Bible Dictionary
Nergal
Nergal was a chief Babylonian and Assyrian deity, associated with war, hunting, and the planet Mars. The people of Cuthah worshiped him.
Definition
Nergal was a chief Babylonian and Assyrian deity, associated with war and hunting and identified with the planet Mars. He was the tutelary deity of Cutha.
Biblical Usage
Nergal is named among the gods worshiped by peoples settled in Samaria. The reference presents him as a foreign deity whose worship was introduced into the region.
Historical Background
Nergal was worshiped at Cutha and was regarded as corresponding closely to the classical Mars. His identification with Nimrod is presented as a conjecture.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The great dog; that is, lion, one of the chief gods of the Assyrians and Babylonians (2 Kings 17:30), the god of war and hunting. He is connected with Cutha as its tutelary deity.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(hero), one of the chief Assyrian and Babylonian deities, seems to have corresponded closely to the classical Mars. (2 Kings 17:30) It is conjectured that he may represent the deified Nimrod.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>nar'-gal (nereghal): A Babylonian deity, identified with the planet Mars, and worshipped at Cutha (compare 2Ki 17:30).</p><p>See BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA, RELIGION OF.</p>