בַּעַל פְּעוֹר

Baal-Peor, a Moabitish deity

Definition

Baal-Peor is the name of a Moabite deity worshipped at Mount Peor, associated with fertility rites and idolatrous practices. The name specifically refers to 'Baal of Peor,' indicating a local manifestation of the Canaanite storm and fertility god Baal, venerated at that particular location (Numbers 23:28). In the biblical narrative, this deity is central to a major incident of Israelite apostasy, where the people engaged in sexual immorality and sacrificial meals as part of the cultic worship (Numbers 25:1-3). The term thus represents not just a god, but the entire episode of idolatry and its severe consequences, serving as a lasting warning in Israel's history (Psalm 106:28, Hosea 9:10).

Biblical Usage

The term is used exclusively in contexts recalling Israel's grave sin during the wilderness journey. It appears in historical narrative (Numbers 25:3, 5), as a reference in a historical sermon (Deuteronomy 4:3), in a penitential psalm reviewing national failures (Psalm 106:28), and in prophetic condemnation linking past sin to present judgment (Hosea 9:10). The usage is always negative, serving as a shorthand for covenantal unfaithfulness, idolatry, and divine punishment.

Etymology

The name is a compound of 'Baal' (H1168), meaning 'lord, master, or husband,' a title for the chief Canaanite deity, and 'Peor' (H6465), derived from a root meaning 'to open wide,' likely referring to a geographical feature like a mountain cleft or the name of a location (Mount Peor). Thus, it means 'Lord of Peor,' identifying a specific local cult center of Baal worship.

Semantic Range

Baal-Peor is profoundly significant theologically as a case study in covenant betrayal and the holiness of God. The incident (Numbers 25) illustrates how idolatry is often intertwined with sexual immorality and represents a fundamental breach of the exclusive relationship between Yahweh and His people. It becomes a benchmark for apostasy, referenced later to warn against compromise (Deuteronomy 4:3) and to explain national disaster (Hosea 9:10). Understanding this term enriches reading by highlighting the Bible's consistent theme that worship of false gods leads to destruction and defilement.

In its original setting, Baal-Peor represented a typical Canaanite fertility cult, where worship involved ritual prostitution and sacrificial feasts intended to ensure agricultural and human fertility. For the Israelites newly arrived from Egypt, participation was not merely theological error but a deeply cultural act of assimilation, seeking favor from the 'gods of the land.' The biblical portrayal starkly contrasts this with the demands of Yahweh's covenant, which required moral purity and exclusive devotion.

בַּעַל (Baʻal, H1168) — The general title for the Canaanite deity, whereas Baal-Peor specifies the localized cult. תְּרָפִים (teraphim, H8655) — Refers to household idols or images, a different form of idolatrous object, not a specific deity.

Word Details

Scripture References