Lexical Definition

‎רַב־מָג‎ Rab-Mâg (rab-mawg') Rab-mag ^N:N-M-P
from ‎רַב‎ and a foreign word for a Magian; chief Magian

Rab-mag.

• Rab-Mag, a Babylonian official

1) soothsayer, magician, chief soothsayer
1a) Rab-mag, chief soothsayer, or chief of princes, an official of Babylonia

See Greek: μάγος

Extended Information

• A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.39.3

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎מָ֑ג‎ noun masculine soothsayer, magian (loan-word from Assyrian ma——u, soothsayer, Dl^{HWB 397}; perhaps originally Sumerian, Dl^{HA 14}); — ‎רַבמָֿ֑ג‎ Jer 39:3; Jer 39:13 chief-soothsayer, in train of Nebuchadrezzar. ‎מַגְבִּישׁ‎ V. ‎גבשׁ‎ ‎מִגְבָּלֹת‎ see ‎גבל‎. ‎מִגְבָּעוֺת‎ see ‎גבע‎.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • A Babylonian official present at the fall of Jerusalem

Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy

Rab-mag, a Babylonian official, was present at the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's army.

• A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.39.3;
• only referred to as Rab-mag רַב־מָג.

Rab-mag is mentioned as one of the Babylonian officials present at the capture of Jerusalem by the army of King Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 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 such as Nergal-sharezer, 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.

All entries for Rab-mag: רַב־מָג