מַלְכָּה
a queen
Definition
The Hebrew word מַלְכָּה (malkâh) is a feminine noun meaning 'queen' or 'royal consort.' It most commonly refers to the wife of a king, such as Queen Vashti (Esther 1:9) or Queen Esther (Esther 2:22). In a broader sense, it can denote a female sovereign ruler, as seen with the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1, 2 Chronicles 9:1), who visits King Solomon. The term is also used metaphorically, as in the 'queen of heaven' (Jeremiah 44:17-19, 25), referring to a pagan goddess (likely Ishtar or Asherah) worshipped by some Israelites in exile.
Biblical Usage
The word appears 34 times in the Old Testament, primarily in narrative and prophetic books. It is frequently used in the accounts of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10, 2 Chronicles 9) and throughout the book of Esther for Persian queens. In prophetic literature, it appears in Jeremiah's condemnation of idolatry (Jeremiah 44). The usage consistently denotes a woman of the highest royal status, whether as a consort, a visiting monarch, or a deified figure.
Etymology
מַלְכָּה is the feminine form of the masculine noun מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428), meaning 'king.' It is derived from the root מ־ל־ך (m-l-k), associated with ruling or reign. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, such as Ugaritic *mlk* and Akkadian *malku*, indicating a shared ancient Northwest Semitic term for royalty. The feminine form specifically denotes a female counterpart to the king.
Semantic Range
The word מַלְכָּה carries theological weight in contrasting the God of Israel with pagan deities. The condemnation of the 'queen of heaven' in Jeremiah 44 highlights the severe conflict between Yahweh's exclusive worship and the syncretistic worship of foreign goddesses. Furthermore, the portrayal of foreign queens like the Queen of Sheba acknowledges God's wisdom and fame extending beyond Israel (1 Kings 10:9). In Esther, the queen's position becomes instrumental for God's providential deliverance of His people.
In the ancient Near East, a queen (malkâh) typically held a position of great influence as the king's primary wife, though her political power varied. The Queen of Sheba likely ruled as a sovereign monarch over a trading kingdom. The 'queen of heaven' cult in Jeremiah reflects a widespread ancient practice of worshipping a mother goddess for fertility and protection, a direct violation of Israel's covenant. Understanding this context clarifies the biblical polemic against such idolatry.
גְּבִירָה (gĕbîyrâh, H1377) — 'mistress, lady, queen mother'; a term often emphasizing power and authority, frequently used for the king's mother (1 Kings 15:13). שָׂרָה (śārâh, H8283) — 'princess, noble lady'; a more general term for a woman of high rank, not exclusively royal (Isaiah 49:23).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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