1171. Baal Gad
Lexical Summary
Baal Gad: Baal Gad

Original Word: בַּעַל גָּד
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Ba`al Gad
Pronunciation: bah-ahl gad
Phonetic Spelling: (bah'-al gawd)
KJV: Baal-gad
NASB: Baal-gad
Word Origin: [from H1168 (בַּעַל - Baal) and H1409 (גָּד - fortunate)]

1. Baal of Fortune
2. Baal-Gad, a place in Syria

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Baal-gad

From Ba'al and gad; Baal of Fortune; Baal-Gad, a place in Syria -- Baal-gad.

see HEBREW Ba'al

see HEBREW gad

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from Baal and gad
Definition
"Baal of fortune," a place near Mt. Hermon
NASB Translation
Baal-gad (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
בַּ֫עַל גַּד proper name, of a location Joshua 11:17; Joshua 12:7; Joshua 13:5 (D), where Baal was worshipped as Gad, god of fortune, a city in the בִּקְעָה of Lebanon, under Mt. Hermon; either modern Bâniâs, Greek Paneas, NT Caesarea Philippi, where a grotto of Pan took the place of the ancient worship of Gad, RobBR iii. 410 TristrTpg 271; or „âsbêyâ BdPal 297 Di; possibly = בעל חרמון compare Thes RobBR iii. 409.

Topical Lexicon
Geographical Setting

Baal Gad designates a Canaanite sanctuary-town “in the Valley of Lebanon at the foot of Mount Hermon” (Joshua 11:17). The expression “valley of Lebanon” points to the broad depression running north–south between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges. Its association with Hermon fixes the site near the mountain’s southwestern base where several perennial springs combine to form the upper Jordan. Suggested identifications include modern Banias (Caesarea Philippi), Haspin, and even Baalbek, but none is certain. What is clear is that Baal Gad lay at the northernmost edge of territory subdued under Joshua, marking a strategic gateway between Canaan and the Syrian heartland.

Biblical Occurrences

1. Joshua 11:17 records that Joshua “captured all their kings and struck them down, putting them to the sword. Joshua’s conquest extended from Mount Halak, which ascends to Seir, as far as Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon at the foot of Mount Hermon.”
2. Joshua 12:7 repeats the northern and southern extremities of the conquered land, again naming Baal Gad.
3. Joshua 13:5 cites Baal Gad among the remaining territories when the land is parceled out to Israel, confirming its border status.

Historical Context

The compound name combines the Northwest Semitic title “Baal” with “Gad,” a deity of fortune. The site was therefore a center of syncretistic worship, celebrating a local manifestation of Baal as the granter of prosperity and destiny. Occupying a fertile, well-watered plain, the shrine controlled caravan routes linking Phoenicia, Bashan, and the Damascus basin. Its mention in Joshua underscores the breadth of the conquest and the intentional displacement of entrenched pagan cults by the covenant people. Yet its reappearance in the still-unpossessed lands of Joshua 13:5 hints that Israel’s obedience remained incomplete and would demand continued vigilance against idolatry (compare Judges 3:1–4).

Theological Significance

1. Covenant Fulfillment: Baal Gad represents the northern limit of the land promised to Abraham’s seed (Genesis 15:18). By reaching this point, Joshua visibly demonstrated the Lord’s faithfulness.
2. Spiritual Warfare: The very name “Baal Gad” reminds readers that Israel’s battles were not merely territorial but theological. The clash between Yahweh and the fertility cults of Canaan foreshadows later confrontations on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) and, ultimately, the victory of Christ over “every ruler and authority” (Colossians 2:15).
3. Boundary Theology: Scripture frequently uses borders to teach stewardship and reliance on God’s provision (Deuteronomy 19:14; Acts 17:26). Baal Gad testifies that every inheritance, whether national or personal, is defined by divine appointment, not by human ambition.

Lessons for Ministry Today

• Idolatry often masquerades as the pursuit of “good fortune.” Modern disciples must discern and renounce any allegiance that rivals the exclusive lordship of God (Psalm 16:4; Matthew 6:24).
• Faithfulness requires finishing what God begins. Israel’s partial occupation around Baal Gad warns ministries against settling for initial victories while tolerating lingering strongholds (Hebrews 4:1).
• Geographic extremities become platforms for witness. From Baal Gad to “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8), believers are called to declare God’s supremacy in every sphere, especially where false trusts dominate.

Archaeological and Scholarly Perspectives

Explorations around Banias have uncovered Greco-Roman era temples to Pan, indicating the region’s enduring reputation as a cultic center. Hellenistic syncretism later layered additional deities onto the earlier Baal traditions. The lack of unanimous identification cautions against dogmatism but underscores the site’s continuous religious significance. Each proposed location sits at an important crossroads, matching the biblical portrayal of Baal Gad as both a commercial hub and a spiritual battleground.

Conclusion

Though mentioned only three times, Baal Gad stands as a theological milestone. It bookmarks the reach of Joshua’s sword, exposes the persistent allure of fortune-seeking idolatry, and invites every generation to complete the conquest of the heart, establishing the undisputed reign of the Lord in all territories He entrusts to His people.

Forms and Transliterations
גָּ֔ד גָּד֙ גד gad gāḏ
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Joshua 11:17
HEB: וְעַד־ בַּ֤עַל גָּד֙ בְּבִקְעַ֣ת הַלְּבָנ֔וֹן
NAS: even as far as Baal-gad in the valley
KJV: to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley
INT: Seir far Baal-gad the valley of Lebanon

Joshua 12:7
HEB: יָ֔מָּה מִבַּ֤עַל גָּד֙ בְּבִקְעַ֣ת הַלְּבָנ֔וֹן
NAS: toward the west, from Baal-gad in the valley
KJV: on the west, from Baalgad in the valley
INT: the Jordan the west Baal-gad the valley of Lebanon

Joshua 13:5
HEB: הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ מִבַּ֣עַל גָּ֔ד תַּ֖חַת הַר־
NAS: toward the east, from Baal-gad below
KJV: toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount
INT: east side east side Baal-gad below Mount

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1171
3 Occurrences


gāḏ — 3 Occ.

1170
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