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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Rabmag</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/r/rabmag.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/jeremiah/39-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/r/rabmag.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Rabmag</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/r/rabbouni.htm" title="Rabbouni">◄</a> Rabmag <a href="/topical/r/rab-mag.htm" title="Rab-Mag">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#hit" title="Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary">Hitchcock's</a> • <a href="#smi" title="Smith's Bible Dictionary">Smith's</a> • <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#eas" title="Easton's Bible Dictionary">Easton's</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div><b>Definition and Role:</b><br>Rabmag is a title mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament, and is associated with a high-ranking official in the Babylonian empire. The term "Rabmag" is believed to be of Akkadian origin, with "rab" meaning "chief" or "great" and "mag" possibly referring to a position of authority or a specific office. Thus, Rabmag can be understood as "chief magus" or "chief of the magi," indicating a person of significant influence and responsibility within the Babylonian court.<br><br><b>Biblical Reference:</b><br>The title Rabmag appears in the context of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, as recorded in the Book of Jeremiah. In <a href="/jeremiah/39-3.htm">Jeremiah 39:3</a>, the Berean Standard Bible states: "Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon."<br><br><b>Historical Context:</b><br>The mention of Rabmag occurs during a pivotal moment in biblical history—the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. to the Babylonian forces led by King Nebuchadnezzar. This event marked the beginning of the Babylonian Exile, a significant period in Jewish history. The presence of high-ranking officials such as the Rabmag underscores the importance of the siege and the subsequent capture of the city.<br><br><b>Identity and Speculation:</b><br>The identity of the individual holding the title of Rabmag is not explicitly detailed in the biblical text. However, the name Nergal-sharezer is associated with the title in <a href="/jeremiah/39-3.htm">Jeremiah 39:3</a>. Some scholars suggest that this Nergal-sharezer may be the same individual who later became king of Babylon, known historically as Neriglissar. This connection, while speculative, highlights the potential prominence of the Rabmag within the Babylonian hierarchy.<br><br><b>Role in the Siege of Jerusalem:</b><br>As a high-ranking official, the Rabmag would have played a crucial role in the administration and execution of the siege against Jerusalem. The presence of such officials at the Middle Gate, a strategic location within the city, indicates their involvement in overseeing the military and political aspects of the conquest. The Rabmag, along with other officials, would have been responsible for implementing the orders of King Nebuchadnezzar and ensuring the successful subjugation of Jerusalem.<br><br><b>Theological Significance:</b><br>From a theological perspective, the mention of the Rabmag and other Babylonian officials in the biblical narrative serves to illustrate the fulfillment of prophetic warnings given by prophets like Jeremiah. The fall of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile were seen as divine judgment for the nation's disobedience and idolatry. The presence of foreign officials such as the Rabmag underscores the sovereignty of God in using even pagan nations to accomplish His purposes.<br><br><b>Conclusion:</b><br>While the specific details about the Rabmag remain limited, the title's inclusion in the biblical account of Jerusalem's fall provides insight into the structure and operation of the Babylonian empire. It also serves as a reminder of the historical and theological context in which these events unfolded, highlighting the interplay between divine providence and human agency in the biblical narrative.<a name="hit" id="hit"></a><div class="vheading2">Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Rabmag</span><p>who overthrows or destroys a multitude<a name="smi" id="smi"></a><div class="vheading2">Smith's Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Rabmag</span><p>(<a href="/jeremiah/39-3.htm">Jeremiah 39:3,13</a>) a title borne by Nergal-sharezer, probably identical with the king called by the Greeks Neriglissar. [NERGAL-SHAREZER] (it probably means <i>chief of the magi</i> ; at all events it was "an office of great power and dignity at the Babylonian court, and probably gave its possessor special facilities for gaining the throne.")<a name="eas" id="eas"></a><div class="vheading2">Easton's Bible Dictionary</div>Assyrian Rab-mugi, "chief physician," "who was attached to the king (<a href="/jeremiah/39-3.htm">Jeremiah 39:3</a>, 13), the title of one of Sennacherib's officers sent with messages to Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem (<a href="/2_kings/18-17.htm">2 Kings 18:17</a>-<a href="/2_kings/19-13.htm">19:13</a>; <a href="/isaiah/36-12.htm">Isaiah 36:12</a>-<a href="/isaiah/37-13.htm">37:13</a>) demanding the surrender of the city. He was accompanied by a "great army;" but his mission was unsuccessful. <a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">RAB-MAG</span><p>rab'-mag (rabh-magh;. Septuagint has it as a proper noun, Rhabamath): The name of one of the Babylonian princes who were present at the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, during the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah (<a href="/jeremiah/39-3.htm">Jeremiah 39:3, 13</a>). 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."<br><br>See <a href="../n/nergal-sharezer.htm">NERGAL-SHAREZER</a>.<br><br>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" (<a href="/jeremiah/39-3.htm">Jeremiah 39:3</a>); 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" (<a href="/jeremiah/39-13.htm">Jeremiah 39:13</a>).<br><br>Walter G. Clippinger<p><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/josephus/the_antiquities_of_the_jews/chapter_8_how_the_king.htm"><span class="l">How the King of Babylon Took Jerusalem and Burnt the Temple and <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> of these generals who ravaged and subdued Jerusalem, if any one desire to know them,<br> were these: Nergal Sharezer, Samgar Nebo, Rabsaris, Sorsechim, and <b>Rabmag</b>. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 how the king.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/r/rabmag.htm"><span class="l"><b>Rabmag</b> (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 39:13). Walter G. Clippinger. Multi-Version Concordance <b>Rabmag</b> (2 Occurrences).<br> Jeremiah 39:3 that all the princes of the king of <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/r/rabmag.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/n/nergalsharezer.htm"><span class="l">Nergalsharezer (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (2.) Another of the "princes," who bore the title of "<b>Rabmag</b>." He was one of those<br> who were sent to release Jeremiah from prison (Jeremiah 39:13) by "the <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/n/nergalsharezer.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/n/nergal-shar-ezer.htm"><span class="l">Nergal-shar-ezer (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> of the king of Babylon came in and took their places in the middle doorway of the<br> town, Nergal-shar-ezer, ruler of Sin-magir, the <b>Rabmag</b>, and Nebushazban, the <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/n/nergal-shar-ezer.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/n/nebushazban.htm"><span class="l">Nebushazban (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> of the king of Babylon came in and took their places in the middle doorway of the<br> town, Nergal-shar-ezer, ruler of Sin-magir, the <b>Rabmag</b>, and Nebushazban, the <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/n/nebushazban.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/n/nergal.htm"><span class="l">Nergal (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal<br> Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer, <b>Rabmag</b>, with all <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/n/nergal.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/r/rabsaris.htm"><span class="l">Rabsaris (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal<br> Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer, <b>Rabmag</b>, with all <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/r/rabsaris.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/sharezer.htm"><span class="l">Sharezer (5 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal<br> Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer, <b>Rabmag</b>, with all <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/sharezer.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/r/rab-mag.htm"><span class="l">Rab-mag (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br>Rab-mag. <b>Rabmag</b>, Rab-mag. Rabsaris . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia RAB-MAG.<br> rab'-mag (rabh-magh;. <b>...</b> <b>Rabmag</b>, Rab-mag. Rabsaris . Reference Bible. <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/r/rab-mag.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/o/officer.htm"><span class="l">Officer (70 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal<br> Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer, <b>Rabmag</b>, with all <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/o/officer.htm - 30k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Rabmag (2 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/jeremiah/39-3.htm">Jeremiah 39:3</a></span><br />that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer, <span class="boldtext">Rabmag</span>, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.<br /><span class="source">(WEB KJV BBE RSV)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/jeremiah/39-13.htm">Jeremiah 39:13</a></span><br />So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, <span class="boldtext">Rabmag</span>, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon;<br /><span class="source">(WEB KJV BBE RSV)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/r/rabmag.htm">Rabmag</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/rab-mag.htm">Rab-mag (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/rabsaris.htm">Rabsaris (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/nergalsharezer.htm">Nergalsharezer (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/nergal-sharezer.htm">Nergal-sharezer (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/rab-saris.htm">Rab-saris (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/samgar-nebo.htm">Samgar-nebo (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/samgarnebo.htm">Samgarnebo (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/nergal-sarezer.htm">Nergal-sarezer (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/nergal-shar-ezer.htm">Nergal-shar-ezer (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/nebushazban.htm">Nebushazban (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/nergal.htm">Nergal (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/rab'saris.htm">Rab'saris (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sharezer.htm">Sharezer (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/official.htm">Official (45 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/officer.htm">Officer (70 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/z/zoroastrianism.htm">Zoroastrianism</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/nebuzaradan.htm">Nebuzaradan (16 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/nebushasban.htm">Nebushasban (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/rabbouni.htm">Rabbouni (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/rabshakeh.htm">Rabshakeh (15 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/babylon's.htm">Babylon's (11 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bodyguard.htm">Bodyguard (23 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/samgar.htm">Samgar (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sarsechim.htm">Sarsechim (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/captain.htm">Captain (167 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/residue.htm">Residue (47 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/wit.htm">Wit (28 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/leading.htm">Leading (101 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/commander.htm">Commander (111 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/r/rabbouni.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Rabbouni"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Rabbouni" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/r/rab-mag.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Rab-Mag"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Rab-Mag" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div 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