אֲדְרַמֶּלֶךְ
Adrammelek, the name of an Assyrian idol, also of a son of Sennacherib
Definition
Adrammelek is a proper name with two distinct biblical references. First, it refers to an Assyrian deity worshipped by the people of Sepharvaim, who were settled in Samaria after the northern kingdom's exile (2 Kings 17:31). Second, it is the name of a son of King Sennacherib of Assyria, who, along with his brother Sharezer, assassinated their father in the temple of his god Nisroch (2 Kings 19:37, Isaiah 37:38). These two uses represent a pagan idol and a historical Assyrian prince, respectively.
Biblical Usage
The word appears only three times in the Old Testament, all in historical narratives about Assyria. In 2 Kings 17:31, it identifies a foreign god. In 2 Kings 19:37 and the parallel account in Isaiah 37:38, it identifies a royal assassin. The usage consistently connects the name to Assyrian culture, either its religion or its violent court politics.
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew roots אָדַר (ʼādar, H142), meaning 'to be majestic' or 'honored,' and מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428), meaning 'king.' The name thus means 'splendor of the king' or 'honor of the king.' This compound construction is typical of Semitic names, often used for both deities and royalty, signifying exalted status.
Semantic Range
Adrammelek serves as a stark contrast to the God of Israel. The idol represents the false gods that led to Israel's exile (2 Kings 17), while the prince illustrates the violent downfall of a proud empire that opposed God's people (Isaiah 10). Understanding this name highlights biblical themes of idolatry's consequences and God's sovereignty over pagan nations.
In the ancient Near East, compound names with 'melek' (king) were common for both gods and human royalty, reflecting a worldview where divine and royal authority were closely linked. The Sepharvaim's practice of burning children to Adrammelek (2 Kings 17:31) aligns with known Canaanite and Mesopotamian ritual child sacrifice, abhorrent to Israelite law.
Anammelek (H6048) — Another Sepharvaim deity mentioned alongside Adrammelek in 2 Kings 17:31. Nisroch (H5268) — The Assyrian god in whose temple Sennacherib was killed by Adrammelek and Sharezer (2 Kings 19:37).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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