| Baal | A false god worshiped by the Canaanites. They believed he brought rain and storms and made the land produce good crops. |
| Balaam | A non-Israelite prophet in the Old Testament who was hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse his enemy Israel. Read Num. 22-24. |
| baptism | A Greek word usually referring to the act of dipping or “burying” a person briefly in water, connected with their decision to change their life and turn to God, trusting him to forgive their sins. For people coming to faith in Jesus Christ it was an expression of their trust in his death as the sacrifice God accepted to pay for their sins. Described as a sharing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, it marked the beginning of their new life in Christ as part of God’s people. See Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3, 4; Gal. 3:26-28; Col. 2:12, 13. |
| baptize | To perform the act of baptism. See “baptism.” |
| Bashan | The northern part of Israel east of the Jordan River. |
| Bel | One of the names of the god Marduk, the most important god of the Babylonians. |
| believer | Where this word is marked, it is literally “brother,” a term used by followers of Jesus Christ to refer to fellow members of God’s family. |
| Bernice | King Agrippa’s sister, the oldest daughter of Herod Agrippa I. |
| Bethsaida | A town by Lake Galilee that Jesus visited during his teaching ministry and where he performed many miracles. |
| blacksmith | A person who makes weapons, tools or other things from iron. |
| boomerang | A curved stick used in hunting birds. When thrown properly, it flies low to the ground and suddenly curves upward, often returning to the thrower. Literally, “a bow of throwing” or “a bow of deception.” |
| Box of God’s Agreement | See “Box of the Agreement.” |
| Box of the Agreement | Or traditionally, “Ark of the Covenant.” The special box kept in the Most Holy Place of the Israelite Holy Tent and, later, the Jerusalem Temple. It contained the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments written on them, which were evidence or “proof” of the agreement between God and his people. In some passages it is literally, “Box of the Testimony” or simply, “Testimony” (see “Agreement”). See Ex. 25:10-22; 1 Kings 8:1-9. |
| Box of the Lord’s Agreement | See “Box of the Agreement.” |
| bridegroom | A man who is getting married. |
| bronze | A type of metal made from copper mixed with tin. The Hebrew word can mean “copper,” “brass,” or “bronze.” |
| burnt offering | A gift to God. Usually these were animals that were killed and completely burned on the altar. |
