מְרֹאדַךְ בַּלְאָדָן
Merodak-Baladan, a Babylonian king
Definition
Merodak-Baladan (also spelled Merodach-baladan) was a Chaldean king of Babylon who reigned in the late 8th century BC. He is best known from the biblical record for sending envoys with a gift to King Hezekiah of Judah after hearing of his illness and recovery (Isaiah 39:1). This historical figure is identified with the Babylonian king Marduk-apla-iddina II, who led rebellions against the Assyrian Empire. His appearance in Isaiah serves as a narrative hinge, setting up Isaiah's prophecy of the Babylonian exile.
Biblical Usage
This proper name is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 39:1. The context is a political and diplomatic visit following Hezekiah's miraculous recovery. The usage introduces a foreign power (Babylon) into Judah's affairs, which directly leads to Isaiah's prophecy of future captivity.
Etymology
The name is of Akkadian (Babylonian) origin, not Hebrew. It is a transliteration of the Babylonian name Marduk-apla-iddina, meaning 'Marduk has given an heir.' Marduk was the chief god of the Babylonian pantheon. The biblical form מְרֹאדַךְ בַּלְאָדָן (Merodak-Baladan) is a Hebrew representation of this foreign royal name.
Semantic Range
This name is theologically significant as it represents the rising power of Babylon, which God would later use as an instrument of judgment against Judah. The encounter in Isaiah 39:1 demonstrates God's foreknowledge and the consequences of pride, as Hezekiah's foolish display of his treasures to these envoys leads to a prophecy of Babylonian conquest. It connects the historical narrative directly to the major theme of exile and divine sovereignty over nations.
In the ancient Near East, sending envoys and gifts following a royal illness was a common diplomatic practice to foster alliances. Merodak-Baladan was a historically attested king who sought to build a coalition against the dominant Assyrian Empire. His contact with Hezekiah was likely a political maneuver to recruit Judah into an anti-Assyrian rebellion, a context understood by the original audience but not explicitly stated in the text.
בָּבֶל (Bāvel, H894) — The nation/city of Babylon, which Merodak-Baladan ruled. כַּשְׂדִּים (Kaśdîm, H3778) — Chaldeans, the ethnic group from which this king came.
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.
Full methodology & sources →