בַּלְאֲדָן
Baladan, the name of a Babylonian prince
Definition
Baladan is the name of a Babylonian prince, specifically the father of King Merodach-baladan (also called Marduk-apla-iddina II). He is mentioned in the biblical accounts of 2 Kings 20:12 and Isaiah 39:1, where his son sends envoys with gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah after hearing of his recovery from illness. The name itself is a theophoric compound, meaning 'Bel (Marduk) is lord,' reflecting the worship of the chief Babylonian deity. While the Bible does not record Baladan's own actions, his identity is significant as the father of a prominent Chaldean ruler who challenged Assyrian dominance.
Biblical Usage
The name Baladan appears only twice in the Old Testament, both in parallel historical accounts. It is used exclusively in the context of identifying the father of Merodach-baladan, the king of Babylon who corresponded with King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:12, Isaiah 39:1). Its usage is purely genealogical and historical, serving to specify the lineage of the Babylonian monarch involved in this diplomatic episode.
Etymology
The name Baladan (בַּלְאֲדָן) is a contracted Hebrew form of a Babylonian name. It derives from the elements 'Bel' (בֵּל, H1078), the title of the Babylonian god Marduk, and 'adon' (אָדוֹן, H113), meaning 'lord.' Thus, the name means 'Bel (Marduk) is lord.' This construction is typical of ancient Near Eastern theophoric names, where a deity's name is combined with a word of praise or relationship.
Semantic Range
While the name Baladan itself is not theologically loaded, its appearance is theologically significant. It anchors the biblical narrative in real history, connecting Judah's story with the wider political world. The episode involving his son (Isaiah 39:1-8) provides the immediate context for Isaiah's prophecy of the Babylonian exile, a pivotal event in Israel's relationship with God. Understanding the name's meaning ('Bel is lord') highlights the stark contrast between the polytheistic Babylonian power and the worship of Yahweh in Judah.
As a Babylonian name meaning 'Bel is lord,' it immediately identifies its bearer within the religious and cultural milieu of ancient Babylon, where Marduk (Bel) was the supreme city god. The use of such theophoric names was a common practice, expressing devotion and seeking the deity's favor. For the original Israelite audience, the name would have signaled foreignness and the worship of a rival god, underscoring the cultural and religious divide between Judah and the rising Babylonian empire.
Merodach-baladan (Mĕrôdak Balʼădân, H4757) — This is the name of Baladan's son, meaning 'Marduk has given a son.' It is a longer, more complete form of a similar Babylonian theophoric name.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →