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Kuthah

place_name theological_term standard

Kuthah is a biblical place-name, a foreign city from which the Assyrians resettled people into Samaria after the fall of the northern kingdom.

At a Glance

A foreign city named in 2 Kings among the places from which the Assyrians brought settlers into Samaria.

Key Points

Description

Kuthah is an Old Testament place-name rather than a theological category. In 2 Kings 17, it is listed among the cities whose inhabitants were brought by the king of Assyria into the cities of Samaria after the fall of the northern kingdom. The same chapter associates the men of Kuthah/Cuth with the worship of Nergal. Scripture gives little additional detail, so the safest treatment is to understand Kuthah as a foreign city mentioned in connection with Assyrian resettlement and the religious compromise that followed in Samaria.

Biblical Context

2 Kings 17 presents Kuthah as one of several foreign centers from which the Assyrians moved populations into Samaria. The chapter uses that setting to explain the mixed religious practices that developed among the transplanted peoples.

Historical Context

The Assyrian Empire commonly relocated conquered populations to weaken local identity and reduce rebellion. Kuthah is named in that imperial context as one of the source cities for settlers brought into the former northern kingdom.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient readers would have recognized Kuthah as part of the broader Assyrian world and as connected with pagan religion. The name appears in a narrative that contrasts Israel's covenant unfaithfulness with imported idolatry.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The Hebrew form is commonly reflected as Cuth or Kuthah in English translation tradition. The name refers to a place, not a person or doctrine.

Theological Significance

Kuthah matters mainly because it appears in a passage about judgment, exile, and the religious corruption that followed Israel's downfall. It illustrates the biblical theme that idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness bring real historical consequences.

Philosophical Explanation

As a place-name, Kuthah itself is not a theological abstraction. Its significance comes from its use in a historical account that shows how political displacement can become a setting for religious syncretism.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not turn Kuthah into a doctrinal concept. The biblical evidence is limited, and details beyond 2 Kings 17 should be stated cautiously. The spelling Cuth/Cuthah varies in English versions and references.

Major Views

Most treatments simply identify Kuthah as a foreign city named in the Assyrian resettlement narrative. Some discussions note the related form Cuth in 2 Kings 17:30 and connect it with the worship of Nergal.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Kuthah is not part of biblical doctrine in itself. Any theological use should stay within the historical teaching of 2 Kings 17 and avoid speculation about the city beyond Scripture.

Practical Significance

Kuthah reminds readers that biblical history is rooted in real places and real empires. It also highlights the danger of blended worship and the lasting effects of national judgment.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Kuthah

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