Q: #220. How many Pagan/false gods does the Bible mention?

     A: In my studies on this, I found 35 Pagan/false gods mentioned. It can be kind of confusing because some gods were the same but spelled differently in different places. Of the 35 I listed below, some may be the same as well, but I am pretty confident most are not. It is also interesting to note that most of the larger cities had numerous gods (polytheism). For example, the city of Athens had so many idols/gods (Acts 17:16), that they even made an idol “To The Unknown God” (Acts 17:23), just in case they missed any! (Paul used this opportunity to tell them about the one true God of all creation.) Below is my list:

Name Of Pagan/False god: Adrammelech
Worshipped By/In: Sepharvites
Bible References: (Total Verses): 2 Kin 17:31 (1)
Description: Sun-god

Name Of Pagan/False god: Amon
Worshipped By/In: Thebes In Egypt
Bible References: (Total Verses): Jer 46:25 (1)
Description: Sun-god

Name Of Pagan/False god: Anammelech
Worshipped By/In: Sepharvites
Bible References: (Total Verses): 2 Kin 17:31 (1)
Description: Moon-goddess

Name Of Pagan/False god: Asherah (Asherim)
Worshipped By/In: Canaan
Bible References: (Total Verses): Judg 6:25,26,28,30 (36)
Description: Fertility goddess

Name Of Pagan/False god: Ashima
Worshipped By/In: Hammath In Syria
Bible References: (Total Verses): 2 Kin 17:30 (1)
Description: ———-

Name Of Pagan/False god: Ashtoreth (Ashtaroth)
Worshipped By/In: Syria / Phoenicia / Canaan
Bible References: (Total Verses): 1 Kin 11:5,33 (9)
Description: Love, fertility goddess

Name Of Pagan/False god: Baal
Worshipped By/In: Syria / Phoenicia / Canaan
Bible References: (Total Verses): 2 Kin 10:18-23,25-28 (43)
Description: Principal god

Name Of Pagan/False god: Baal-berith
Worshipped By/In: Shechem In Canaan
Bible References: (Total Verses): Judg 8:33, Judg 9:4 (2)
Description: Name means “lord of covenant”

Name Of Pagan/False god: Baal-Peor
Worshipped By/In: Moabites
Bible References: (Total Verses): Num 25:3,5 (6)
Description: ———-

Name Of Pagan/False god: Baal-Zebub (Beelzebub in NT Greek)
Worshipped By/In: Ekron In Philstine
Bible References: (Total Verses): 2 Kin 1:2,3,6,16 (4 OT)(6 NT)
Description: Name means “lord of flies” (protection from)

Name Of Pagan/False god: Bel (possibly same as Baal)
Worshipped By/In: Moabites / Babylonians / Ammonites
Bible References: (Total Verses): Isa 46:1 Jer 50:2, Jer 51:44 (3)
Description: Principal god

Name Of Pagan/False god: Castor/Pollux (Twin Brothers)
Worshipped By/In: Greeks
Bible References: (Total Verses): Acts 28:11 (1)
Description: Twin sons of Zeus. Protection for sailors.

Name Of Pagan/False god: Chemosh
Worshipped By/In: Moabites
Bible References: (Total Verses): 1 Kin 11:7,33 (8)
Description: Destroyer, subduer. Child sacrifices made for

Name Of Pagan/False god: Dagon
Worshipped By/In: Philistines
Bible References: (Total Verses): 1 Sam 5:2-5,7
Description: Grain-god

Name Of Pagan/False god: Diana / Artemis
Worshipped By/In: Ephesus In Greece
Bible References: (Total Verses): Acts 19:24,27-28,34-35 (5)
Description: Moon, hunting, virginity goddess

Name Of Pagan/False god: Gad (Fortune)
Worshipped By/In: Israel
Bible References: (Total Verses): Isa 65:11 (1)
Description: ———-

Name Of Pagan/False god: Golden Calf
Worshipped By/In: Israel Borrowed from Egypt
Bible References: (Total Verses): Story in Ex 32
Description: ———-

Name Of Pagan/False god: Jupiter / Zeus
Worshipped By/In: Greeks
Bible References: (Total Verses): Acts 14:12 (1)
Description: King god, ruler of heaven and all other gods

Name Of Pagan/False god: Kalwan (Chiun)
Worshipped By/In: Babylonians
Bible References: (Total Verses): Amos 5:26 (1)
Description: Possibly star god

Name Of Pagan/False god: Meni (Destiny)
Worshipped By/In: Israel
Bible References: (Total Verses): Isa 65:11 (1)
Description: ———-

Name Of Pagan/False god: Mercury / Hermes
Worshipped By/In: Greeks
Bible References: (Total Verses): Acts 14:12 (1)
Description: Messenger for the gods

Name Of Pagan/False god: Merodach / Marduk
Worshipped By/In: Babylonians
Bible References: (Total Verses): Jer 50:2 (1)
Description: Possibly associated with Mars, war god

Name Of Pagan/False god: Milcom (Malcham, Malcam)
Worshipped By/In: Ammonites
Bible References: (Total Verses): 1 Kin 11:5.33 (6)
Description: ———-

Name Of Pagan/False god: Molech (Moloch)
Worshipped By/In: Ammonites
Bible References: (Total Verses): Lev 20:2,3,4,5 (10)
Description: Destroyer, consumer. Child sacrifices made for

Name Of Pagan/False god: Nebo
Worshipped By/In: Chaldea In Babylon
Bible References: (Total Verses): Isa 46:1 (1)
Description: Writing, speech, literature, arts god

Name Of Pagan/False god: Nehushtan
Worshipped By/In: Israel
Bible References: (Total Verses): 2 Kin 18:4 (1)
Description: Serpent Moses made in wilderness (Num 21:4-9)

Name Of Pagan/False god: Nergal
Worshipped By/In: Cuth In Babylon
Bible References: (Total Verses): 2 Kin 17:30 (1)
Description: War and hunting god

Name Of Pagan/False god: Nibhaz
Worshipped By/In: Avvites
Bible References: (Total Verses): 2 Kin 17:31 (1)
Description: ———-

Name Of Pagan/False god: Nisroch
Worshipped By/In: Assyrians
Bible References: (Total Verses): 2 Kin 19:37, Isa 37:38 (2)
Description: ———-

Name Of Pagan/False god: Queen Of Heaven (Known As Ishtar)
Worshipped By/In: Assyria / Babylon
Bible References: (Total Verses): Jer 7:18, Jer 44:17,18,19,25 (5)
Description: Love, war, fertility goddess

Name Of Pagan/False god: Rimmon
Worshipped By/In: Syria
Bible References: (Total Verses): 2 Kin 5:18 (1)
Description: Weather god

Name Of Pagan/False god: Sikkuth
Worshipped By/In: Babylonians
Bible References: (Total Verses): Amos 5:26 (1)
Description: Saturn god

Name Of Pagan/False god: Succoth Benoth
Worshipped By/In: Babylonians / Samarians
Bible References: (Total Verses): 2 Kin 17:30 (1)
Description: goddess

Name Of Pagan/False god: Tammuz
Worshipped By/In: Babylonians / Samarians
Bible References: (Total Verses): Ezek 8:14 (1)
Description: Vegetation god

Name Of Pagan/False god: Tartuk
Worshipped By/In: Avvites
Bible References: (Total Verses): 2 Kin 17:31 (1)
Description: Prince of darkness

     In the previous question, Q: #219, we spoke on the 10 plagues of Egypt. Most scholars agree that each of the first 9 was specifically created by God to target a false Egyptian god, the powerlessness of that god to stop that plague, and the foolishness of believing that god actually had any power at all. (For example, the 2nd plague of frogs targeted the Egyptian frog god Heqt. The Egyptians worshipped frogs and no one was allowed to kill them.) None of these Egyptian gods are mentioned in the Bible by name, but we know from history and archaeology they existed. This is also the case with 100’s of other Pagan/false gods from Bible times.

     In addition, there are numerous false gods from that time that are very well known today, and even taught about in schools. How many of you, like me, had to memorize the names of the Greek gods and what their “power” was i.e. Apollo, Ares, Athena, Hera, Hermes, Poseidon, Zeus, etc….?

     As Christians, we believe ONLY in the one true God of the Bible. Thankfully, we don’t need numerous, man-made “gods” (who have no power at all) to guide our lives and live our lives for; just one God, who we will spend all eternity with one day when we place our trust in Jesus Christ.

More Questions & Answers

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Vic

Thanks for the list!