Bible Dictionaries
Baali

Holman Bible Dictionary

(bay' uhl i) Form of address meaning, “my lord,” or “my Baal.” Hosea used a play on words to look to a day when Israel would no longer worship Baal (Hosea 2:16 ). He said Israel, the bride, would refer to Yahweh, her God and husband, as “my man” (Hebrew, ishi ) but not as “my lord” (Hebrew, baali ). Even though baal was a common word for lord or husband, Israel could not use it because it reminded them too easily of Baal, the Canaanite god. See Baal; Canaan.