עֲנַמֶּ֫לֶךְ (a.nam.me.lekh)
a.nam.me.lekh
Anammelech
N:N-M-TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-T
Word Overview
The name Anammelech appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, recorded in 2 Kings 17:31 as one of the deities adopted by the people resettled in Samaria by the Assyrian empire. The lexicon sources identify this figure as an Assyrian false god, with a meaning roughly translating to "image of the king" or associated with the deity Anu-malik.
This brief mention highlights the religious syncretism that characterized the period of the Divided Monarchy. Anammelech is listed alongside Adrammelech, suggesting a pair of companion gods whose worship involved rites similar to those of Molech. The text presents this not as a theological statement but as a historical record of foreign practices infiltrating Israelite society.
Because the word occurs in such a specific historical context, it serves primarily as a marker of cultural collision rather than a term for broader spiritual concepts. Its sole appearance underscores the biblical narrative’s focus on the dangers of adopting pagan worship systems during a time of national instability.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Anammelech appears only once in Scripture, tucked into a historical list of foreign gods in 2 Kings 17:31. It serves as a stark reminder of how easily people can drift from trusting God to adopting practices that contradict His character. The text records this not to validate these beliefs, but to show the seriousness of mixing faith with pagan rituals.
For your spiritual life today, this word highlights the danger of syncretism—trying to hold onto God while also embracing values or practices that oppose Him. It invites you to examine your own heart: are there areas where you might be compromising biblical truth for cultural acceptance? The Bible calls us to single-minded devotion, reminding us that God deserves our full trust and loyalty.
Ultimately, this passage points to the clarity of God’s call. He does not want divided allegiance. Instead, He offers a path of freedom and truth that requires no compromise. By keeping your focus on Him alone, you avoid the confusion that comes from mixing faith with worldly systems.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Anammelech1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַֽ/עֲנַמֶּ֖לֶךְ1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 17:31
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
This verse lists Anammelech among other deities to document the specific pagan practices adopted by resettled populations, highlighting the historical reality of religious syncretism during this period.