בְּרֹאדַךְ בַּלְאֲדָן (be.ro.dakh bal.a.dan)
be.ro.dakh bal.a.dan
Merodach-baladan
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Berodach-baladan refers to a specific historical figure, the king of Babylon during the reign of Hezekiah in Judah. The sources identify him as the son of Baladan and note that his name appears only once in the biblical text, specifically in 2 Kings 20:12.
Linguistically, the name carries significant cultural weight. While some interpretations suggest it means "worshipper of Baal," the Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon points to an Akkadian origin meaning "Marduk has given a son." This distinction highlights the religious and political tensions of the era, as he was a ruler of a powerful empire that worshipped different deities than those of Israel.
His brief mention in Scripture serves as a marker of diplomatic history rather than theological narrative. He sent envoys to Hezekiah after hearing of the king's illness, an event that underscores the geopolitical pressures facing Judah. The text records this interaction without elaborating on his character, focusing instead on the historical reality of Babylonian influence during the Divided Monarchy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When King Hezekiah recovered from a serious illness, messengers arrived from Babylon with gifts and letters. This moment, recorded in 2 Kings 20:12, shows how quickly human circumstances change. What looks like a diplomatic gesture can carry hidden weight. The visitor, Berodach-baladan, represented a powerful empire that worshipped different gods than Israel.
His name means "Marduk has given a son," pointing to the religious divide between Babylon and Judah. This encounter reminds us that faithfulness matters even in political spaces. We do not need to fear foreign influence if our trust remains in God. The text records this event without judging the king’s heart, leaving room for reflection on how we handle success and attention.
History shows that moments of honor can test our focus. Hezekiah’s response invites us to consider where our confidence lies. When life brings unexpected visitors or opportunities, may we remember that God sees all things clearly. His presence remains steady, even when empires shift.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Merodach-1×
- Baladan1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ֠לְאֲדָן1×
- בְּרֹאדַ֣ךְ1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 20:12
At that time Berodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
This verse marks the only biblical mention of Berodach-baladan, highlighting a diplomatic visit that occurred during Hezekiah’s recovery from illness.