marriage, lordship, and authority:

  • H1167 baʻal (a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner): This is the noun form from which the verb is derived, often appearing alongside it to define a married woman as belonging to a husband Deuteronomy 22:22.
  • H802 ʼishshâh (a woman; wife): This is the direct counterpart to a husband in the marital union. The act of H1166 establishes the relationship between a man H376 and a wife Deuteronomy 24:1.
  • H113 ʼâdôwn (lord, master, owner): This word reinforces the theme of sovereignty. It is used in parallel with H1166 to describe the "other lords" who had dominion over Israel Isaiah 26:13.
  • H1350 gâʼal (to redeem): This word is linked to the idea of a kinsman redeeming property or marrying a widow. It is used alongside H1166 when describing God as Israel's Redeemer and husband Isaiah 54:5.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1166 is immense, framing the covenant between God and His people in the intimate terms of marriage.

  • Divine Husbandry: The LORD describes Himself as a husband H1166 to Israel, even when they broke His covenant Jeremiah 31:32. This illustrates His faithfulness and the deep, personal nature of His bond with them.
  • A Redeemed Bride: The name Hephzibah, meaning "my delight is in her," is given to the restored land, which is described as "Beulah," meaning married H1166. This signifies a renewed relationship where God rejoices over His people like a bridegroom Isaiah 62:4-5.
  • The Maker as Husband: God's role as Creator is directly tied to his role as husband. In Isaiah 54:5, Israel is told, "For thy Maker is thine husband," linking His authority as creator with his loving commitment as a spouse.

Summary

In summary, H1166 is more than a term for marriage or mastery. It serves as a foundational word that connects the legal, social, and spiritual realms. It begins with the earthly reality of dominion and a husband's role and expands into a profound theological picture of God's covenantal love, authority over, and delight in His chosen people, whom He claims as His own.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 16 occurrences, inflected in 11 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • תִּבָּעֵל
  • בְעוּלָה
  • בְּעֻלַת
  • בָּעַלְתִּי
  • בְּעָלוּ
  • בְעַלְתָּ
  • בְעָלָ
  • יִבְעָלוּ
  • יִבְעַל
  • בֹעֲלַיִ
  • בָעַל

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1167 בַּעַל from בָּעַל; a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this H802 אִשָּׁה feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess H376 אִישׁ contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male pe H113 אָדוֹן or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, H1350 גָּאַל a primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship), i.e.; to be the next of kin (and as such to buy

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 14 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (5 verses); never once in the other 32.

1
Genesis
3
Deuteronomy
1
1 Chronicles
1
Proverbs
5
Isaiah
2
Jeremiah
1
Malachi

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.