Lexical Summary Anammelek: Anammelek Original Word: עֲנַמֶּלֶךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Anammelech Of foreign origin; Anammelek, an Assyrian deity -- Anammelech. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition an Assyr. god NASB Translation Anammelech (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֲנַמֶּ֫לֶךְ proper name, of a divinity of סְפַרְוַיִם (q. v.) 2 Kings 17:31, Ανημελεχ (omitted by ᵐ5L); = Assyrian Anu-malik according to SchrCOT on the passage, but dubious, see Kiton the passage and references; CheExpos. Times, June, 1898, 429 reads ענומלך, and insert also 2 Kings 19:37 (before אלהיו); compare also Hal cited below עֲנָת. I. ענן (√ of following, perhaps originally cover, as Sabean ענן = טֿלל (Hebrew צלל), DHMEpigr. Denkm. 26 f.; or < Arabic Topical Lexicon Identity Anammelech was one of the two national deities of the people of Sepharvaim whom the Assyrians transplanted into the cities of the Northern Kingdom after Israel’s fall. His name most likely combines the Akkadian sky-god Anu with the Semitic word for “king,” presenting him as “Anu is king,” a claim directly opposed to the LORD’s exclusive kingship over heaven and earth. Biblical Occurrence 2 Kings 17:31 records the sole mention: “the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim”. The verse is embedded in the narrative of Assyrian resettlement (2 Kings 17:24-34), where various immigrant peoples brought their own cults into the land of Israel, mingling them with a superficial acknowledgment of the LORD. Historical Background Sepharvaim is usually identified with the region of Sippar on the Euphrates, a major center for the worship of the sun-god Shamash and the sky-god Anu. Archaeological texts from Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian archives attest to continual royal patronage of Anu, corroborating the biblical witness that exiles from that area carried his cult wherever they were planted. The burnt-offering of children was a feature of several Mesopotamian and West-Semitic fertility rites designed to secure divine favor, especially in seasons of political or agricultural crisis. Relation to Adrammelech Anammelech is paired with Adrammelech, whose name probably means “the majestic king” or “Hadad is king.” The parallelism implies a divine dyad—perhaps male and female aspects of the same astral cult. The combination intensified the horror of the practice: two rival claimants to kingship over the heavens receiving the most extreme sacrifice humanity could devise. Worship Practices and Moral Depravity Child sacrifice represents the apex of idolatry’s degradation. In Leviticus 18:21 and Deuteronomy 12:31 the LORD explicitly brands it an “abomination.” Israel’s exile had already demonstrated the deadly consequences of copying Canaanite religion; now the land itself groaned under yet another wave of bloodshed perpetrated by imported idols. Theological Significance in the Narrative 1. Exposure of Syncretism: 2 Kings 17:33 summarizes the settlers’ stance—“They feared the LORD, yet they served their own gods”. The narrator holds up Anammelech as the embodiment of divided allegiance, a perpetual warning that partial worship of the true God is no worship at all (James 4:8). Prophetic Echoes Though later prophets do not mention Anammelech by name, their denunciations of “Molech” (Jeremiah 32:35) and the valley of slaughter (Jeremiah 7:31) echo the same abhorrence. The practice of passing children through fire is repeatedly contrasted with the LORD’s character as the Defender of the fatherless (Psalm 68:5). Ministry Implications 1. Sanctity of Life: Anammelech’s cult challenges modern believers to oppose every form of violence against the defenseless, whether ancient infanticide or contemporary attacks on unborn life. Christological Contrast Anammelech demanded the life of children; Jesus Christ, the true King, gave His own life “to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). At Calvary the horror of child sacrifice is inverted: the Son is voluntarily offered by the Father, not to appease a capricious deity, but to satisfy divine justice and extend mercy. Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice exposes the futility of all idols and calls every people group—including the descendants of Sepharvaim—to repent and worship the only King who conquers by self-giving love. Summary Anammelech stands as a dark symbol of false kingship, destructive worship, and divided hearts. His lone biblical appearance is enough to spotlight the lethal fruit of idolatry and to magnify the holiness of the LORD, who tolerates no rivals and rescues the helpless. The name disappears from Scripture, but its lesson endures: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). Forms and Transliterations וַֽעֲנַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וענמלך vaanamMelech wa‘ănammeleḵ wa·‘ă·nam·me·leḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 17:31 HEB: בָּאֵ֔שׁ לְאַדְרַמֶּ֥לֶךְ וַֽעֲנַמֶּ֖לֶךְ [אֱלֹהַּ כ] NAS: to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods KJV: to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods INT: the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech God dual 1 Occurrence |
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appear, present oneself, specifically intervene as an obstacle (Lane; compare LagBN 103), hence 
clouds, as intervening, and so obstructing; compare Late Hebrew עָנָן cloud = Biblical Hebrew (rare), verb denominative Pi`el עִנֵּן as Biblical Hebrew; ᵑ7 עֲנָנָא, Syriac 
clouds).