H1286 H1286
Berith (El-Berith/Baal-Berith), covenant deity worshiped at Shechem
This divine name appears in Judges 9:46, where Shechem's leaders take refuge in 'the stronghold of the house of El-Berith.' The name means 'El/Baal of the Covenant' (berith = covenant). Earlier in Judges 8:33 and 9:4, the deity is called 'Baal-Berith.' This was a Canaanite god worshiped at Shechem, possibly a syncretistic form combining covenant language with Baal worship. After Gideon's death, Israel apostatized to this 'covenant Baal.' The name ironically uses covenant terminology for idolatry, perverting Israel's covenant language.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A divine name meaning 'Berith' or 'El/Baal of the Covenant,' referring to a Canaanite deity worshiped at Shechem (Judges 9:46). The full forms are 'Baal-Berith' (Judges 8:33, 9:4) and 'El-Berith.' The name combines 'berith' (covenant) with either El or Baal, perhaps representing syncretistic worship where covenant theology was corrupted with Canaanite religion. Israel's apostasy to this 'covenant god' after Gideon's death tragically mirrors their violation of the true covenant. Multilingual translations (Berit, Berith) transliterate the divine name, preserving its status as a proper noun for false deity. 1×
AR["بَرِيت"]·ben["বরীতের"]·DE["Berith"]·EN["Berith"]·FR["Berith"]·heb["ברית"]·HI["बेरीत-के"]·ID["Berit"]·IT["Berith"]·jav["Bérit"]·KO["베릿-의"]·PT["Berit"]·RU["Берита"]·ES["Berit"]·SW["Berithi"]·TR["Berit-in"]·urd["بِریت-کے۔"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
II. אֵל n.m. (also, in n.pr. אֶל, אֱלִי; Sam. אל, Ph. אל, אלן (i.e. prob. אֵלֹן), Sab. אל, DHM Or. Congr. Leiden, 1883, As. ilu, DlW; perhaps also Arabic, Aramaic. cf. Nöl.c.; on goddess אלת Ph. Palm. Nab. Sab. (also אלהת) DHMl.c., Arabic إِلَاهَة) (pl. إِلَاهَات) FlKl.Schr. i. 154, Assyrian Allatu Jr 66, Syriac ܐܰܠܳܗܳܬܳܐ,, cf. also BaeRel 58, 90, 97, 271, 297) god, but with various subordinate…