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2 Kings 17:31

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

And the Avites {H5757} made {H6213} Nibhaz {H5026} and Tartak {H8662}, and the Sepharvites {H5616} burnt {H8313} their children {H1121} in fire {H784} to Adrammelech {H152} and Anammelech {H6048}, the gods {H430} of Sepharvaim {H5617}.

the 'Avim made Nivchaz and Tartak, and the S'farvim burned up their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adramelekh and 'Anamelekh the gods of S'farvayim.

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

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

Commentary

Context of 2 Kings 17:31

This verse is found within 2 Kings chapter 17, which primarily details the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) to the Assyrian Empire. After deporting the Israelites, the Assyrian king brought in various foreign peoples from different regions to resettle the land. These new inhabitants, including the Avites and Sepharvites mentioned here, brought with them their own religious practices and deities. This led to a syncretistic religious landscape where the people of Samaria attempted to worship the God of Israel alongside their pagan gods, a practice repeatedly condemned by God throughout the Old Testament.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Pagan Idolatry: The verse vividly illustrates the diverse and often horrific forms of pagan worship prevalent in the ancient Near East. The Avites worshipped Nibhaz and Tartak, obscure deities whose forms or rituals are largely unknown.
  • Child Sacrifice: More chillingly, the Sepharvites are noted for burning their children in fire as offerings to their gods, Adrammelech and Anammelech. This practice, an extreme form of devotion and a profound abomination to the Lord, was strictly forbidden for the Israelites (see Leviticus 18:21 and Deuteronomy 12:31). It highlights the moral depravity associated with false worship.
  • Syncretism's Danger: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the broader context of 2 Kings 17 shows that these foreign religious practices were mixed with a superficial reverence for the God of Israel. This mixing of truth with error, or syncretism, ultimately corrupted the spiritual landscape of Samaria and was a root cause of God's judgment on the Northern Kingdom.

Linguistic Insights

The names of the deities—Nibhaz, Tartak, Adrammelech, and Anammelech—are likely derived from local Mesopotamian or Syrian pantheons. The suffix "-melech" in Adrammelech and Anammelech is related to the Hebrew word melech (מֶלֶךְ), meaning "king," which is also found in the name of the pagan god Molech, another deity to whom child sacrifices were offered. This connection underscores the horrific nature of their worship, often associated with kingship or dominion.

Practical Application and Reflection

This verse serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of idolatry and syncretism. For believers today, it emphasizes the importance of exclusive devotion to the one true God. We are called to worship Him alone and to reject any form of worship that mixes His truth with worldly philosophies or practices that contradict His commands. The abhorrent practice of child sacrifice also highlights the profound moral decay that can result when humanity deviates from God's perfect standard and creates gods in its own image. It calls us to examine our own hearts for anything that might compete with God's rightful place as supreme in our lives, urging us to serve only one Master.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 17:24 (5 votes)

    ¶ 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 (4 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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.

  • Leviticus 18:21 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Ezra 4:9 (2 votes)

    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,

  • Deuteronomy 12:31 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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.