2 Kings 17 · Verse 31

2 Kings 17:31

And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
2 Kings 17:31, King James Version

2 Kings 17:31 in other translations

BSBthe Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.
WEBand the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
ASVand the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
YLTand the Avites have made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites are burning their sons with fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, gods of Sepharvim.
DARBYand the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech thegods of Sepharvaim.
BBEThe Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites gave their children to be burned in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
WebsterAnd the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

What does 2 Kings 17:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
31. Nibhaz--under that of a dog--that Egyptian form of animal-worship having prevailed in ancient Syria, as is evident from the image of a large dog at the mouth of the Nahr-el-Kelb, or Dog river. Tartak--According to the rabbis, it was in the form of an ass, but others understand it as a planet of ill-omen, probably Saturn. Adrammelech--supposed by some to be the same as Molech, and in Assyrian mythology to stand for the sun. It was worshipped in the form of a mule--others maintain in that of a peacock. Anammelech--worshipped in the form of a hare; others say in that of a goat.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 The Avites made Nibhaz - This was supposed to be the same as the Anubis of the Egyptians; and was in form partly of a dog, and partly of a man. A very ancient image of this kind now lies before me: it is cut out of stone, about seven inches high; has the body, legs, and arms, of a man; the head and feet of a dog; the thighs and legs covered with scales; the head crowned with a tiara; the arms crossed upon the breasts, with the fingers clenched. The figure stands upright, and the belly is very protuberant. See below. And Tartak - This is supposed by some to be another name of the same idol; Jarchi says it was in the shape of an ass. Some think these were the representations of the sun in his chariot; Nibhaz representing the solar orb, and Tartak the chariot. See below. Adrammelech - From אדר adar, glorious, and מלך melech, king. Probably the sun. Anammelech - From anah, to return, and מלך melech, king. Probably, the Moloch of the Ammonites. Jarchi says, the first was in the form of a mule, the second in the form of a horse; this was probably the moon.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Kings 17:24-41

The terror of the Almighty will sometimes produce a forced or feigned submission in unconverted men; like those brought from different countries to inhabit Israel. But such will form unworthy thoughts of God, will expect to please him by outward forms, and will vainly try to reconcile his service with the love of the world and the indulgence of their lusts. May that fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of…

Read the full comment on 2 Kings 17:24-41 →

2 Kings 17:31 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְהָעַוִּ֛יםve.ha.'a.Vimand the AvvitesH5761
עָשׂ֥וּ'a.Suthey madeH6213
נִבְחַ֖זniv.ChazNibhazH5026
וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
תַּרְתָּ֑קtar.TakTartakH8662
וְהַסְפַרְוִ֗יםve.has.far.Vimand the SepharvitesH5616
שֹׂרְפִ֤יםso.re.Fim[were] burningH8313
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
בְּנֵיהֶם֙be.nei.Hemchildren theirH1121
בָּאֵ֔שׁba.'Eshin the fireH784
לְאַדְרַמֶּ֥לֶךְle.'ad.ra.Me.lekhto AdrammelechH152
וַֽעֲנַמֶּ֖לֶךְva.'a.na.Me.lekhand AnammelechH6048
אֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.ah[the] gods ofH430
סְפַרְוָֽיִם\׃se.fa.rimSepharvaimH5617

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Kings 17:31

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 2 Kings 19:37

    And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

  • 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,

  • 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 12:31

    Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

  • Deuteronomy 12:28

    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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the Avites.
24; Ezr 4:9
Nibhaz.Supposed to be the same as the Anubis of the Egyptians; and was in form partly a dog and partly a man.
burnt their children.
17; Le 18:21; De 12:28,31

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Kings 17:30

    And the men of Babylon made Succoth–benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,

  • 2 Kings 17:31

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

  • 2 Kings 17:32

    So they feared the Lord, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

Read all of 2 Kings 17

2 Kings 17:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Los Heveos hicieron á Nibhaz y á Tharthac; y los de Sepharvaim quemaban sus hijos al fuego á Adra-melech y á Anamelech, dioses de Sepharvaim.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et les Avviens firent Nibkhaz et Tharthak; et les Sepharviens brûlaient au feu leurs fils à Adrammélec et à Anammélec, les dieux de Sepharvaïm.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und die Awiter machten Nibchas und Tartak; und die Sepharwiter verbrannten dem Adrammelek und dem Anammelek, den Göttern von Sepharwaim, ihre Söhne im Feuer.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Porro Hevæi fecerunt Nebahaz et Tharthac. Hi autem qui erant de Sepharvaim, comburebant filios suos igni, Adramelech et Anamelech diis Sepharvaim,