Editing Baal (section)

===Etymology===
The spelling of the English term "Baal" derives from the [[Koine Greek|Greek]] ''Báal'' ({{lang|grc|Βάαλ}}) which appears in the [[New Testament]]<ref>Romans 11:4</ref> and [[Septuagint]],{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=132}} and from its [[latinization of names|Latinized]] form ''{{lang|la|Baal}}'', which appears in the [[Vulgate]].{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=132}} These forms in turn derive from the vowel-less Northwest Semitic form {{sc|bʿl}} ([[Phoenician language|Phoenician]] and {{langx|xpu|{{linktext|𐤁𐤏𐤋}}}}).{{sfnp|Huss|1985|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=NvEK7kc3qnQC&pg=PA561 561]}} The word's [[Bible|biblical]] senses as a Phoenician deity and [[false god]]s generally were extended during the [[Protestant Reformation]] to denote any [[idolatry|idols]], [[icon]]s of the [[saint (Christianity)|saint]]s, or the [[Catholic Church]] generally.<ref>''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' (1885), "[http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/14177 Baalist, ''n.'']"</ref> In such contexts, it follows the anglicized pronunciation and usually omits any mark between its two As.<ref name=oed/> In close transliteration of the Semitic name, the [[ayin]] is represented, as ''Baʿal''.

In the [[Northwest Semitic languages]]—[[Ugaritic]], [[Phoenician language|Phoenician]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Amorite language|Amorite]], and [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]]—the word ''baʿal'' signified '[[property|owner]]' and, by extension, 'lord',{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=132}} a 'master', or 'husband'.{{sfnp|Pope|2007}}{{sfnp|''DULAT''|2015|loc="[https://books.google.com/books?id=bh6oBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA203 bʕl (II)]"}} 
Cognates include the [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] ''[[Bel (mythology)|Bēlu]]'' ({{lang|akk|{{linktext|𒂗}}}}),{{efn|This [[cuneiform]] is identical to the {{nowrap|{{angle bracket| [[𒂗]] }}}} which is taken as EN in [[Sumerian language|Sumerian]] texts. There, it has the meaning '[[high priest (Sumer)|high priest]]' or 'lord' and appears in the names of the gods [[Enki]] and [[Enlil]].}} [[Amharic language|Amharic]] ''bal'' ({{lang|am|{{linktext|ባል}}}}),{{sfnp|Kane|1990|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=H6tnix8o0mwC&pg=PA861 861]}} and [[Arabic language|Arabic]] ''baʿl'' ({{lang|ar|{{linktext|بعل}}}}). ''Báʿal'' ({{lang|he|בַּעַל}}) and ''baʿl'' still serve as the words for 'husband' in modern Hebrew and Arabic respectively. They also appear in some contexts concerning the ownership of things or possession of traits.

The feminine form is ''baʿalah'' ({{langx|he|[[wikt:בעלה|בַּעֲלָה]]}};{{sfnp|Strong|1890|loc=[http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H1172 H1172]}} {{langx|ar|بَعْلَة}}), meaning 'mistress' in the sense of a female owner or lady of the house{{sfnp|Strong|1890|loc=[http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H1172 H1172]}} and still serving as a rare word for 'wife'.{{sfnp|Wehr & al.|1976|p=67}}

Suggestions in early modern scholarship also included comparison with the Celtic god [[Belenus]], however this is now widely rejected by contemporary scholars.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=TsD281UZGhwC&pg=PA174 Belin], in Gilles Ménage, ''Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue françoise'', 1750. Ménage constructs a derivation of both the "Chaldean" Bel and the Celtic Belin
from a supposed word for 'ball, sphere', whence 'head', and 'chief, lord'</ref>