Idols and False Gods in the Bible 🌿

🛑 Idols and False Gods in the Bible — Names, Origins, and References

Throughout Scripture, many pagan deities and idols are mentioned. They represent the spiritual and moral corruption that drew Israel away from the true worship of Yahweh. Below is a reference list of key idols and goddesses mentioned in the Bible, with origins, main regions of worship, and key passages.

Name	Meaning / Role	Origin / Nation	Key References	Notes
Baal	"Lord" — Canaanite storm and fertility god	Canaan, Phoenicia	1 Kings 18; Judges 2:11–13; Jer 19:5	Most frequently condemned idol; opposed by Elijah on Mount Carmel.
Asherah	Fertility goddess, consort of Baal or El	Canaan	Exod 34:13; 1 Kings 15:13; 2 Kings 23:4–7	Worship involved poles (Asherah poles) beside altars; symbol of sexual idolatry.
Ashtoreth / Astarte / Ishtar	Goddess of love, war, and fertility	Sidon, Babylon, Mesopotamia	1 Sam 7:3–4; 1 Kings 11:5,33	Worshiped widely; Solomon fell into her cult influence.
Chemosh	National god of Moab	Moab	Num 21:29; 1 Kings 11:7; 2 Kings 23:13	Associated with child sacrifice; Solomon built an altar for him.
Molech (Moloch)	Ammonite god demanding child sacrifice	Ammon	Lev 18:21; Jer 32:35	Worship involved burning children in fire in the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna).
Dagon	Fish-grain god; associated with fertility	Philistia	Judges 16:23; 1 Sam 5:2–7	Idol that fell before the Ark of the Covenant when placed in its temple.
Tammuz	Mesopotamian god of vegetation	Babylon	Ezek 8:14	Women wept for him at the Temple — condemned by God as abomination.
Bel	"Lord" — another title for Marduk	Babylon	Isa 46:1; Jer 50:2	Main Babylonian deity, contrasted with the living God who cannot fall.
Marduk	Supreme deity of Babylon	Babylon	Jer 50:2	Symbolized Babylon’s pride and empire worship.
Remphan / Rephan	Egyptian or Near Eastern star god	Egypt / Canaan	Amos 5:26; Acts 7:43	Israel carried its image during wilderness rebellion.
Milcom	Also called Molech — god of the Ammonites	Ammon	1 Kings 11:5,33	Linked to Molech; Solomon built a shrine to him.
Nebo (Nabu)	God of wisdom and writing	Babylon	Isa 46:1	Carried into captivity; powerless before Yahweh.
Succoth-Benoth	Idol of Babylonian origin	Samaria (brought by colonists)	2 Kings 17:30	Worshiped by settlers after Assyrian conquest of Israel.
Nergal	God of plague and war	Babylon / Cuth	2 Kings 17:30	One of the foreign gods introduced into Samaria.
Adrammelech & Anammelech	Gods of Sepharvaim; associated with fire sacrifice	Sepharvaim	2 Kings 17:31	Worship involved burning children.
Queen of Heaven	Title for a female deity worshiped by Judah	Babylon / Canaan	Jer 7:18; 44:17–25	Women made cakes to her; condemned by Jeremiah.
Beelzebub (Baal-Zebub)	"Lord of the flies" — Philistine deity	Ekron	2 Kings 1:2–3,6,16	Later became a title for Satan (Matt 12:24).
Merodach	Variant name of Marduk	Babylon	Jer 50:2	Another title used in Babylonian religion.
Gad	Fortune god	Babylon / Canaan	Isa 65:11	Israelites set tables for this god instead of Yahweh.
Meni	God of destiny	Babylon / Canaan	Isa 65:11	Paired with Gad as false deities worshiped by apostate Israelites.
Pan	Greek pastoral god (mentioned indirectly via Caesarea Philippi)	Greek / Roman	Matt 16:13	Site of "gates of hell" was linked to worship of Pan.
Diana / Artemis	Greek goddess of fertility and the hunt	Ephesus	Acts 19:27–35	Paul’s preaching caused uproar among her worshipers in Ephesus.

Summary: These idols often represented the corruption of nations around Israel. The prophets consistently called for exclusive worship of Yahweh, warning that these gods were powerless and led only to destruction and exile.

Created for Deva Varthai Bible Study.