In Hosea 2:16, why did Israel call YHWH “My Baal”?

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I understand that YHWH revealed himself to Israel by different names, which "Baal" was never one of such identity tags. Evidently, the revelation of each name was akin to a specific manifestation of his wonders.



When Hosea says,




And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and
no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’ (Hosea 2:16 ESV)




I am left with reservations as to whether YHWH by accident or design exhibited some attributes that made Israel to address him as "My Baal". If not, then, why were they addressing YHWH as "My Baal"?










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    up vote
    3
    down vote

    favorite












    I understand that YHWH revealed himself to Israel by different names, which "Baal" was never one of such identity tags. Evidently, the revelation of each name was akin to a specific manifestation of his wonders.



    When Hosea says,




    And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and
    no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’ (Hosea 2:16 ESV)




    I am left with reservations as to whether YHWH by accident or design exhibited some attributes that made Israel to address him as "My Baal". If not, then, why were they addressing YHWH as "My Baal"?










    share|improve this question

























      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite











      I understand that YHWH revealed himself to Israel by different names, which "Baal" was never one of such identity tags. Evidently, the revelation of each name was akin to a specific manifestation of his wonders.



      When Hosea says,




      And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and
      no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’ (Hosea 2:16 ESV)




      I am left with reservations as to whether YHWH by accident or design exhibited some attributes that made Israel to address him as "My Baal". If not, then, why were they addressing YHWH as "My Baal"?










      share|improve this question















      I understand that YHWH revealed himself to Israel by different names, which "Baal" was never one of such identity tags. Evidently, the revelation of each name was akin to a specific manifestation of his wonders.



      When Hosea says,




      And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and
      no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’ (Hosea 2:16 ESV)




      I am left with reservations as to whether YHWH by accident or design exhibited some attributes that made Israel to address him as "My Baal". If not, then, why were they addressing YHWH as "My Baal"?







      hosea






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      edited 2 hours ago

























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      Ernest Abinokhauno

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          2 Answers
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          active

          oldest

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          up vote
          2
          down vote













          The noun "baal" (בעל) has several meanings. The four most common are:



          1. owner (or master) - as in Exodus 21:34, "the owner of the pit must pay"

          2. having some characteristic - Genesis 37:19, "here's that dreamer of dreams", Ecclesiastes 10:20, "and a bird [lit. a thing with wings] will inform"

          3. the common term for Canaanite deities, probably from the meaning "master"

          4. husband (master) of a wife - Exodus 21:3, "if he is master of a wife (has a wife, is married)"

          The noun "ish" (איש) can mean "man" or in the possessive with relation to a woman means "husband".



          So "baal" and "ish" are two common ways of expressing the relationship of husband in Hebrew. As an off-topic side note, in modern Hebrew, although the term "baal" is the more common term for husband, some women who object to the overtone of "master" inherent in "baal" use the term "ishi", "my man" when referring to their husbands rather than "baali".



          Hosea uses the allegory of courtship and marriage to describe the relationship of Israel to God, where Israel is the bride and God is the groom or husband. The use of this allegory then sets up possibility of playing off the two meanings of "baal" as the Canaanite god or gods with whom Israel is unfaithful, and "baal" as Israel's "husband", referring to God.



          My translation of verse 2:16 (MT 2:18) is




          And it will be in that day, says YHVH, that you will call me "my husband" ("ishi") and will no longer call me "my husband" ("baali").




          That is, the verse uses two common synonyms for "husband", each with it's own connotations.



          The first synonym for husband, "ishi", is a reference to the use of this term for husband in verse 2 (MT 4) where "ishi" connotates intimacy and love "my man" (as noted by RASHI). The second synonym for husband in verse 16, "baali", has a less intimate connotation of "master" and is a play on the use of "baal" referring to the Canaanite gods. Continuing this play on synonyms, the following verse, (NIV 17):




          I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.




          can also be read as:




          I will remove the names of the husbands [with whom she has been unfaithful to me] from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.







          share|improve this answer




















          • How would you explain the use of "baali" in King James and "baal" in other versions? And also the relationship that the name "baal" has with the gods of the Ekronites?
            – Ernest Abinokhauno
            1 hour ago











          • Excellent Answer +1
            – Dr Peter McGowan
            1 hour ago










          • The KJV solves the synonym translation problem by not translating at all, just using the Hebrew nouns in transliteration, "And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.". The term "baal" referring to Canaanite gods is not a reference to any specific god or gods, who are of no concern to the prophet, just to foreign gods in general with whom Israel has been unfaithful.
            – Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim
            1 hour ago











          • The NIV renders this verse, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me "my master'".
            – Dr Peter McGowan
            1 hour ago










          • I am satisfied with your answer here, Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim. But I am still not sure of why the Canaanites address their gods as Baal (in conversation with your answer to my initial question.)
            – Ernest Abinokhauno
            49 mins ago

















          up vote
          0
          down vote













          It seems it's because they had backslided.






          share|improve this answer




















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            2 Answers
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            2 Answers
            2






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            active

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            active

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            up vote
            2
            down vote













            The noun "baal" (בעל) has several meanings. The four most common are:



            1. owner (or master) - as in Exodus 21:34, "the owner of the pit must pay"

            2. having some characteristic - Genesis 37:19, "here's that dreamer of dreams", Ecclesiastes 10:20, "and a bird [lit. a thing with wings] will inform"

            3. the common term for Canaanite deities, probably from the meaning "master"

            4. husband (master) of a wife - Exodus 21:3, "if he is master of a wife (has a wife, is married)"

            The noun "ish" (איש) can mean "man" or in the possessive with relation to a woman means "husband".



            So "baal" and "ish" are two common ways of expressing the relationship of husband in Hebrew. As an off-topic side note, in modern Hebrew, although the term "baal" is the more common term for husband, some women who object to the overtone of "master" inherent in "baal" use the term "ishi", "my man" when referring to their husbands rather than "baali".



            Hosea uses the allegory of courtship and marriage to describe the relationship of Israel to God, where Israel is the bride and God is the groom or husband. The use of this allegory then sets up possibility of playing off the two meanings of "baal" as the Canaanite god or gods with whom Israel is unfaithful, and "baal" as Israel's "husband", referring to God.



            My translation of verse 2:16 (MT 2:18) is




            And it will be in that day, says YHVH, that you will call me "my husband" ("ishi") and will no longer call me "my husband" ("baali").




            That is, the verse uses two common synonyms for "husband", each with it's own connotations.



            The first synonym for husband, "ishi", is a reference to the use of this term for husband in verse 2 (MT 4) where "ishi" connotates intimacy and love "my man" (as noted by RASHI). The second synonym for husband in verse 16, "baali", has a less intimate connotation of "master" and is a play on the use of "baal" referring to the Canaanite gods. Continuing this play on synonyms, the following verse, (NIV 17):




            I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.




            can also be read as:




            I will remove the names of the husbands [with whom she has been unfaithful to me] from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.







            share|improve this answer




















            • How would you explain the use of "baali" in King James and "baal" in other versions? And also the relationship that the name "baal" has with the gods of the Ekronites?
              – Ernest Abinokhauno
              1 hour ago











            • Excellent Answer +1
              – Dr Peter McGowan
              1 hour ago










            • The KJV solves the synonym translation problem by not translating at all, just using the Hebrew nouns in transliteration, "And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.". The term "baal" referring to Canaanite gods is not a reference to any specific god or gods, who are of no concern to the prophet, just to foreign gods in general with whom Israel has been unfaithful.
              – Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim
              1 hour ago











            • The NIV renders this verse, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me "my master'".
              – Dr Peter McGowan
              1 hour ago










            • I am satisfied with your answer here, Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim. But I am still not sure of why the Canaanites address their gods as Baal (in conversation with your answer to my initial question.)
              – Ernest Abinokhauno
              49 mins ago














            up vote
            2
            down vote













            The noun "baal" (בעל) has several meanings. The four most common are:



            1. owner (or master) - as in Exodus 21:34, "the owner of the pit must pay"

            2. having some characteristic - Genesis 37:19, "here's that dreamer of dreams", Ecclesiastes 10:20, "and a bird [lit. a thing with wings] will inform"

            3. the common term for Canaanite deities, probably from the meaning "master"

            4. husband (master) of a wife - Exodus 21:3, "if he is master of a wife (has a wife, is married)"

            The noun "ish" (איש) can mean "man" or in the possessive with relation to a woman means "husband".



            So "baal" and "ish" are two common ways of expressing the relationship of husband in Hebrew. As an off-topic side note, in modern Hebrew, although the term "baal" is the more common term for husband, some women who object to the overtone of "master" inherent in "baal" use the term "ishi", "my man" when referring to their husbands rather than "baali".



            Hosea uses the allegory of courtship and marriage to describe the relationship of Israel to God, where Israel is the bride and God is the groom or husband. The use of this allegory then sets up possibility of playing off the two meanings of "baal" as the Canaanite god or gods with whom Israel is unfaithful, and "baal" as Israel's "husband", referring to God.



            My translation of verse 2:16 (MT 2:18) is




            And it will be in that day, says YHVH, that you will call me "my husband" ("ishi") and will no longer call me "my husband" ("baali").




            That is, the verse uses two common synonyms for "husband", each with it's own connotations.



            The first synonym for husband, "ishi", is a reference to the use of this term for husband in verse 2 (MT 4) where "ishi" connotates intimacy and love "my man" (as noted by RASHI). The second synonym for husband in verse 16, "baali", has a less intimate connotation of "master" and is a play on the use of "baal" referring to the Canaanite gods. Continuing this play on synonyms, the following verse, (NIV 17):




            I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.




            can also be read as:




            I will remove the names of the husbands [with whom she has been unfaithful to me] from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.







            share|improve this answer




















            • How would you explain the use of "baali" in King James and "baal" in other versions? And also the relationship that the name "baal" has with the gods of the Ekronites?
              – Ernest Abinokhauno
              1 hour ago











            • Excellent Answer +1
              – Dr Peter McGowan
              1 hour ago










            • The KJV solves the synonym translation problem by not translating at all, just using the Hebrew nouns in transliteration, "And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.". The term "baal" referring to Canaanite gods is not a reference to any specific god or gods, who are of no concern to the prophet, just to foreign gods in general with whom Israel has been unfaithful.
              – Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim
              1 hour ago











            • The NIV renders this verse, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me "my master'".
              – Dr Peter McGowan
              1 hour ago










            • I am satisfied with your answer here, Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim. But I am still not sure of why the Canaanites address their gods as Baal (in conversation with your answer to my initial question.)
              – Ernest Abinokhauno
              49 mins ago












            up vote
            2
            down vote










            up vote
            2
            down vote









            The noun "baal" (בעל) has several meanings. The four most common are:



            1. owner (or master) - as in Exodus 21:34, "the owner of the pit must pay"

            2. having some characteristic - Genesis 37:19, "here's that dreamer of dreams", Ecclesiastes 10:20, "and a bird [lit. a thing with wings] will inform"

            3. the common term for Canaanite deities, probably from the meaning "master"

            4. husband (master) of a wife - Exodus 21:3, "if he is master of a wife (has a wife, is married)"

            The noun "ish" (איש) can mean "man" or in the possessive with relation to a woman means "husband".



            So "baal" and "ish" are two common ways of expressing the relationship of husband in Hebrew. As an off-topic side note, in modern Hebrew, although the term "baal" is the more common term for husband, some women who object to the overtone of "master" inherent in "baal" use the term "ishi", "my man" when referring to their husbands rather than "baali".



            Hosea uses the allegory of courtship and marriage to describe the relationship of Israel to God, where Israel is the bride and God is the groom or husband. The use of this allegory then sets up possibility of playing off the two meanings of "baal" as the Canaanite god or gods with whom Israel is unfaithful, and "baal" as Israel's "husband", referring to God.



            My translation of verse 2:16 (MT 2:18) is




            And it will be in that day, says YHVH, that you will call me "my husband" ("ishi") and will no longer call me "my husband" ("baali").




            That is, the verse uses two common synonyms for "husband", each with it's own connotations.



            The first synonym for husband, "ishi", is a reference to the use of this term for husband in verse 2 (MT 4) where "ishi" connotates intimacy and love "my man" (as noted by RASHI). The second synonym for husband in verse 16, "baali", has a less intimate connotation of "master" and is a play on the use of "baal" referring to the Canaanite gods. Continuing this play on synonyms, the following verse, (NIV 17):




            I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.




            can also be read as:




            I will remove the names of the husbands [with whom she has been unfaithful to me] from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.







            share|improve this answer












            The noun "baal" (בעל) has several meanings. The four most common are:



            1. owner (or master) - as in Exodus 21:34, "the owner of the pit must pay"

            2. having some characteristic - Genesis 37:19, "here's that dreamer of dreams", Ecclesiastes 10:20, "and a bird [lit. a thing with wings] will inform"

            3. the common term for Canaanite deities, probably from the meaning "master"

            4. husband (master) of a wife - Exodus 21:3, "if he is master of a wife (has a wife, is married)"

            The noun "ish" (איש) can mean "man" or in the possessive with relation to a woman means "husband".



            So "baal" and "ish" are two common ways of expressing the relationship of husband in Hebrew. As an off-topic side note, in modern Hebrew, although the term "baal" is the more common term for husband, some women who object to the overtone of "master" inherent in "baal" use the term "ishi", "my man" when referring to their husbands rather than "baali".



            Hosea uses the allegory of courtship and marriage to describe the relationship of Israel to God, where Israel is the bride and God is the groom or husband. The use of this allegory then sets up possibility of playing off the two meanings of "baal" as the Canaanite god or gods with whom Israel is unfaithful, and "baal" as Israel's "husband", referring to God.



            My translation of verse 2:16 (MT 2:18) is




            And it will be in that day, says YHVH, that you will call me "my husband" ("ishi") and will no longer call me "my husband" ("baali").




            That is, the verse uses two common synonyms for "husband", each with it's own connotations.



            The first synonym for husband, "ishi", is a reference to the use of this term for husband in verse 2 (MT 4) where "ishi" connotates intimacy and love "my man" (as noted by RASHI). The second synonym for husband in verse 16, "baali", has a less intimate connotation of "master" and is a play on the use of "baal" referring to the Canaanite gods. Continuing this play on synonyms, the following verse, (NIV 17):




            I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.




            can also be read as:




            I will remove the names of the husbands [with whom she has been unfaithful to me] from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.








            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 1 hour ago









            Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim

            3,836725




            3,836725











            • How would you explain the use of "baali" in King James and "baal" in other versions? And also the relationship that the name "baal" has with the gods of the Ekronites?
              – Ernest Abinokhauno
              1 hour ago











            • Excellent Answer +1
              – Dr Peter McGowan
              1 hour ago










            • The KJV solves the synonym translation problem by not translating at all, just using the Hebrew nouns in transliteration, "And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.". The term "baal" referring to Canaanite gods is not a reference to any specific god or gods, who are of no concern to the prophet, just to foreign gods in general with whom Israel has been unfaithful.
              – Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim
              1 hour ago











            • The NIV renders this verse, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me "my master'".
              – Dr Peter McGowan
              1 hour ago










            • I am satisfied with your answer here, Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim. But I am still not sure of why the Canaanites address their gods as Baal (in conversation with your answer to my initial question.)
              – Ernest Abinokhauno
              49 mins ago
















            • How would you explain the use of "baali" in King James and "baal" in other versions? And also the relationship that the name "baal" has with the gods of the Ekronites?
              – Ernest Abinokhauno
              1 hour ago











            • Excellent Answer +1
              – Dr Peter McGowan
              1 hour ago










            • The KJV solves the synonym translation problem by not translating at all, just using the Hebrew nouns in transliteration, "And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.". The term "baal" referring to Canaanite gods is not a reference to any specific god or gods, who are of no concern to the prophet, just to foreign gods in general with whom Israel has been unfaithful.
              – Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim
              1 hour ago











            • The NIV renders this verse, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me "my master'".
              – Dr Peter McGowan
              1 hour ago










            • I am satisfied with your answer here, Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim. But I am still not sure of why the Canaanites address their gods as Baal (in conversation with your answer to my initial question.)
              – Ernest Abinokhauno
              49 mins ago















            How would you explain the use of "baali" in King James and "baal" in other versions? And also the relationship that the name "baal" has with the gods of the Ekronites?
            – Ernest Abinokhauno
            1 hour ago





            How would you explain the use of "baali" in King James and "baal" in other versions? And also the relationship that the name "baal" has with the gods of the Ekronites?
            – Ernest Abinokhauno
            1 hour ago













            Excellent Answer +1
            – Dr Peter McGowan
            1 hour ago




            Excellent Answer +1
            – Dr Peter McGowan
            1 hour ago












            The KJV solves the synonym translation problem by not translating at all, just using the Hebrew nouns in transliteration, "And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.". The term "baal" referring to Canaanite gods is not a reference to any specific god or gods, who are of no concern to the prophet, just to foreign gods in general with whom Israel has been unfaithful.
            – Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim
            1 hour ago





            The KJV solves the synonym translation problem by not translating at all, just using the Hebrew nouns in transliteration, "And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.". The term "baal" referring to Canaanite gods is not a reference to any specific god or gods, who are of no concern to the prophet, just to foreign gods in general with whom Israel has been unfaithful.
            – Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim
            1 hour ago













            The NIV renders this verse, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me "my master'".
            – Dr Peter McGowan
            1 hour ago




            The NIV renders this verse, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me "my master'".
            – Dr Peter McGowan
            1 hour ago












            I am satisfied with your answer here, Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim. But I am still not sure of why the Canaanites address their gods as Baal (in conversation with your answer to my initial question.)
            – Ernest Abinokhauno
            49 mins ago




            I am satisfied with your answer here, Abu Munir Ibn Ibrahim. But I am still not sure of why the Canaanites address their gods as Baal (in conversation with your answer to my initial question.)
            – Ernest Abinokhauno
            49 mins ago










            up vote
            0
            down vote













            It seems it's because they had backslided.






            share|improve this answer
























              up vote
              0
              down vote













              It seems it's because they had backslided.






              share|improve this answer






















                up vote
                0
                down vote










                up vote
                0
                down vote









                It seems it's because they had backslided.






                share|improve this answer












                It seems it's because they had backslided.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 1 hour ago









                Oluwabunmi Ernest

                575




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