Tammuz
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Tammuz in the Bible?
Tammuz, identified with the Sumerian Dumuzid, was a Mesopotamian deity of vegetation and fertility whose mythological death and resurrection symbolized the annual cycle of plant growth and decay.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Tammuz clarifies the context of Ezekiel 8:14, where women weep for the god at the temple entrance, revealing the extent of syncretistic idolatry that the biblical prophets condemned as a violation of exclusive covenant loyalty to Yahweh.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Tammuz. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Tammuz in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Tammuz clarify?
Scripture Passages Mentioned:
Ezekiel 8:14
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.
How to Cite This Entry
"Tammuz." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/tammuz/