2 Kings 17:31
New International Version
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelek and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim.

New Living Translation
The Avvites worshiped their gods Nibhaz and Tartak. And the people from Sepharvaim even burned their own children as sacrifices to their gods Adrammelech and Anammelech.

English Standard Version
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

Berean Standard Bible
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.

King James Bible
And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

New King James Version
and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

New American Standard Bible
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites were burning their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

NASB 1995
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.

NASB 1977
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.

Legacy Standard Bible
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of the Sepharvaim.

Amplified Bible
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

Christian Standard Bible
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of the Sepharvaim.

American Standard Version
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

Contemporary English Version
those from Avva made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the people from Sepharvaim sacrificed their children to their own gods Adrammelech and Anammelech.

English Revised Version
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The people from Avva made Nibhaz and Tartak. The people from Sepharvaim burned their children for Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

Good News Translation
the people of Ivvah, idols of Nibhaz and Tartak; and the people of Sepharvaim sacrificed their children as burnt offerings to their gods Adrammelech and Anammelech.

International Standard Version
and settlers from Avva built Nibhaz and Tartak. The residents of Sephar-vaim burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sephar-vaim.

Majority Standard Bible
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.

NET Bible
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their sons in the fire as an offering to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

New Heart English Bible
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

World English Bible
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the Avites have made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites are burning their sons with fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, gods of Sepharvim.

Young's Literal Translation
and the Avites have made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites are burning their sons with fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, gods of Sepharvim.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites were burning their sons in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Hevites made Nebahaz and Tharthac. And they that were of Sepharvaim burnt their children in fire, to Adramelech and Anamelech the gods of Sepharvaim.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak. Then those who were from Sepharvaim burned up their children with fire, for the gods of Sepharvaim: Adram-melech and Anam-melech.

New American Bible
those from Avva made Nibhaz and Tartak; and those from Sepharvaim immolated their children by fire to their city gods, King Hadad and King Anu.

New Revised Standard Version
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the Avites served Jibzah and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in fire to Ardammeleck and Amalek, the gods of Sepharvim.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Avites were serving Yabzakh and Tartaq and the Sepharvites were burning up their children in fire for Ardamlek and Amaliq, the gods of Sapharvim.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Evites made Eblazer and Tharthac, and the inhabitant of Seppharvaim did evil when they burnt their sons in the fire to Adramelech and Anemelech, the gods of Seppharvaim.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel's Cities Resettled by Foreigners
30The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim. 32So the new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts to serve in the shrines of the high places.…

Cross References
Leviticus 18:21
You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 12:31
You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.

Jeremiah 32:35
They have built the high places of Baal in the Valley of Ben-hinnom to make their sons and daughters pass through the fire to Molech—something I never commanded them, nor had it ever entered My mind, that they should commit such an abomination and cause Judah to sin.

2 Kings 16:3
Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

2 Kings 21:6
He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

2 Chronicles 28:3
Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

2 Chronicles 33:6
He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Psalm 106:37-38
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. / They shed innocent blood—the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.

Ezekiel 16:20-21
You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough? / You slaughtered My children and delivered them up through the fire to idols.

Ezekiel 23:37
For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to Me, in the fire as food for their idols.

Acts 7:43
You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’

Romans 1:23-25
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. / Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. / They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:20
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.

Galatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

Revelation 9:20
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.


Treasury of Scripture

And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

the Avites

2 Kings 17:24
And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

Ezra 4:9
Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,

burnt their children

2 Kings 17:17
And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Leviticus 18:21
And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 12:28,31
Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God…

Jump to Previous
Adrammelech Adram'melech Avites Avvites Burned Burning Burnt Children Fire Gods Sacrifices Sepharvaim Sephar-Va'im
Jump to Next
Adrammelech Adram'melech Avites Avvites Burned Burning Burnt Children Fire Gods Sacrifices Sepharvaim Sephar-Va'im
2 Kings 17
1. Hoshea the Last King of Israel
3. Being subdued by Shalmaneser, he conspires against him with So, king of Egypt
5. Samaria for sinning is led into captivity
24. The strange nations transplanted into Samaria make a mixture of religions.














the Avvites
The Avvites were a people group mentioned in the Old Testament, often associated with the Philistines. Historically, they were displaced by the Caphtorites, as noted in Deuteronomy 2:23. The Avvites' presence in the land of Israel signifies the diverse and often pagan influences that surrounded the Israelites. Their practices and deities reflect the syncretism that was prevalent in the region, which often led Israel astray from worshiping Yahweh.

made Nibhaz and Tartak
These names refer to deities worshiped by the Avvites. The creation of these gods highlights the human tendency to craft idols and deities that reflect their own image or desires. Nibhaz and Tartak are not well-documented outside of this passage, suggesting that they were localized or lesser-known deities. This underscores the biblical theme of the futility and obscurity of idol worship compared to the worship of the one true God.

the Sepharvites
The Sepharvites were another group of people relocated to Samaria by the Assyrians. Their mention here indicates the Assyrian policy of mixing populations to prevent rebellion, which led to a melting pot of religious practices in the region. This cultural and religious amalgamation often resulted in the Israelites adopting foreign gods, contrary to God's commandments.

would burn their children in the fire
This phrase describes a horrific practice associated with some ancient Near Eastern religions, including those of the Sepharvites. Child sacrifice was a ritual meant to appease or gain favor from deities, reflecting the extreme measures people would take to secure perceived divine favor. This practice is condemned throughout the Bible as abhorrent and contrary to the nature of God, who values life and abhors such cruelty.

to Adrammelech and Anammelech
These are the gods of the Sepharvites, to whom they offered their children. The names suggest a connection to the Assyrian or Babylonian pantheon, where "Adar" and "Melech" could imply a deity associated with power or kingship. The worship of these gods through such extreme means highlights the darkness and desperation of pagan practices, contrasting sharply with the life-giving worship of Yahweh.

the gods of Sepharvaim
Sepharvaim was a city or region whose people were relocated to Samaria. The mention of their gods emphasizes the polytheistic nature of the ancient world, where each city or region had its own deities. The biblical narrative consistently contrasts these localized, powerless gods with the omnipotent, omnipresent God of Israel, who is not confined to any one place or people.

(31) Nibhaz and Tartak are unknown, but the forms have an Assyrio-Babylonian cast. (Comp. Nimrod, Nergal with the former, and Ishtar, Namtar, Merodach, Shadrach, with the latter.) Before Nibhaz the LXX. have another name, Abaazar, or Eblazer (? 'abal Ass-r "the Son of Assur").

Adrammelech.--Comp. 2Kings 19:37. Identified by Schrader with the Assyrian Adar-malik, "Adar is prince" (? Adrum).

Anammelech--i.e., Anum-malik, "Anu is prince." Adar and Anu are well-known Assyrian gods.

Verse 31. - And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak. "Nibhaz" and "Tartak" are very obscure. The Sabians are said to have acknowledged an evil demon, whom they called Nib'az or Nabaz (Norberg, 'Onomastieen,' p. 100); and Tartak has been derived by Gesenius from the Pehlevi Tar-thak, "hero of darkness;" but these guesses cannot be regarded as entitled to much attention. We do not know what the religion of the Avites was, and need not be surprised that the names of their gods are new to us. The polytheism of the East was prolific of deities, and still more of divine names. Nibhaz and Tartak may have been purely local gods, or they may have been local names for gods worshipped under other appellations in the general pantheon of Babylonia. And the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. The god principally worshipped at Sippara was Shamas, "the sun." It is probable that "Adrammelech" (equivalent to adir-melek, "the glorious king," or edir-malek, "the arranging king") was one of his titles. Shamas, in the Babylonian mythology, was always closely connected with Anunit, a sun-goddess; and it is probably this name which is represented by Anammelech, which we may regard as an intentional corruption, derisive and contemptuous.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
the Avvites
וְהָעַוִּ֛ים (wə·hā·‘aw·wîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 5757: Avvites -- inhabitants of Avva

made
עָשׂ֥וּ (‘ā·śū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

Nibhaz
נִבְחַ֖ז (niḇ·ḥaz)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5026: A god of the Avvites

and Tartak,
תַּרְתָּ֑ק (tar·tāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8662: A god of the Avvites

and the Sepharvites
וְהַסְפַרְוִ֗ים (wə·has·p̄ar·wîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 5616: Sepharvites -- a Sepharvite

burned
שֹׂרְפִ֤ים (śō·rə·p̄îm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 8313: To be, on fire

their children
בְּנֵיהֶם֙ (bə·nê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

in the fire
בָּאֵ֔שׁ (bā·’êš)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

to Adrammelech
לְאַדְרַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (lə·’aḏ·ram·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 152: Adrammelech -- 'Adar is prince', an Assyrian idol, also a son of Sennacherib

and Anammelech
וַֽעֲנַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (wa·‘ă·nam·me·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6048: Anammelech -- an Assyrian god

the gods
אֱלֹהֵ֥י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 433: God -- a deity, the Deity

of Sepharvaim.
סְפַרְוָֽיִם׃ (sə·p̄ar·wā·yim)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 5617: Sepharvaim -- a city conquered by the king of Assyr


Links
2 Kings 17:31 NIV
2 Kings 17:31 NLT
2 Kings 17:31 ESV
2 Kings 17:31 NASB
2 Kings 17:31 KJV

2 Kings 17:31 BibleApps.com
2 Kings 17:31 Biblia Paralela
2 Kings 17:31 Chinese Bible
2 Kings 17:31 French Bible
2 Kings 17:31 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Kings 17:31 And the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 17:30
Top of Page
Top of Page