Lexical Summary Adrammelek: Adrammelech Original Word: אֲדֹרָמֶלֶךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Adrammelech From 'adar and melek; splendor of (the) king; Adrammelek, the name of an Assyrian idol, also of a son of Sennacherib -- Adrammelech. see HEBREW 'adar see HEBREW melek NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom adar and melek Definition "Adar is prince," an Assyr. idol, also a son of Sennacherib NASB Translation Adrammelech (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַדְרַמֶּ֫לֶךְ proper name, masculine (Adar is prince, Assyrian Adar-malik (?) see KAT2284, cf, ABK140; or A. is Counsellor, Decider, compare DlK 52 f; otherwise SayceRel. Babylonian 7; on Babylonian god Adar see SchrKSGW 1880, 19 f DlK 52 f, but SayceRel, Babylonian 151 f; JenKo 457 f and others read Assyrian name Ninib; on Carthaginian יתנאדר see BaeRel. 54) 1 a god of Sepharvaim 2 Kings 17:31. 2 parricidal son of Sennacherib 2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38. אֲדֹרָם see אדנירם below אדון. above אֲדַרְכּוֺן see דרכמון. אֶדְרְעִי see דרע. Topical Lexicon Identity and Scope Adrammelech designates two distinct entities in the Old Testament record: (1) a false deity worshiped by the people of Sepharvaim, and (2) a royal assassin, son of the Assyrian emperor Sennacherib. Although they share the same Hebrew form, Scripture treats them separately, and their respective contexts illuminate different facets of God’s dealings with idolatry and imperial arrogance. Biblical Occurrences • 2 Kings 17:31 – Adrammelech named as one of the gods of Sepharvaim. Adrammelech the Idol of Sepharvaim (2 Kings 17:31) 1. Setting. The verse appears in the narrative explaining why the northern kingdom of Israel was exiled. Imported peoples brought their native gods into Samaria, producing a syncretistic worship that defied the covenant. Adrammelech the Son of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38) 1. Historical background. Sennacherib’s siege of Jerusalem (701 BC) ended in disaster for Assyria when the Angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 soldiers (2 Kings 19:35). Soon after returning to Nineveh, Sennacherib is assassinated while “worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch” (2 Kings 19:37). The conspirators are his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer. Historical and Cultural Considerations • Sepharvaim likely corresponds to the Mesopotamian twin cities Sippar‐Amnanum and Sippar‐Yahrurum. Their astral cults explain the fire rituals mentioned in 2 Kings 17:31. Theological Insights 1. God’s Sovereignty. Whether dealing with international idols or imperial princes, the Lord orchestrates events to expose false worship and vindicate His glory. Practical Ministry Applications • Confront Modern Idolatry. The account urges believers to identify and renounce contemporary substitutes for God, especially those costing future generations their well-being. Related Themes and Cross-References • Child sacrifice prohibited – Leviticus 18:21; Jeremiah 7:31. Adrammelech thus serves as both a dark mirror reflecting the horrors of idolatry and a signpost pointing to the invincible governance of the one true God over nations, kings, and false gods alike. Forms and Transliterations וְֽאַדְרַמֶּ֨לֶךְ ואדרמלך לְאַדְרַמֶּ֥לֶךְ לאדרמלך lə’aḏrammeleḵ lə·’aḏ·ram·me·leḵ leadramMelech veadramMelech wə’aḏrammeleḵ wə·’aḏ·ram·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: בְּנֵיהֶם֙ בָּאֵ֔שׁ לְאַדְרַמֶּ֥לֶךְ וַֽעֲנַמֶּ֖לֶךְ [אֱלֹהַּ NAS: in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech KJV: in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, INT: their children the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech God 2 Kings 19:37 Isaiah 37:38 3 Occurrences |