Baal/Baalim
The word ‘Baal’ means lord; however, it is a pagan lord. An example of the word baal meaning ‘lord’ is the name of the pagan Baal-Zebub (Judges 10:6; Matthew 10:25) which meansthe lord of the flies. If you study Bible history you will find that there were many different types of Baal and all represented pagan lords. You can use any study Bible to trace the different Baal names and meanings. I have used both the NIV (©1985 The Zondervan Corporation) and the New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D.; Thomas Nelson Publishers 1990 edition) for my study. However, the following information is my own study and is worded as such. This document on Baal/Baalim and another document on Gnosticism are the only two times that I have used any information taken from the NIV Bible version. I prefer reading only the Old Kings James Version. All scripture is from the Old King James Version. As Christians we have tried to re-package paganism. It does not matter today what we call our revered Christian male idols/images because the first ones were called Baal. Jeremiah 9:14: But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them. Paganism re-packaged does not make it Christian. Whether we call our idolatrous Christian images Jesus or a saint they all represent Baal. Below are some of the names and meanings of the original Baals, and Satan and His evil spirits (devils) are behind them all, including the Baals Christians have today.
· Baal-Berith – The Hebrew meaning of this Baal is “Baal of (the) covenant… a special deity of the Shechemites” (Judges 8:33; 9:46);it was lord or god of the covenant, and Satan does make covenants, which do include blood and sexual acts – this is what Baal-Berith represents – a covenant with Satan.
· Baal-Gad – Joshua 11:17; 12:7; 13:5; The Hebrew meaning of this Baal is “Baal of fortune; Baal-Gad, a place in Syria”. Its meaning goes along with the next Baal.
· Baal-Hamon – (Song of Solomon 8:11) Hamon is Hebrew for wealth. Satan does give people wealth! Yes, even today Satan can assign his devils to give us wealth. The scripture calls Satan’s evil spirits devils. One of the Greek meanings for devils in New Testament scripture is “Daimon, dah’-ee-mown; from daio (to distribute small fortunes); a demon or supernatural spirit (of a bad nature):- devil”. Notice the Greek says “to distribute small fortunes” – proof that Satan and his evil spirits (devils/demons) can cause a person to prosper and create in their heart the love of money! Being rich is not bad but we better be careful who and where the wealth comes from, and how much we love it! I Timothy 6:10: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
· Baal-Peor – (Numbers 25:1-3; Hosea 9:10; I Corinthians 10:8) Moabite LORD OF PERVERSION (Deuteronomy 4:2-4: Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the Lord did because of Baal-peor: for all the men that follow Baal-peor, the Lord thy God hath destroyed them from among you. But ye that did cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day.)
· Baal-Perazim – (II Samuel 5:20) was a Philistine godand some of the Philistine’s were Ham’s descendents – some of Ham’s descendents practiced homosexuality.
· Baal-Zebub – (Judges 10:6; Matthew 10:25) is the lord of the flies and Baal-zebub is the chief of evil spirits; also see Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24, 27; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18-19) for its Greek meaning ‘beelzeboul, beh-el-zeb-ool’ which is a “dung god”; or “Beelzebul, a name of Satan:- Beelzebub”.
· Baal-Zebul – (Judges 10:6; Matthew 10:25) Zebul means prince, and Satan is called the prince of this world and the prince of the power of the air in John 14:30 and Ephesians 2:2.
· Baal-Zephon – (Exodus 14:2) was a Canaanite god and the Canaanite’s were also Ham’s descendents – some of their Baals represented homosexuality.
Whenever a person hangs a picture of Baal in their home they will attract the same evil that it represents. There is a Baal for every person’s weakness. Whatever your bondage your false pictures of reverence will reinforce it!