Pagan gods in the Tanakh
(Hebrew Bible)
The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) references many pagan gods worshiped by surrounding cultures, often in the context of condemning Israel’s idolatry. These deities were part of the religious landscape of the ancient Near East, and the biblical authors frequently mention them as rivals to the worship of Yahweh. Here are some of the most prominent:
1. Baal
- Culture: Canaanite
- Role: Storm and fertility god
- Mentions: Frequently (e.g., Judges 2:11–13, 1 Kings 18)
- Notes: Baal worship was one of the most common forms of idolatry condemned in the Bible. Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel is a key episode (1 Kings 18).
2. Asherah
- Culture: Canaanite
- Role: Mother goddess, consort of El (and sometimes Baal)
- Mentions: Deuteronomy 16:21, 1 Kings 15:13
- Notes: Often symbolized by poles or trees (“Asherah poles”), her worship was frequently mixed into Israelite practice despite repeated prohibitions.
3. Molech (or Moloch)
- Culture: Ammonite
- Role: Associated with child sacrifice
- Mentions: Leviticus 18:21, Jeremiah 32:35
- Notes: Worship of Molech, particularly child sacrifice, is strongly condemned.
4. Chemosh
- Culture: Moabite
- Role: National god of Moab
- Mentions: Numbers 21:29, 1 Kings 11:7
- Notes: King Solomon built a shrine for Chemosh, which was seen as a grave offense (1 Kings 11).
5. Dagon
- Culture: Philistine
- Role: Grain and fertility god
- Mentions: Judges 16:23, 1 Samuel 5
- Notes: Famously, the Ark of the Covenant causes Dagon’s idol to fall and break in the temple in Ashdod (1 Samuel 5).
6. Astarte (Ashtoreth)
- Culture: Phoenician/Canaanite
- Role: Love and war goddess, similar to Ishtar
- Mentions: 1 Kings 11:5, Judges 2:13
- Notes: Often associated with Baal; worship involved ritual prostitution.
7. Tammuz
- Culture: Mesopotamian
- Role: Dying and rising god associated with vegetation
- Mentions: Ezekiel 8:14
- Notes: Women mourning Tammuz in the Temple is cited as an abomination in Ezekiel.
8. Nebo and Bel (Marduk)
- Culture: Babylonian
- Role: Chief gods of Babylon
- Mentions: Isaiah 46:1
- Notes: These gods are mocked for their inability to save Babylon.
These references reflect the theological and political tensions between monotheistic Yahwism and the surrounding polytheistic cultures. The biblical texts often use these gods as symbols of Israel’s unfaithfulness and spiritual corruption.
Here is a table summarizing the pagan gods mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, their meanings, cultures, and roles:
| Name | Meaning | Culture | Role/Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baal | “Lord” or “Master” | Canaanite/Ugaritic | Storm god, fertility, agriculture |
| Asherah | Possibly “Upright” (uncertain) | Canaanite/Ugaritic | Mother goddess, fertility, consort of El |
| Molech | Distortion of melek (“king”) | Ammonite (likely) | God associated with child sacrifice |
| Chemosh | Possibly “Subduer” | Moabite | National god of Moab, war/death deity |
| Dagon | Possibly “Grain” (from dgn) | Philistine/Semitic | Fertility god, associated with grain |
| Ashtoreth | Distorted form of Astarte | Phoenician/Canaanite | Goddess of love, war, and fertility |
| Tammuz | “Faithful Son” (from Sumerian) | Mesopotamian/Sumerian | Dying-rising god, vegetation cycles |
| Bel (Marduk) | “Lord” | Babylonian | Chief god of Babylon, king of the gods |
| Nebo (Nabu) | Possibly “Announcer” or “Prophet” | Babylonian | God of wisdom, writing, and scribes |
Pagan gods in the
Brit Chadasha
(New Testament)
In the Brit Chadasha (New Testament), there is no detailed pantheon like in the Tanakh (Old Testament), but some pagan gods or similar concepts appear, especially in the context of Greco-Roman religion. These are not worshipped by Israel, but rather encountered by early believers in Gentile settings (e.g., Paul’s missions). Below is a comparison:
Similar Pagan Concepts/Gods in the Tanakh and Brit Chadasha
| Tanakh Pagan God | Culture | Function/Role | Similar in Brit Chadasha | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baal | Canaanite | Storm/fertility god | Zeus, Jupiter | Acts 14:12–13 – Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for Zeus and Hermes. |
| Asherah | Canaanite | Mother goddess/fertility | Artemis (Diana) | Acts 19:24–35 – Worship of Artemis in Ephesus causes a riot. |
| Molech | Ammonite | Child sacrifice | None explicitly named | Concept condemned (e.g., infanticide, idolatry), but no NT parallel god. |
| Chemosh | Moabite | National god of Moab | None mentioned | No direct NT equivalent. |
| Dagon | Philistine | Grain/fertility god | Possibly Demeter (by theme) | No mention in NT. |
| Ashtoreth (Astarte) | Phoenician/Canaanite | Love and war goddess | Aphrodite/Venus | Not named in NT, but associated with sexual immorality condemned there. |
| Tammuz | Mesopotamian | Dying/rising vegetation god | Adonis, possibly linked to mystery cults | Related to fertility cults opposed by early Christians. |
| Bel / Marduk | Babylonian | Chief god of Babylon | No direct NT parallel | Babylon becomes symbolic (e.g., Revelation). |
| Nebo | Babylonian | Wisdom/writing god | Hermes (Mercury) | Acts 14:12 – Paul is called Hermes. |
📌 Key Mentions in the Brit Chadasha
- Acts 14:11–13 – Paul and Barnabas mistaken for Zeus and Hermes in Lystra.
- Acts 17:22–31 – Paul at the Areopagus in Athens confronts idol worship and “the unknown god.”
- Acts 19:23–35 – Riot in Ephesus over the worship of Artemis (Diana), major Greco-Roman goddess.
- Revelation 2:14, 20 – Reference to Balaam, Jezebel, and teachings leading to idolatry and sexual immorality (linked conceptually to Canaanite and Greco-Roman cults).
- Revelation 17–18 – Babylon becomes a symbol of the great harlot and idolatrous empire.
🔍 Summary
- While the Tanakh deals with Canaanite and Near Eastern gods, the Brit Chadasha engages with Greco-Roman deities and cults.
- Many NT references are symbolic, polemical, or contextual — warning against idolatry, syncretism, or immorality.
- Gods like Zeus, Hermes, Artemis, and Aphrodite mirror roles of Baal, Asherah, and others thematically, even if names differ.
Resources
Here’s a consolidated list of biblical references and sources used throughout our conversation, organized by topic:
1. Pagan Gods in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)
These gods were worshiped by Israel’s neighbors and occasionally by apostate Israelites. They are mentioned directly or indirectly in these passages:
| God | References |
|---|---|
| Baal | Judges 2:11–13, 1 Kings 18, Hosea 2:13 |
| Asherah | Judges 3:7, 1 Kings 14:15, 2 Kings 17:16 |
| Molech | Leviticus 18:21, Leviticus 20:2–5, 2 Kings 23:10 |
| Chemosh | Numbers 21:29, 1 Kings 11:7, 2 Kings 23:13 |
| Dagon | Judges 16:23, 1 Samuel 5:2–5 |
| Ashtoreth | 1 Kings 11:5, 1 Samuel 7:3–4 |
| Tammuz | Ezekiel 8:14 |
| Bel/Marduk | Isaiah 46:1, Jeremiah 50:2 |
| Nebo | Isaiah 46:1 |
| Rephan | Amos 5:26 (quoted in Acts 7:43) |
2. Pagan Deities/Concepts in the Brit Chadasha (New Testament)
| Reference | Pagan Deity or Concept |
|---|---|
| Acts 14:11–13 | Paul & Barnabas mistaken for Zeus & Hermes |
| Acts 17:22–31 | Paul addresses “unknown god” in Athens |
| Acts 19:23–35 | Artemis (Diana) worship and Ephesian riot |
| Revelation 2:14,20 | Balaam, Jezebel – sexual immorality & idolatry |
| Revelation 17–18 | Babylon as symbol of idolatry and corruption |
🔧 Translations and Sources Used
- Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) – for exact verse rendering.
- Masoretic Text / Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) – for Hebrew-based interpretations.
- Greek New Testament – for references to Greco-Roman deities and terms.
- Historical-cultural context from:
- Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (DDD)
- IVP Bible Background Commentary
- Lexicons (BDB, HALOT, TDNT)