Baali
בַּעֲלִי/BAY-uh-lye/
“My lord, my master”
Summary
A Hebrew title meaning 'my lord' or 'my master' that Israel had applied to God but which would be replaced by the more intimate term 'Ishi' (my husband).
☩Prophetic Significance
In Hosea's prophecy, God declares that Israel would no longer call Him 'Baali' (my master/lord) but 'Ishi' (my husband), representing a transition from a distant, formal relationship to one of intimate love. The term 'Baali' had unfortunate associations with Baal worship, as the same word was used for the Canaanite deity.
Key verses:Hosea 2:16-17
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Baali," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Baali," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).