Tartak
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Tartak in the Bible?
Tartak was the idol of the Avvites, one of the peoples deported by Shalmaneser V and settled in the cities of Samaria, as recorded in 2 Kings 17:31.
SIGNIFICANCE
Identifying Tartak clarifies the specific foreign religious practices introduced to Samaria that the biblical narrative attributes to the mixed population's syncretism.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Tartak. 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 Tartak in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Tartak clarify?
Scripture Passages Mentioned:
2 Kings 17:31
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
"Tartak." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/tartak/