Who is…
Nergal

Hebrew: נֵרְגַּל —transliteration: Nergal —meaning: the great dog —that is, a lion

Nergal is one of the chief false gods of the Assyrians and Babylonians—the god of war and hunting.

Worshiped by the Cuthites, he is connected with Cutha as its tutelary deity.

“…the men of Cuth made Nergal…” —2 Kings 17:30 excerpt

The name of this heathen god also appears in the names of 2 men mentioned by the prophet Jeremiah.

Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sar-ezer of Samgar, Nebu-sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, with all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon. —Jeremiah 39:3 ESV; also see: Jeremiah 39:13

More information

• Who is Nergal-sar-ezer?
• Answers about idolatry and false gods in the Bible and history
• Answers about idols in the Bible
• Cuthah (Cutha)
• Assyria—What does the Bible say about it?
• What is the Kingdom of Babylon (aka Babylonian Empire)?