Nibhaz

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Nib'haz. (The Barker). A deity of the Avites, introduced by them into Samaria, in the time of Shalmaneser.  2 Kings 17:31. The rabbins derived the name from a Hebrew root nabach , "To Bark", and hence, assigned to it the figure of a dog, or a dog-headed man. The Egyptians worshipped the dog. Some indications of this worship have been found in Syria, a colossal figure of a dog having formerly stood, at a point between Berytus and Tripolis.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

The Avites' idol introduced into Samaria by the Assyrian colonists planted there ( 2 Kings 17:31). Botta represents a bitch suckling a puppy on a slab at the entrance of a temple at Khorsabad. A colossal figure of a dog was formerly between Berytus and Tripoli. So the rabbis derive N. from Nabach , "to bark"; a dogheaded human figure, like the Egyptian Anubis.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Nibhaz ( Nĭ B'Hăz ), Barker. An idol-god of the Avites.  2 Kings 17:31. The name being derived from a word meaning "to bark," it is supposed that the god was represented by the figure of a dog. It would, therefore, be allied to Anubis of the

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

The idol which the Avites made. (See  2 Kings 17:31) If from Nub, to be fruitful, it means one that makes fruitful.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

NIBHAZ. An idol of the Avvites (  2 Kings 17:31 ). But the Heb. text is corrupt, and no identification of this deity is possible.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Idol introduced into Samaria by the Avites.  2 Kings 17:31 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 2 Kings 17:31 Mizbeah

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 2 Kings 17:31

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Nibchaz'. נַבְחִז v. r. נבְחָז , and even נַבְחִן , of uncertain meaning; Sept. Νιβχάζ or Ναιβάς v.r Ἀβααζέρ or Ναβααζέρ or Ε᾿Βλαζέρ , the last syllable evidently being the Assyrian termination Assar, or the Babylonian Ezzar]; Vulg. Nebchaz ) , a deity of the Avites, introduced by them into Samaria in the time of Shalmaneser ( 2 Kings 17:31). There is no certain information as to the character of the deity, or the form of the idol so named. The rabbins derived the name from a Hebrew root Nabach ' ( נָבִח ), "to bark," and hence assigned to it the figure of a dog, or a dog-headed man (Jerus. Talm. Aboda Sara, 3:423; Bab. Talm. Sanhedr. 63, 2). There is no aprioi improbability in this; the Egyptians worshipped the dog (Plutarch, De Isaiah 44), and according to the opinion current among the Greeks and Romans they represented Anubis as a dog-headed man, though Wilkinson (Anc. Egypt. 1:440, second series) asserts that this was a mistake, the head being in reality that of a jackal. (See Anubis). Some indications of the worship of the dog have been found in Syria, a colossal figure of a dog having formerly existed between Berytus and Tripolis (Marmarel, in Bohn's Eiarly Travels In Palest. p. 412). A singular trace of this is found in a basaltic gem in the collection of viscount Strangford. It is still more to the point to observe that on one of the slabs found at Khorsabad and represented by Botta (pl. 141), we have the front of a temple depicted with an animal near the entrance, which can be nothing else than a bitch suckling a puppy, the head of the animal having, however, disappeared. The worship of idols representing the human body surmounted by the head of an animal (as in the well-known case of Nisroch) was common among the Assyrians (see also Rawlinson, Anc. Monarchies, 1:294; Thevenot, Itin. 1:305; La Roque, p. 227; Paul Lucas, Itin. in Asia Min. etc., p. 252). In the Sabian books the corresponding name is that of an evil daemon, who sits on a throne upon the earth, while his feet rest on the bottom of Tartarus; but it is doubtful whether this should be identified with the Avite Nibhaz (Gesen. Thesaur. p. 842; Iken, Dissert. de Idola Nibchaz, in his Dissertations, 1:156 sq.; Norberg, Onomast. Cod. Nasar. p. 99; Beyer, Add. to Selden's Dii Syr. p. 321).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

nib´haz ( נבחז , nibhḥaz ): Given as the name of an idol of the Avvites, introduced by them into Samaria (  2 Kings 17:31 ), but otherwise unknown. The text is supposed to be corrupt.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Nib´haz, an idol of the Avites . In the Zabian books the corresponding name is that of an evil demon, who sits on a throne upon the earth, while his feet rest on the bottom of Tartarus; but it is doubtful whether this should be identified with the Avite Nibhaz.