Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

Karl is correct, that the word אל is a common noun for 'deity'. However, it 
is often used practically as a Proper Name for the president or father of the 
gods in the Canaanite pantheon. This is confirmed in Ugaritic, for example. 
However, in Hebrew, it is very rarely used that way, if ever (it's 
occasionally debated, though).


GEORGE ATHAS
Director of Postgraduate Studies,
Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)
Sydney, Australia