Mero´dach occurs in Jer 50:2, in such connection with idols as to leave no doubt that it is the name of a Babylonian god. In conformity with the general character of Babylonian idolatry, Merodach is supposed to be the name of a planet; and, as the Tsabian and Arabic names for Mars are Nerig and Mirrich, ’arrow,’ there is some presumption that it may be Mars. As for etymologies of the word, Gesenius has suggested that it is the Persian mardak, the diminutive of mard, ’man,’ used as a term of endearment; or, rather, that it is from the Persian and Indo-Germanic mord, or mort (which means death, and is so far in harmony with the conception of Mars, as the lesser star of evil omen), and the affix och, which is found in many Assyrian names, as Nisroch, etc.
Mero’dach. (death). Jer 50:2. Identical with the famous Babylonian, Bel or Belus, the word being, probably, at first, a mere epithet of the god, which, by degrees, superseded his proper appellation.
Jer 50:2. ("death" (Gesenius) or "little lord".) Epithet of Bel the Babylonian Jupiter, termed "the senior of the gods," "the judge," and by Nebuchadnezzar in inscriptions "the great lord, the most ancient," and by Neriglissar "the firstborn of gods, the layer up of treasures." Merodach became a distinct phase of Bel. It forms part of some kings’ names, as Merodach Baladan, Evil Merodach; it is so used as early as 1650 B.C. Zurbanit (from
Merodach (me-rô’dak, or mĕr’o-dak), death, Jer 50:2, identical with the Babylonian Bel or Belus the term being probably at first a mere epithet of the god.
[Mero’dach]
An idol of Babylon. Jer 50:2. It is MARDUK on the monuments.
MERODACH.—The name of the city-god of Babylon, worshipped, after the establishment of Babylon as capital of the Babylonian Empire, as chief god of Babylonia. The Babylonian name was Marduk, older form Maruduk. He gradually absorbed the attributes of other gods once supreme through the influence of their city seats of worship, particularly Ellil the old Bçl, or lord supreme of Nippur. Hence he was in later times the Bçl of Babylonia. Merodach is a Hebraized form occurring only in Jer 50:2, but the Bçl of the Apocryphal Bçl and the Dragon (Isa 46:1, Jer 51:44) is the same deity. Nebuchadnezzar was specially devoted to his worship, but the Assyrians reverenced him no less; and even Cyrus, on his conquest of Babylon, treated him with the deepest respect. The name occurs in many Babylonian proper names, and appears in the Bible in Merodach-baladan and Evil-merodach, and probably in Mordecai.
C. H. W. Johns.