Moloch

[ moh-lok, mol-uhk ]

noun

1. a deity whose worship was marked by the propitiatory sacrifice of children by their own parents. 2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 32:35.
2. anything conceived of as requiring appalling sacrifice:

   the Moloch of war.

3. (lowercase) a spiny agamid lizard, Moloch horridus, of Australian deserts, that resembles the horned lizard.

Moloch

¹

/ ˈməʊlɛk; ˈməʊlɒk /

noun

1. Old Testament a Semitic deity to whom parents sacrificed their children

moloch

²

/ ˈməʊlɒk /

noun

1. a spiny Australian desert-living lizard, Moloch horridus, that feeds on ants: family Agamidae (agamas) Also calledmountain devilspiny lizard

Moloch

1. A Canaanite idol who demanded the sacrifice of first-born children. The Old Testament prophets railed against the worship of Moloch by the Israelites .

Notes

Moloch also appears as one of the fallen angels in Milton's Paradise Lost and as a malevolent figure in other allegorical works of literature.

By extension, a “Moloch” is something that has the power to exact extreme sacrifice.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Moloch¹

From Late Latin, from Greek Molóch, from Hebrew Mōlekh, which has the consonants of melekh “king” and the vowels of bōsheth “shame” (caused by idolatry and human sacrifice)

Example Sentences

While Ichabod is checking for non-existent cell service, Abbie learns that Moloch is planning to release a demon army on earth.

From The Daily Beast

But you carried a tabernacle for your Moloch, and the image of your idols, the star of your god, which you made to yourselves.

From Project Gutenberg

These finally seduced him into permitting temples to be built to Moloch and their other false gods.

From Project Gutenberg

Hath he not said ergo to the poor saints, to your sons and your daughters, whom he hath burned in the fire to Moloch?

From Project Gutenberg

He seemed like the minister of some dark rite of heathenism, preparing to offer up a victim to the Moloch of his superstition.

From Project Gutenberg

Ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them.

From Project Gutenberg