The Hebrew word gᵉbîyrâh, represented by H1377, is the feminine form of a word meaning master, and is defined as a mistress or queen. It appears only 6 times in 6 unique verses, consistently denoting a woman of the highest royal rank, often the queen mother who held significant influence.
In the biblical narrative, H1377 is used to identify powerful female figures within the royal court. In two parallel accounts, Maachah, the mother of King Asa, is removed from her position as queen for making an idol (1 Kings 15:13, 2 Chronicles 15:16). The prophet Jeremiah uses the term when delivering a warning of impending judgment to the king and queen of Judah, telling them their glorious crowns would come down Jeremiah 13:18. The word also appears in a list of the elite of Judah—including the king, the queen, eunuchs, and princes—who were taken into exile from Jerusalem Jeremiah 29:2.
Several related words provide context for the role and status of the gᵉbîyrâh:
- H4428 melek (a king): This is the direct male counterpart to the queen. The king and queen are often mentioned together, highlighting their shared royal status (Jeremiah 13:18, Jeremiah 29:2).
- H517 ʼêm (a mother): The term is specifically used for the queen mother, as seen in the case of Maachah, the mother of King Asa, who held the title of queen 1 Kings 15:13.
- H4601 Maʻăkâh (Maachah): The name of King Asa's mother, whose story provides the most detailed example of a queen being deposed for promoting idolatry 2 Chronicles 15:16.
- H5493 çûwr (to turn off, remove): This word describes the definitive action King Asa took when he removed his mother Maachah from her position as queen because of her sin 1 Kings 15:13.
The use of H1377 carries significant thematic weight concerning power, worship, and judgment.
- Accountability of Power: The position of queen was not above divine judgment. Jeremiah's message to the king and queen warns that their "principalities shall come down," linking their high office directly to their responsibility to humble themselves Jeremiah 13:18.
- Primacy of True Worship: The most prominent narrative involving a queen is the removal of Maachah for making an "idol in a grove" 1 Kings 15:13. Asa's decision to depose his own mother demonstrates that loyalty to God and the purity of worship must supersede even the highest political and familial loyalties.
- Royal Influence: The queen was a figure of great status, named alongside the king and other top officials in the royal court Jeremiah 29:2. The title was also applied to foreign royalty, such as Tahpenes, the queen of Egypt, indicating its use as a formal title for the wife of a monarch 1 Kings 11:19.
In summary, H1377 gᵉbîyrâh is a specific and powerful term for a queen or queen mother. Though used sparingly, its occurrences are significant, illustrating the influence wielded by these royal women. The term is embedded in narratives that explore the themes of political authority, the dangers of pride, and the absolute priority of undivided worship, showing that even the highest earthly positions are subject to divine law and judgment.
TRV