Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Tophet
To′phet
,Noun.
[Heb.
tōphet
, literally, a place to be spit upon, an abominable place, fr. tūph
to spit out.] A place lying east or southeast of Jerusalem, in the valley of Hinnom.
[Written also
Topheth
.] And he defiled
Topheth
, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom. 2 Kings xxiii. 10.
☞ It seems to have been at first part of the royal garden, but it was afterwards defiled and polluted by the sacrifices of Baal and the fires of Moloch, and resounded with the cries of burning infants. At a later period, its altars and high places were thrown down, and all the filth of the city poured into it, until it became the abhorrence of Jerusalem, and, in symbol, the place where are wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The pleasant valley of Hinnom,
And black Gehenna called, the type of hell.
Tophet
thenceAnd black Gehenna called, the type of hell.
Milton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Tophet
TO'PHET
,Noun.
Definition 2024
Tophet
Tophet
English
Proper noun
Tophet
- (biblical) A location near Jerusalem in the valley of Gehenna where children were burned alive as sacrifice.
- 1611, Bible (KJV), Jeremiah 7:31::
- And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.
- 1611, Bible (KJV), Jeremiah 7:31::
- ****, Gehenna.
- 1638, Thomas Herbert, Some Yeares Travels, II:
- In this Tophet, they commonly immolated their little children, and sometimes men of more yeers than discretion [...].
-
1824, James Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner:
- But already is the day of their avengement begun; the hero is at length arisen who shall send all such as bear enmity to the true Church, or trust in works of their own, to Tophet!
- 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 5, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
- “Well,” I says, “I cal'late a body could get used to Tophet if he stayed there long enough.” ¶ She flared up; the least mite of a slam at Doctor Wool was enough to set her going.
- 1638, Thomas Herbert, Some Yeares Travels, II: