תַּרְתָּ֑ק (tar.taq)
tar.taq
Tartak
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 proper noun Tartak refers to a deity worshiped by the Avites who settled in Samaria after the Assyrian exile. As recorded in 2 Kings 17:31, this figure was among several foreign gods adopted by the repopulated region, illustrating the complex religious landscape of the area during that period.
Traditional interpretations identify Tartak as a "prince of darkness" associated with Assur, often described in ancient sources as being worshipped in the form of an ass. While modern scholarship has not definitively identified the specific historical or mythological origins of this name, its inclusion in the biblical text serves to highlight the syncretism that characterized the religious practices of the time.
The brevity of its mention underscores its role as a marker of foreign idolatry within the narrative. It stands as one of many examples used in Kings to explain the spiritual confusion and eventual judgment faced by the northern kingdom, reflecting the historical reality of diverse cultic influences in ancient Israelite society.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Tartak appears only once in Scripture, listed among the deities adopted by foreign settlers in Samaria. This brief mention does not invite us to study ancient mythology for its own sake, but rather points to a serious spiritual reality: the danger of mixing our worship with anything less than God alone.
When we encounter references to such idols, the lesson is about loyalty. The biblical narrative uses these names to show how easily people drift from exclusive devotion to Yahweh into confusion and compromise. It reminds us that faithfulness requires choosing one Lord above all others.
This single word serves as a historical marker of idolatry, yet its message remains clear for believers today. We are called to keep our hearts undivided, ensuring that nothing in our lives competes with the supreme place reserved for God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Tartak1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּרְתָּ֑ק1×
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 explicitly lists Tartak alongside other foreign gods to document the specific religious syncretism practiced by the Avites in Samaria.