### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mᵉleketh**, represented by `{{H4446}}`, is the term for **queen**. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses, derived from the word for king. In scripture, its usage is exclusively found in the book of Jeremiah, where it refers to a specific pagan deity known as the "queen of heaven."
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The biblical context for `{{H4446}}` is one of idolatry and rebellion. The people of Judah are depicted as vowing to "burn incense unto the **queen** of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her" [[Jeremiah 44:17]]. This practice was a communal and family affair, where the children gathered wood, fathers kindled the fire, and women made cakes specifically for the **queen** of heaven, provoking the LORD to anger [[Jeremiah 7:18]]. The people justified their apostasy by claiming that worshiping this deity brought them prosperity and that stopping this worship led to famine and destruction [[Jeremiah 44:17-18]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words illuminate the context of this illicit worship:
* `{{H4428}}` **melek** (a king): As the male counterpart to queen, this term is used for earthly rulers but also for the LORD, who is the true **King** over all the earth [[Zechariah 14:9]]. The worship of the "queen of heaven" is a direct rejection of God's sovereignty as King.
* `{{H6999}}` **qâṭar** (to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire): This word describes the act of burning incense. While a legitimate part of worship to the LORD [[Leviticus 4:35]], it was perverted by the people to **burn incense** to the queen of heaven and other gods ([[Jeremiah 44:17]], [[Jeremiah 7:9]]).
* `{{H5258}}` **nâçak** (to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal)): This term refers to the pouring out of drink offerings. The people repeatedly vowed to **pour out** these offerings to the queen of heaven [[Jeremiah 7:18]]. The same word is also used for setting a king on his throne [[Psalms 2:6]], highlighting a choice of allegiance.
* `{{H8269}}` **sar** (a head person (of any rank or class)): This word for princes or rulers is used alongside kings and fathers to describe the leaders of Judah who participated in the worship of the queen of heaven [[Jeremiah 44:17]]. It is also used prophetically to describe the Messiah as the "**Prince** of Peace" [[Isaiah 9:6]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4446}}` is centered on the dangers of apostasy and syncretism.
* **Flagrant Idolatry:** The worship of the "**queen** of heaven" represents a direct and willful violation of the first commandment. The people offered sacrifices, incense, and drink offerings, which were rites reserved for the LORD, to another god [[Jeremiah 7:18]].
* **Rebellious Justification:** The use of `{{H4446}}` is tied to the people's justification of their sin. They blamed their hardships not on their disobedience to God, but on their failure to continue worshiping the **queen** of heaven, demonstrating a complete inversion of spiritual reality [[Jeremiah 44:18]].
* **Corporate Sin:** The worship was not a private act but a corporate one involving all levels of society—fathers, children, women, kings, and princes—implicating the entire community in rebellion against God ([[Jeremiah 7:18]], [[Jeremiah 44:17]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4446}}` **mᵉleketh** is a term whose biblical usage is focused entirely on the illicit worship of a pagan deity. Found only in the context of Jeremiah's prophecies against Judah, it serves as a powerful symbol of apostasy, illustrating how the people forsook the true King of heaven for a "queen" of their own making. The term is inseparable from the acts of burning incense and pouring out libations, marking it as a word defined by rebellion and divine judgment.
TRV