Bible Dictionary
Jerubbaal
Jerubbaal was the surname given to Gideon after he destroyed his father’s altar of Baal. The name means “let Baal contend.”
Definition
Jerubbaal was the surname given to Gideon after he destroyed the altar of Baal at Ophrah. The name means “let Baal contend” or “contender with Baal.”
Biblical Usage
Jerubbaal is used for Gideon in Judges and in the account of Israel’s deliverance. It recalls Gideon’s destruction of Baal’s altar and the challenge to Baal to defend his own cause.
Historical Background
The name was given by Gideon’s father, Joash, and the people after the altar’s destruction. Gideon was also called Jerubbesheth in another form of the name.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Contender with Baal; or, let Baal plead, a surname of Gideon; a name given to him because he destroyed the altar of Baal (Judg. 6:32; 7:1; 8:29; 1 Sam. 12:11).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>jer-u-ba'-al, je-rub'-a-al (yerubba`al, "let Baal contend"): The name given to Gideon by his father, Joash, and the people in recognition of his destruction of the altar of Baal at Ophrah (Jud 6:32). For this name the form "Jerubbesheth" (2Sa 1:21) was substituted after the analogy of "Ishbosheth" and "Mephibosheth," in which bosheth, the Hebrew word for "shame," displaced the word ba`al, no doubt because the name resembled one given in honor of Baal.</p><p>See GIDEON.</p>