Reference: Merodach

An idol of the Babylonians, representing probably the planet Mars, Jer 50:2. The names of Babylonish kings were also sometimes compounded with this name, as Evil-Merodach and Merodach-Baladan, Isa 39:1, who is also called Berodach-Baladan in 2Ki 20:12.

death; slaughter, the name of a Babylonian god, probably the planet Mars (Jer 50:2), or it may be another name of Bel, the guardian divinity of Babylon. This name frequently occurs as a surname to the kings of Assyria and Babylon.

Jer 50:2. ("death" (Gesenius) or "little lord".) Epithet of Bel the Babylonian Jupiter, termed "the senior of the gods," "the judge," and by Nebuchadnezzar in inscriptions "the great lord, the most ancient," and by Neriglissar "the firstborn of gods, the layer up of treasures." Merodach became a distinct phase of Bel. It forms part of some kings' names, as Merodach Baladan, Evil Merodach; it is so used as early as 1650 B.C. Zurbanit (from banit, "productive mother") was Merodach's wife. Another Bel was named Niprut, ("hunter"), or Nimrod; worshipped at Nipur (Calneh; Rawlinson's Ancient Monarchies).

The name of the city-god of Babylon, worshipped, after the establishment of Babylon as capital of the Babylonian Empire, as chief god of Babylonia. The Babylonian name was Marduk, older form Maruduk. He gradually absorbed the attributes of other gods once supreme through the influence of their city seats of worship, particularly Ellil the old B

Mero'dach

An idol of Babylon. Jer 50:2. It is MARDUK on the monuments.

Mero'dach

(death),

Jer 50:2

identical with the famous Babylonian Bel or Belus, the word being probably at first a mere epithet of the god, which by degrees superseded his proper appellation.