Jump to: Hitchcock's • Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia Merodach, also known as Marduk, is a significant figure in the context of ancient Near Eastern history and biblical references. He was the chief deity of the city of Babylon and played a central role in the Babylonian pantheon. The name "Merodach" appears in the Bible, specifically in the context of Babylonian kingship and idolatry.Biblical References: 1. Jeremiah 50:2 : "Announce and declare among the nations; lift up a banner and proclaim it. Do not conceal it; say, 'Babylon is captured; Bel is put to shame; Marduk is shattered; her images are disgraced, her idols are broken in pieces.'" In this passage, Merodach is referred to as "Marduk," highlighting the deity's association with Babylon. The verse prophesies the downfall of Babylon and the humiliation of its gods, including Merodach, emphasizing the sovereignty of the God of Israel over pagan deities. 2. 2 Kings 20:12 : "At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness." Here, Merodach is part of the compound name "Merodach-baladan," a historical figure who was a king of Babylon. This reference connects the deity's name with the Babylonian monarchy, illustrating the cultural and religious influence Merodach had on the region. Historical and Cultural Context: Merodach, or Marduk, was originally a local deity of Babylon, but his prominence grew as Babylon rose to power. He became the head of the Babylonian pantheon, often depicted as a god of creation, water, vegetation, judgment, and magic. The Enuma Elish, a Babylonian creation epic, describes Marduk's rise to supremacy among the gods, where he defeats the chaos monster Tiamat and creates the world from her remains. The worship of Merodach was central to Babylonian religion, and his temple, the Esagila, was one of the most important religious sites in Babylon. The annual New Year festival, Akitu, celebrated Marduk's victory over chaos and reaffirmed the king's divine mandate to rule. Theological Implications: From a biblical perspective, Merodach represents the idolatrous practices that the Israelites were warned against. The prophets often spoke against the worship of foreign gods, emphasizing the futility and powerlessness of idols compared to the one true God. The mention of Merodach in the context of Babylon's downfall serves as a reminder of God's ultimate authority and the eventual judgment against nations and their false gods. The biblical narrative consistently portrays the God of Israel as supreme over all creation, including the gods of other nations. The defeat and humiliation of Merodach in prophetic literature symbolize the triumph of God's kingdom over earthly powers and spiritual forces opposed to His will. Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary MerodachSmith's Bible Dictionary Merodach(death), (Jeremiah 50:2) identical with the famous Babylonian Bel or Belus, the word being probably at first a mere epithet of the god, which by degrees superseded his proper appellation. ATS Bible Dictionary MerodachAn idol of the Babylonians, representing probably the planet Mars, Jeremiah 50:2. The names of Babylonish kings were also sometimes compounded with this name, as Evil-Merodach and Merodach-Baladan, Isaiah 39:1, who is also called Berodach-Baladan in 2 Kings 20:12. Easton's Bible Dictionary Death; slaughter, the name of a Babylonian god, probably the planet Mars (Jeremiah 50:2), or it may be another name of Bel, the guardian divinity of Babylon. This name frequently occurs as a surname to the kings of Assyria and Babylon. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia MERODACHme-ro'-dak, mer'-o-dak (merodhakh): The supreme deity of the Babylonians (Jeremiah 50:2); the Nimrod of Genesis 10:8-12; and among the constellations, Orion. Strong's Hebrew 192. Evil Merodak -- "man of Merodach," son and successor of ...... "man of Merodach," son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar. Transliteration: Evil Merodak Phonetic Spelling: (ev-eel' mer-o-dak') Short Definition: Evil-merodach. ... /hebrew/192.htm - 6k 4757. Merodak Baladan -- a king of Babylon 4781. Merodak -- a god worshiped by the Bab. Library Nineveh. The Eve of the Restoration For whom and with what Object Written. Babylon. Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest Babylonia and Assyria History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8 Cyrus. Religious and Social State. On the Prophet Isaiah. I. Thesaurus Merodach (2 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MERODACH. ... II, 11; BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA, RELIGION OF; NIMROD. Multi-Version Concordance Merodach (2 Occurrences). ... /m/merodach.htm - 7k Merodach-baladan (2 Occurrences) Evil-merodach (2 Occurrences) Merodachbaladan (1 Occurrence) Baladan (2 Occurrences) Succoth-benoth (1 Occurrence) Succothbenoth (1 Occurrence) Chaldeans (82 Occurrences) Evilmerodach (2 Occurrences) Chaldea (8 Occurrences) Resources Who was King Jehoiachin in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of the Babylonian Empire in biblical history? | GotQuestions.org Who were the Chaldeans in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Merodach: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Merodach (2 Occurrences)Isaiah 39:1 Jeremiah 50:2 Subtopics Related Terms E'vil-Mer'odach (1 Occurrence) Mer'odach-bal'adan (1 Occurrence) Merodach-baladan (2 Occurrences) |
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