Cuthean; Cuthite
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Cuthean; Cuthite in the Bible?
The Cutheans were a population group deported from Cuthah in Mesopotamia and resettled in the territory of Samaria by the Assyrian king Sargon II following the conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel. They are recorded in 2 Kings 17:30 as establishing a shrine for their deity, Nergal, within the newly formed province.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the Cutheans clarifies the historical context of the Samaritan people, whose religious syncretism arose from the intermingling of these deported Mesopotamian groups with the remaining Israelite population, explaining the distinct theological and cultural identity that developed in the region.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.