Rab-mag רַב־מָג
A Babylonian official present at the fall of Jerusalem
Biography
Rab-mag is mentioned as one of the Babylonian officials present at the capture of Jerusalem by the army of King Nebuchadnezzar (Jer.39.3, 13). The name "Rab-mag" is likely a title rather than a personal name, possibly meaning "chief of the magi" or "chief soothsayer." The presence of Rab-mag, along with other officials. His name was either Nergal-sharezer or he was accompanied by Nergal-sharezer together with Samgar-nebo, and Nebushazban, indicates that he was a high-ranking member of the Babylonian military or administrative hierarchy. After the city fell, these officials took up residence at the Middle Gate, a prominent location within Jerusalem. The specific duties and responsibilities of Rab-mag are not elaborated upon in the biblical text.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentJeremiah 2 verses Study available
- Jeremiah 39:3
"All the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, Nergal Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 39:13
"So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, with Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon;"
Study Jeremiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | רַב־מָג | H7248 |
Rab-mag
Judah (Jer 39:3,13). The word is a compound, the two parts seemingly being in apposition and signifying tautologically the same thing. The last syllable or section of the word, magh, was the designation among the Medes, Persians and Babylonians for priests and wise men. Its original significance was "great" or "powerful"; Greek megas, Latin magis, magnus. The first syllable, rabh, expresses practically the same idea, that of greatness, or abundance in size, quantity, or power. Thus it might be interpreted the "allwise" or "all-powerful" prince, the chief magician or physician. It is, therefore, a title and not a name, and is accordingly put in appositive relations to the proper name just preceding, as "Nergal-sharezer, the Rab-mag," translated fully, "Nergal-sharezer the chief prince or magician."
See NERGAL-SHAREZER.
In harmony with the commonly accepted view, the proper rendering of the text should be, "All the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal-sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, (the) Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, (the) Rab-mag" (Jer 39:3); and "so Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushazban, (the) Rab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer, (the) Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon" (Jer 39:13).
Walter G. Clippinger
rab'-sa-ris (rabh-caric): As with Rab-mag, which is not regarded as a name, but a title, so this is to be regarded as a descriptive title for the person whose name precedes it (see RAB-MAG). The first part, rabh, si