נֵרְגַּל שַׁרְאֶ֫צֶר (ne.re.gal shar.e.tser)
ne.re.gal shar.e.tser
Nergal-sar-ezer
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Nergal-sharezer is not a theological term but a proper name appearing in Jeremiah 39:3 and 46:2. The sources identify him as a high-ranking Babylonian official, specifically the chief soothsayer and a military commander under King Nebuchadnezzar. His title translates to "prince of fire," linking him to Nergal, the Mesopotamian deity associated with war and pestilence.
He appears in two distinct contexts within the biblical text. In Jeremiah 39, he is listed among the Babylonian officials who receive the surrender of Jerusalem’s king, marking the city’s fall. In Jeremiah 46, he serves as a representative of Nebuchadnezzar in diplomatic correspondence with Egypt. These brief mentions highlight the political reality of Judah’s neighbors during the exile period.
The name itself offers a glimpse into the religious landscape of the ancient Near East. By bearing the name of a foreign god, Nergal-sharezer embodies the power structure that replaced Judah’s monarchy. His presence in the text serves as a historical marker of Babylonian dominance rather than a theological statement about his deity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Nergal-sharezer appears in Jeremiah during the fall of Jerusalem, marking a time when Judah’s political structures collapsed under Babylonian power. As a high-ranking official and chief soothsayer, his presence highlights the overwhelming strength of the empire that replaced Israel’s monarchy. The text records him sitting in the city gate, witnessing the surrender of King Zedekiah.
For believers today, this historical detail reminds us that human powers rise and fall according to God’s sovereign plan. While Babylon represented a formidable military and religious force, it was ultimately an instrument in a larger divine narrative. The brief mention of this foreign official underscores the reality that earthly kingdoms are temporary, pointing instead to the enduring nature of God’s promises.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- ezer3×
- Shar-3×
- Nergal-2×
- and/ Nergal-1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שַׂר\־3×
- נֵרְגַ֤ל1×
- נֵרְגַ֣ל1×
- וְ/נֵרְגַ֥ל1×
- אֶ֠צֶר1×
- אֶ֙צֶר֙1×
- אֶ֖צֶר1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 39:3
All the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate: Nergal Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim the Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer the Rabmag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
This verse places Nergal-sharezer at the center gate during the surrender, identifying him as a key witness to the fall of Jerusalem's leadership.
-
Jeremiah 39:13
So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon
Here he is listed among the chief officers who remained in the city after its capture, showing his continued high status in the Babylonian administration.