Molech; Moloch
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Molech was a deity whose worship, involving child sacrifice, is documented in the Hebrew Bible as a practice adopted by the kingdom of Judah, leading to strict prohibitions in Levitical and Deuteronomic laws.
What is the meaning of Molech; Moloch in the Bible?
Molech was a deity whose worship, involving child sacrifice, is documented in the Hebrew Bible as a practice adopted by the kingdom of Judah, leading to strict prohibitions in Levitical and Deuteronomic laws.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Molech clarifies the intense religious conflicts described in the prophetic books and the reforms of kings like Hezekiah and Josiah, highlighting the biblical authors' emphasis on exclusive covenant loyalty to Yahweh over foreign ritual practices.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.