1 Kings 15:13

New Century Version

His grandmother Maacah had made a terrible Asherah idol, so Asa removed her from being queen mother. He cut down that idol and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He also removed his grandmother Maacah from being queen mother because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa chopped down her obscene image and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

Hebrew Names Version
Also Ma`akhah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

King James Version
And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.

English Standard Version
He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron.

New English Translation
He also removed Maacah his grandmother from her position as queen mother because she had made a loathsome Asherah pole. Asa cut down her Asherah pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

Amplified Bible
He also deposed his [great-grand]mother Maacah from being queen mother, because she had made a horrid (obscene, vulgar) image for [the goddess] Asherah. Asa cut down her horrid image, and burned it by the Brook Kidron.

New American Standard Bible
And even his mother Maacah, he also removed her from the position of queen mother, because she had made an abominable image as an Asherah; and Asa cut down her abominable image and burned it at the brook Kidron.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And he put downe Maachah his mother also from her estate, because shee had made an idole in a groue: and Asa destroyed her idoles, and burnt them by the brooke Kidron.

Legacy Standard Bible
He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother, because she had made a horrid image for Asherah; and Asa cut down her horrid image and burned it at the brook Kidron.

Contemporary English Version
His own grandmother Maacah had made an idol of Asherah, and Asa took it and burned it in Kidron Valley. Then he removed Maacah from her position as queen mother.

Complete Jewish Bible
He also deposed Ma‘akhah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a disgusting image as an asherah. Asa cut down this image of hers and burned it in Vadi Kidron.

Darby Translation
And also Maachah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol for the Asherah; and Asa cut down her idol, and burned it in the valley of Kidron.

Easy-to-Read Version
King Asa also took away the right of his mother Maacah to be queen mother. He did this because she had set up one of those awful Asherah poles. Asa cut down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

George Lamsa Translation
Moreover he removed Maacah his mother from being queen, because she used to make a feast to her idol, and Asa destroyed her idol and burned it at the brook Kidron.

Good News Translation
He removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother, because she had made an obscene idol of the fertility goddess Asherah. Asa cut down the idol and burned it in Kidron Valley.

Lexham English Bible
Also, he had Maacah his mother removed from the office of queen mother, as she had made a repulsive image for the Asherah. Asa also cut down her repulsive image and burned it in the Wadi Kidron.

Literal Translation
And he also removed his mother Maachah from being queen, in that she made a horrid thing for Asherah. And Asa cut down her horrid thing and burned it by the torrent Kidron.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He put his mother from the mynistracion, that she had made vnto Miplezeth in ye groue. And Asa roted out hir Miplezeth, and brent it in the broke Cedron:

American Standard Version
And also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

Bible in Basic English
And he would not let Maacah his mother be queen, because she had made a disgusting image for Asherah; and Asa had the image cut down and burned by the stream Kidron.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he put downe Maacha his mother from bearing rule, because she had made an idoll in a groue: And Asa destroyed her idoll, and burnt it by the brooke Cedron.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

King James Version (1611)
And also Maachah his mother, euen her hee remoued from being Queene, because she had made an idole in a groue, and Asa destroyed her idole, and burnt it by the brooke Kidron.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he removed Ana his mother from being queen, forasmuch as she gathered a meeting in her grove: and Asa cut down her retreats, and burnt them with fire in the brook of Kedron.

English Revised Version
And also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

Berean Standard Bible
He also removed his grandmother Maacah as the queen mother, because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Ferthermore and he remouyde Maacha, his modir, that sche schulde not be princesse in the solempne thingis of Priapus, and in his wode which sche hadde halewid; and he distriede the denne of hym, and he brak the foulest symylacre, and brente in the stronde of Cedron;

Young's Literal Translation
and also Maachah his mother -- he turneth her aside from being mistress, in that she made a horrible thing for a shrine, and Asa cutteth down her horrible thing, and burneth [it] by the brook Kidron;

Update Bible Version
And also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

Webster's Bible Translation
And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from [being] queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt [it] by the brook Kidron.

World English Bible
Also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

New King James Version
Also he removed Maachah his grandmother from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. [fn] And Asa cut down her obscene image and burned it by the Brook Kidron.

New Living Translation
He even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made an obscene Asherah pole. He cut down her obscene pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

New Life Bible
He stopped his mother Maacah from being queen mother, because she had made a hated object of the false goddess Asherah. And Asa cut down her hated object and burned it at the river Kidron.

New Revised Standard
He also removed his mother Maacah from being queen mother, because she had made an abominable image for Asherah; Asa cut down her image and burned it at the Wadi Kidron.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Moreover also, even Maachah his mother, he removed from being queen, because she had made a monstrous thing to the Sacred Stem, - and Asa cut down her monstrous thing and burned it in the Kidron ravine.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Moreover, he also removed his mother, Maacha, from being the princess in the sacrifices of Priapus, and in the grove which she had consecrated to him: and he destroyed her den, and broke in pieces the filthy idol, and burnt it by the torrent Cedron:

Revised Standard Version
He also removed Ma'acah his mother from being queen mother because she had an abominable image made for Ashe'rah; and Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as an Asherah; and Asa cut down her horrid image and burned it at the brook Kidron.

Contextual Overview

⁹ During the twentieth year Jeroboam was king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah. ¹⁰ His grandmother's name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. Asa ruled in Jerusalem for forty-one years. ¹¹ Asa did what the Lord said was right, as his ancestor David had done. ¹² He forced the male prostitutes at the worship places to leave the country. He also took away the idols that his ancestors had made. ¹³ His grandmother Maacah had made a terrible Asherah idol, so Asa removed her from being queen mother. He cut down that idol and burned it in the Kidron Valley. ¹⁴ The places of worship to gods were not removed. Even so, Asa was faithful to the Lord all his life. ¹⁵ Asa brought into the Temple of the Lord the gifts he and his father had given: gold, silver, and utensils. ¹⁶ There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all the time they were kings. ¹⁷ Baasha attacked Judah, and he made the town of Ramah strong so he could keep people from leaving or entering Judah, Asa's country. ¹⁸ Asa took the rest of the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and his own palace and gave it to his officers. Then he sent them to Ben-Hadad son of Tabrimmon, who was the son of Hezion. Ben-Hadad was the king of Aram and ruled in the city of Damascus. Asa said,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Maachah: 1 Kings 15:2, 1 Kings 15:10, 2 Chronicles 15:15, 2 Chronicles 15:16-19

his mother: Deuteronomy 13:6-11, Deuteronomy 33:9, Zechariah 13:3, Matthew 10:37, Matthew 12:46-50, 2 Corinthians 5:16, Galatians 2:5, Galatians 2:6, Galatians 2:14

destroyed: Heb. cut off, Leviticus 26:30, Deuteronomy 7:5, 2 Kings 18:4, 2 Kings 23:12-15, 2 Chronicles 34:4

and burnt: Exodus 32:20, Deuteronomy 9:21, Joshua 6:24

the brook: 2 Samuel 15:23, 2 Kings 23:6, John 18:1, Cedron

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 12:3 - and burn 1 Kings 2:37 - over the 1 Kings 18:19 - prophets of the groves 2 Kings 17:16 - a grove

Cross-References

Genesis 15:1
After these things happened, the Lord spoke his word to Abram in a vision: "Abram, don't be afraid. I will defend you, and I will give you a great reward."

Genesis 15:2
But Abram said, "Lord God , what can you give me? I have no son, so my slave Eliezer from Damascus will get everything I own after I die."

Genesis 15:6
Abram believed the Lord . And the Lord accepted Abram's faith, and that faith made him right with God.

Genesis 15:7
God said to Abram, "I am the Lord who led you out of Ur of Babylonia so that I could give you this land to own."

Genesis 15:8
But Abram said, "Lord God , how can I be sure that I will own this land?"

Genesis 15:11
Later, large birds flew down to eat the animals, but Abram chased them away.

Genesis 15:12
As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep. While he was asleep, a very terrible darkness came.

Genesis 15:13
Then the Lord said to Abram, "You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers and travel in a land they don't own. The people there will make them slaves and be cruel to them for four hundred years.

Genesis 17:8
You live in the land of Canaan now as a stranger, but I will give you and your descendants all this land forever. And I will be the God of your descendants."

Exodus 1:11
So the Egyptians made life hard for the Israelites. They put slave masters over them, who forced the Israelites to build the cities Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen,.... From the kingdom, as the Targum; from having any share in the government, as she might have had during his minority, his mother being dead, as some conjecture; and not only took away her power and authority, but all the ensigns of it, and perhaps forbid her the court: or he removed her from the queen, his own wife, that she might not be corrupted by her; or rather it was from presiding over the rites of the idol next mentioned, and the worshipping of it:

because she had made an idol in a grove; which had its name from horror and trembling; either because it was of a terrible aspect, or injected horror into its worshippers, or brought terrible calamities and judgments upon them: according to some Jewish writers r, it was a Priapus, of an obscene figure; and so others s, who suppose she presided over the sacred rites of this impure deity, the same with Baalpeor; and the Heathens used to place Priapus in their gardens t, to fright away birds, :-, others take it to be Pan, from whence the word "Panic", used for any great fright:

and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron: and cast the ashes of it into it, that none might have any profit by it, the gold and silver on it, and in indignation to it, see Exodus 32:20.

r T. Bab. Avodah Zarah, fol. 44. 1. s Vid. D. Herbert de Cherbury de Relig. Gent. c. 4. p. 34. Lyram in loc. t "----custos es pauperis horti", Virgil. Bucol. Ecl. 7. ver. 34. & Georgic. l. 4. ver. 110. "----furum aviumque maxima formido", Horat. Sermon. l. 1. ode 8.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Asa degraded Maachah from the rank and state of queen-mother.

The word translated “idol” both here and in the parallel passage (marginal reference), does not occur elsewhere in Scripture. It is derived from a root signifying “fear” or “trembling,” and may perhaps best be understood as “a fright, a horror.” Such a name would seem best to apply to a grotesque and hideous image like the Phthah of the Egyptians. She made it to serve in lieu of the ordinary “grove” - asherah, or idolatrous emblem of Astarte (Exodus 34:13 note). Asa cut it down, for like the usual “asherah,” Maachah’s “horror” was fixed in the ground.

And burnt it at the brook Kidron - Similarly Josiah, when he removed Manasseh’s “grove” - asherah - from the house of the Lord, brought it out to the brook Kidron, and burned it there. The object probably was to prevent the pollution of the holy city by even the ashes from the burning.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 15:13. She had made an idol in a grove — The original word, מפלצת miphletseth, is variously understood. I shall give its different views in the versions:-

"Besides, he removed his mother Maacha from being chief in the sacred rites of Priapus, and in his grove which she had consecrated." - VULGATE.

"And Ana, [other copies Maacha,] he removed from being governess, because she had made an assembly in her grove." - SEPTUAGINT.

"Moreover, he deprived Maacha, his mother, of her own magnificence, because she had celebrated a solemnity to her own worship." - SYRIAC.

"And even Maacha, his mother, he removed from the kingdom, because she had made an idol in a grove." - CHALDEE.

"Besides, he removed Maacha, his mother, from her kingdom, because she had made a high tree into an idol." - ARABIC.

"Also he removed Maacha, his mother, from the kingdom, because she had made a horrible statue; and our rabbins say that it was called מפלצת miphletseth, because מפליא ליצנותא maphli leytsanutha, it produced wonderful ridicule; for she made it ad instar membri virilis, and she used it daily." - RABBI SOLOMON JARCHI.

From the whole, it is pretty evident that the image was a mere Priapus, or something of the same nature, and that Maachah had an assembly in the grove where this image was set up, and doubtless worshipped it with the most impure rites. What the Roman Priapus was I need not tell the learned reader; and as to the unlearned, it would not profit him to know. Maachah was most likely another Messalina; and Asa probably did for his mother what Claudius did for his wife.