Moloch was a god worshipped by the Ammonites and Canaanites in ancient times. The name Moloch is derived from the Hebrew word מלך (melek), meaning “king”. Moloch was associated with child sacrifice, a practice forbidden by God in the Bible. The worship of Moloch is condemned several times in Scripture.
The first mention of Moloch is in Leviticus 18:21, where God commands the Israelites not to sacrifice their children to this pagan god: “You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.” Again in Leviticus 20:2-5, God promises severe punishment for anyone who sacrifices their offspring to Moloch.
King Solomon built a temple to Moloch (1 Kings 11:7), trying to please his pagan wives. This temple remained operational until King Josiah destroyed it (2 Kings 23:10). The prophet Jeremiah also condemned child sacrifice to Moloch (Jeremiah 32:35).
In Amos 5:26, God accuses the Israelites of carrying the tabernacle or shrine of Moloch during the wilderness wandering after the Exodus from Egypt. This passage indicates that even while God was performing miracles to deliver them from slavery, the Israelites continued to worship Moloch.
Based on archeological evidence, worship of Moloch was common among pagan cultures of the ancient Near East, especially among the Canaanites and Phoenicians. Images and carvings found at sites in modern-day Israel depict infants and children being sacrificed by fire to Moloch.
The metal statue of Moloch was heated with fire until glowing red. Then babies and young children were placed into the outstretched arms of this idol, where they burned to death. Ritual sacrifices to Moloch took place in the Valley of Hinnom, just outside Jerusalem. This valley later became known as a place of fiery torment or hell – Gehenna in Greek (Matthew 5:22).
What does the Bible reveal about Moloch or Molech?
1. Moloch was a foreign god opposed to the true God of Israel
The worship of Moloch was in direct opposition to the worship of Yahweh, the one true God of Israel. Moloch originated from the Ammonites, descendants of Lot’s son Ben-Ammi (Genesis 19:38). The Ammonites lived east of Israel and were enemies of God’s chosen nation.
Pagan cultures like the Canaanites also took up the worship of Moloch. But Yahweh commanded Israel to completely avoid any association with Moloch and other false gods:
“When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.” (Deuteronomy 12:29-31)
2. Moloch was associated with child sacrifice and pagan fire rituals
A major characteristic of Moloch worship was the ritual sacrifice of children by fire. Parents would offer up their babies and young children as burnt offerings to appease and gain favor with Moloch.
“They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.” (Jeremiah 32:35)
These pagan rituals took place in the Valley of Hinnom just outside Jerusalem in a religious shrine called Tophet. Tophet means “place of fire” and was likely a raised platform with a bronze statue of Moloch.
The Carthaginians, who inherited the worship of Moloch from their Phoenician ancestors, were also known to sacrifice infants to this god. Charred bones of babies and children have been found in Tophets built for Moloch across the ancient Near East.
3. God condemned the worship of Moloch
The Bible makes it clear that Moloch worship is utterly detestable to God. Sacrificing children is an appalling sin and defiles the land.
Leviticus 20:1-5 decrees that both the person who sacrifices a child to Moloch and any bystanders who allow it will be put to death. God promises to turn His face against anyone who gives their offspring to Moloch, cutting them off from the covenant community.
Various prophets and kings risked God’s severe judgment or experienced punishment for supporting Moloch worship. King Solomon set up shrines to Moloch (1 Kings 11:1-8). King Manasseh sacrificed his own son to Moloch (2 Kings 21:6).
The prophet Ezekiel mentions a temple of Moloch at Jerusalem that will be destroyed in God’s judgment for Israel’s idolatry (Ezekiel 23:37-39). The prophet Jeremiah warns that judgment is coming soon against Judah for sacrificing to other gods, including Moloch (Jeremiah 19:1-15).
4. Moloch sacrifice corrupted Israel’s worship of God
Moloch worship seriously corrupted the religious practices of ancient Israel. Even righteous kings like Solomon were enticed by pagan women to participate in rituals devoted to Moloch and other idols. But most kings supported and encouraged shrines like the high place of Moloch in the Valley of Hinnom.
The idolatry of Moloch infiltrated the temple itself. Manasseh installed altars to pagan gods including Moloch in the temple courts (2 Kings 21:4-5; 23:10). This offered a veneer of legitimacy to Moloch worship, allowing it to spread even further.
After the Babylonian captivity, the Jews were cured of worshipping Moloch. However, even in Jesus’ day there were still traces of Moloch worship. He accused the teachers of the law and Pharisees of being not very different from their idolatrous ancestors (Matthew 23:29-32).
5. Moloch worship is connected with hell fire in the Bible
The Valley of Hinnom where children were sacrificed to Moloch gave rise to the idea of fiery torment in hell. Jesus used the image of the continuing fires of the Valley of Hinnom to represent the fires of hell (Mark 9:43-48).
The Valley of Hinnom or Tophet later became a garbage dump where trash fires burned ceaselessly. The association with Moloch caused it to also be linked to the idea of fiery judgment in the afterlife. Both Gehenna and Tartarus (the Greek word for hell) reference this smoldering valley outside Jerusalem.
This eternal fire is prepared not for humans but for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). But those who reject Christ as Savior will share the fate of the devil and his demons (Revelation 20:10-15). They will be resurrected to stand before God in final judgment before being thrown into the lake of fire.
6. Moloch worship contrasted with God’s loving sacrifice
The ancient ritual sacrifice of children symbolized devotion to Moloch. But God categorically denounces this tragic killing of infants and children as evil.
In contrast, God gave His only Son out of love to die in place of sinful humanity (Romans 5:6-11). God does not demand a literal child sacrifice. Instead, His Son voluntarily gave up his life to pay the penalty for our sins.
Jesus compared himself to a mother hen protecting her chicks under her wings (Matthew 23:37). The sacrifice of God’s Son does not destroy life like Moloch worship, but preserves and redeems life.
7. The practice of sacrificing children continues today
While child sacrifice to pagan gods is universally condemned today, the practice sadly continues in different forms:
- Abortion to terminate unwanted pregnancies
- Infanticide due to poverty, disability, gender, birth limits, etc.
- Abandonment of newborns
- Children trafficked as slaves or for sex
- Child soldiers forced to fight in wars
- Children murdered in genocides, terrorist attacks, gang violence, etc.
Jesus showed deep compassion for children. He rebuked his disciples for hindering children from approaching him and said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).
The cries of children sacrificed to Moloch long ago still echo today. But now we have the words of Christ calling us to welcome and protect the most vulnerable in society.
8. Moloch represents the evil of valuing personal gain over human life
Why were ancient parents willing to sacrifice their own children to Moloch? They believed it would gain them protection, prosperity, and fertility.
Parents concluded that sacrificing one child to gain advantages from Moloch was an acceptable price to pay. But God makes it clear that no expected personal benefits can justify taking innocent life.
Today, abortion is often justified by the perceived benefits to one’s education, career, lifestyle, etc. But the desire for personal gain does not validate destroying an unborn life. God hates the shedding of innocent blood, including aborting unborn babies for selfish motives.
9. Trusting in Christ rescues us from the consequences of sin
Many in ancient Israel who sacrificed their children to Moloch did not repent and turn to God. They faced devastating judgment as God poured out his wrath on the nation’s idolatry and bloodshed.
Today, all sins can be forgiven through Jesus Christ. Even Christians have had abortions or supported abortion rights in ignorance. But Jesus bore God’s punishment on the cross so that whoever believes in him can find forgiveness and eternal life.
Repenting of sin and trusting in Christ releases us from sin’s consequences. There is no sin so terrible that God withholds forgiveness from those who seek him (Isaiah 1:18).
10. God values every human life regardless of age or ability
Every person bears God’s image and has inherent worth from conception onward. Jesus loved and welcomed little children. He created the womb where life begins and Almighty God opens and closes it (Genesis 16:2; 29:31; 1 Samuel 1:5-6).
God knows each child before they are born, indeed before they are even conceived (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-16). Every child is crafted by God’s hands in the womb with purpose (Psalm 119:73; Isaiah 44:2, 24).
The elderly and disabled also bear God’s image. When we sacrifice the most vulnerable to pursue comfort, convenience or prosperity, we become like those who worshipped Moloch.
Conclusion
Moloch was a foreign god opposed to the true God of Israel. He demanded the horrendous sacrifice of innocent children by fire. This demonic practice corrupted ancient Israel until righteous kings finally destroyed Moloch’s shrines for good.
The evil ofMoloch worship continues today whenever human life is discounted for the sake of personal benefit. But God calls us to defend and protect all people, born and unborn, young and old, healthy and disabled. Every single life has dignity and worth in the eyes of God.