bʿl

Common Semitic noun *baʿl-, lord.

1.

a. Baal, from Hebrew baʿal, lord, Baal;

b. Beelzebub, from Hebrew baʿal zəbûb, lord (of the) fly, pejorative alteration of baʿal zəbûl, lord prince (name of a Philistine god; see ḏbb and zbl).

2.

a. Hannibal, from Phoenician (Punic) *ḥannī-baʿl, my grace (is) Baal (see ḥnn);

b. Hasdrubal, from Phoenician (Punic) *ʿazrō-baʿl, his help (is) Baal (see ʿḏr). Both a and b from Phoenician (Punic) *baʿl, lord, Baal.

3. Belshazzar, from Hebrew bēlšaṣṣar, from Akkadian bēl-šar-uṣur, “Bel, protect the king,” from bēl, absolute form of bēlu, lord, Bel (Akkadian god; šar, king, and uṣur, protect; see śrr and nt̞r).

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