nisroch Summary and Overview

probably connected with the Hebrew word "nesher", an eagle. An Assyrian god, supposed to be that represented with the head of an eagle. Sennacherib was killed in the temple of this idol (2 Kings 19:37; Isa. 37:38).

(the great eagle) an idol of Nineveh, in whose temple Sennacherib was worshipping when assassinated by his sons, Adrammelech and Shizrezer. #2Ki 19:37; Isa 37:38| This idol is identified with the eagle-headed human figure, which is one of the most prominent on the earliest Assyrian monuments, and is always represented as contending with and conquering the lion or the bull.

NIS'ROCH (great eagle?), an Assyrian deity in whose temple at Nineveh Sennacherib was murdered by his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer. 2 Kgs 19:37; Isa 37:38. The etymology of the name, even the Shemitic origin of the word, is doubtful, and nothing definite is known of this deity. Some suppose him to be represented in the Assyrian tablets by a human form with the wings and head of an eagle. Others suggest that the word refers to Noah's dove, which had been made an object of worship. Nisroch. (After Layard.)

The god of Nineveh, in whose temple Sennacherib was assassinated by his sons (2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38). From nisr Arabic (Hebrew nesher, "eagle"), with the intensive och, "the great eagle." The eagle headed human figure that overcomes the lion or bull, depicted in colossal size upon the walls and the portals, and in the groups upon the embroidered robes; a type of the supreme God. Philo Bybl. in Eusebius, Praepar. Evang. i. 10 says first Zoroaster taught that Ormuzd the Persian god was symbolized by the eagle's head. The constellation Aquila represented it. Nisroch may be a corruption for Asarak, Assar (related to Asshur), an Assyrian god met with in many Assyrian proper names. Septuagint in many copies have for N. Asorach, Esorach, for which Josephus (Ant. 10:1, section 5) has Araskes. Sir H. Rawlinson says "Asshur had no temple in Nineveh in which Sennacherib could have been worshipping." Jarchi explains Nisroch "a beam of Noah's ark." Nisroch is apparently the eagle headed winged figure, with cone in one hand and basket in the other, taken from the N.W. palace, Nimrud. G. Rawlinson says Nisr is not found with this meaning, and Nisroch nowhere in the inscriptions; Nisroch he regards as a corruption.