### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Nêrᵉgal**, represented by `{{H5370}}`, is defined as a Cuthite deity of foreign origin. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire biblical text, marking it as a highly specific term for a foreign god.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single appearance of `{{H5370}}` is found in [[2 Kings 17:30]], which lists the idols created by different groups of people whom the king of Assyria had resettled in Samaria. The text states that "the men of Cuth made **Nergal**." This occurred after the children of Israel were exiled from the land, and these foreign peoples were brought in to possess the cities of Samaria [[2 Kings 17:24]]. The context is one of judgment and the subsequent introduction of pagan worship into the land formerly inhabited by God's people.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide the context for the worship of **Nêrᵉgal**:
* `{{H3575}}` **Kûwth** (Cuth or Cuthah): This word identifies the origin of the people who worshiped **Nêrᵉgal**. It is described as a province of Assyria from which people were brought to settle in Samaria [[2 Kings 17:30]].
* `{{H6213}}` **ʻâsâh** (to do or make): This primitive root describes the action taken by the men of Cuth. They did not just worship, but actively **made** an image or idol of their deity, **Nêrᵉgal** [[2 Kings 17:30]].
* `{{H582}}` **ʼĕnôwsh** (a man in general): This term identifies the worshippers as "the **men** of Cuth," emphasizing that it was these mortal, foreign people who established this idolatry [[2 Kings 17:30]].
* `{{H807}}` **ʼAshîymâʼ** (Ashima): The name of another foreign deity made by the men of Hamath. Its inclusion in the same verse shows that the worship of **Nêrᵉgal** was part of a broader pattern of idolatry being established by various transplanted groups [[2 Kings 17:30]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5370}}` is found entirely in its unique context, serving as a specific example of paganism.
* **Marker of Idolatry:** **Nêrᵉgal** is mentioned specifically to document the introduction of foreign gods into the land promised to Israel. It stands as a direct contrast to the worship of the one true God.
* **Result of Judgment:** The presence of **Nêrᵉgal** worship in Samaria is a direct consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness and subsequent exile. The void left by the exiled Israelites was filled by foreigners and their false gods [[2 Kings 17:24]].
* **Syncretistic Worship:** The list of various peoples making their own gods, including **Nêrᵉgal**, illustrates the fragmented and false religious landscape that took root in Samaria following the fall of the northern kingdom.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5370}}` is not a broad theological term but a specific, historical one. As **Nêrᵉgal**, it names a foreign idol whose singular mention in scripture serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of disobedience. Its importance lies in its role within the narrative of 2 Kings, illustrating the replacement of true worship with pagan practices in the land of Samaria after the Assyrian conquest.
TRV