QUEEN, QUEEN MOTHER (מַלְכָּה, H4893, שֵׁגַל, H8712, מְלֶ֫כֶת, H4906, LXX and NT βασίλισσα, G999. For the last two Heb. words, the LXX has various trs. meaning mighty one, et al.).

Of the several Heb. words for “queen,” גְּבִירָה, H1485, is the most common. It is simply the fem. form of the word for “king.” It is the word used for the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1ff., cf. 2 Chron 9:1ff.), for Vashti and Esther in the Book of Esther, and for the wife of the Babylonian monarch in Daniel 5:10. The pl. of the word occurs in the Song of Solomon 6:8f. The second most common word for “queen” is גְּבִירָה, H1485. It is used of Tahpenes, Pharaoh’s wife (1 Kings 11:19); of Maacah, the queen mother of King Asa (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Chron 15:16); of Jezebel (2 Kings 10:13); and of Nehushta, the mother of Jehoiachin (Jer 29:2; cf. 2 Kings 24:8). The LXX never renders this latter word as “queen,” but seeks to tr. the Heb., which basically means “mighty one.” The rare form שֵׁגַל, H8712, occurs in Nehemiah 2:6 and describes the one by Artaxerxes’ side. Psalm 45:9 also uses it to describe a participant in the royal wedding. Once, the Heb. word for “princess” (שָׂרָה֮, H8576) is rendered “queen” (Isa 49:23).

Outside Israel, the Bible mentions the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10; 2 Chron 9; Matt 12:42; Luke 11:31), Tahpenes in Egypt (1 Kings 11:19), Vashti in Persia (Esther 1:9), and Candace of Ethiopia (Acts 8:27). The only ruling queen the Hebrews ever had was Athaliah, who had been queen mother until her son Ahaziah died (2 Kings 11:1ff.). She reigned for seven years, or until Jehoiada the priest overthrew her (2 Kings 11:4-20).

The wives of the Heb. kings were understood to be queens. The most notable in the Bible are Michal, the daughter of Saul and wife of David, and Jezebel, the wife of Ahab. These two are noted for the rights they assumed. Michal mocked and defied David (2 Sam 6:20ff.), whereas Jezebel has been memorialized as Elijah’s persecutor (1 Kings 19:1-3).

The queen mother was generally the widow of the former king and mother of the reigning one. Certain obligations devolved upon her and she received certain respect. Asa removed his heretical mother, Maacah, for unbecoming religious behavior (1 Kings 15:13). On the other hand, Solomon bowed to his mother, Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:19). It is also worthy of note that in Judah at least the name of the king’s mother always received mention in the record of his coming to the throne (e.g., 2 Kings 12:1).

The proud testimony of the harlot Babylon when she is overthrown in the Book of Revelation is, “A queen I sit, I am no widow, mourning I shall never see...” (Rev 18:7).