### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **miphletseth**, represented by `{{H4656}}`, refers to a terror or an **idol**. This term appears **4 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible, exclusively in the context of a specific act of idolatry and its subsequent destruction. The word itself conveys a sense of horror or fright associated with the object of false worship.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The use of `{{H4656}}` is found in the parallel accounts of King Asa's reforms. In both 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, Asa's own mother, Maachah, is removed from her position as queen because she had made an **idol** (miphletseth) in a grove. Asa's response was decisive and severe. He took the **idol**, cut it down, and burned it by the brook Kidron [[1 Kings 15:13]]. The account in 2 Chronicles adds that he also "stamped" the idol before burning it, emphasizing the totality of its destruction [[2 Chronicles 15:16]].
### Related Words & Concepts
The actions taken against the `{{H4656}}` idol are described with several powerful verbs:
* `{{H3772}}` **kârath** (to cut down, destroy): This word signifies the initial act of dismantling the idol. King Asa "destroyed" [[1 Kings 15:13]] or "cut down" [[2 Chronicles 15:16]] the idol, showing a forceful removal from its place of honor.
* `{{H1854}}` **dâqaq** (to stamp, make dust): Used in [[2 Chronicles 15:16]], this term describes the act of crushing the idol into small pieces or dust, a step that illustrates utter desecration and ensures it could not be reassembled.
* `{{H8313}}` **sâraph** (to burn): This is the final act of destruction performed on the idol in both accounts. By burning the remains, Asa ensured its complete eradication ([[1 Kings 15:13]], [[2 Chronicles 15:16]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4656}}` is concentrated in its stark illustration of the proper response to idolatry.
* **Zero Tolerance for Idolatry:** King Asa's actions against his own mother, the queen, demonstrate that kinship and status are secondary to faithfulness to God. He removed her from power for her sin of making an idol [[1 Kings 15:13]].
* **Complete Eradication:** The destruction of the idol was not merely symbolic. It was systematically cut down, stamped to pieces, and burned. This sequence highlights the principle that objects of false worship must be completely and irreversibly destroyed.
* **Public Act of Reformation:** The destruction took place at the brook Kidron, a public and significant location. This indicates that Asa's actions were a clear statement to the entire nation about his commitment to purging idolatry from the land.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4656}}` is a highly specific term for an **idol** that evokes terror. Its limited use in Scripture is tied directly to the narrative of King Asa and Queen Maachah. This account provides a powerful and unambiguous lesson on the gravity of idolatry and the necessity for leaders to remove it decisively and completely, regardless of personal cost. The thorough destruction of the idol serves as a physical manifestation of a spiritual cleansing.
TRV