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Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Balaam


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Balaam Balaam

Balaam of Pethor, son of Beor, is a prophet who is hired by Balak the king of Moab in order to curse Israel.

The meaning of the name Balaam is multifarious. One suggestion is a combination of the words bal (bal 1640b), not, plus am ('im 1640b), people. Hence, 'not of the people,' or a foreigner. This interpretation is now no longer considered founded on possible etymology (says TWOTOT ) but there is no law against being reminded of these words.

Another possibility is a combination of the words Bel, the name Bel, or baal, the name Baal, and am, which may be the name of a god Am (says BDB), or a Baal-specification (such as Baal-peor), or simply the word am ('am 1640e), kinsman (on the father's side), or am ('am 1640a), people, as used in names like Amram and Rehoboam, or am ('im 1640b), the preposition 'with,' such as found in the name Immanuel (With Us Is God).

Most commentators nowadays prefer a combination of the word am ('am 1640a), people, and the verb bala (bala' 251), swallow up or down (people their food, Isa 28:4, snakes their prey, Ex 7:12, the earth rebels Num 16:30). This verb is often used to mean ruin and destruction (Lam 2:2). In Psalm 55:10 this verb is used to mean confuse, much like the verb balal (balal 248), confuse, mix, as used in Gen 11:7.

The name Balaam means Destroyer Of People, or Confuser Of The People.



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