1 Kings 15:13

“And also Maacah his mother he removed from being lady, because she had made a horrid image for Asherah; and Asa cut down her horrid image and burned it at the brook Kidron.”

1 Kings 15:13 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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13

1 Kings 15:13, word by word

Maacahמַעֲכָהmaacha

Maacah

Maacah, the name of several people, men and women; among them a son of Nahor and the daughter of the king of Geshur, David's wife and Absalom's mother. Also a small kingdom in the north.

Where else “maacha” appears
his motherאִמּim

mother

The woman who gives birth to and raises her children, and who is owed honor.

Where else “im” appears
he removedיְסִרֶyesire

remove

To take away something from where it was: an altar, a load, an office, loyal love.

Where else “yesire” appears
from being ladyגְּבִירָהgevira

lady, mistress

Lady: the leading woman of the king's household, whether his chief wife or the queen mother; also the mistress of a female slave.

Where else “gevira” appears
she had madeעָשְׂתָהasta

make

To build or create something.

Where else “asta” appears
a horrid imageמִפְלֶצֶתmifletset

horrid thing, idol

Something that causes horror; a cult image dedicated to Asherah. The word comes from "shudder" and is used only of this image (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Chronicles 15:16). Its shape is not known.

Where else “mifletset” appears
for Asherahאֲשֵׁרָהashera

Asherah

Asherah: a Canaanite goddess, and the pole or sacred tree that stood for her beside the altars.

Where else “ashera” appears
and Asaאָסָאasa

Asa

Asa: a name of uncertain meaning. It is the king of Judah, son of Abijam, who reigned forty-one years and did what was right in the eyes of YHWH (1 Kings 15:9-24); a Levite also bears the name (1 Chronicles 9:16).

Where else “asa” appears
cut downיִּכְרֹתyichrot

cut down

To cut a tree or branch with an axe to get timber.

Where else “yichrot” appears
and burned itיִּשְׂרֹףyisrof

burn

Burn; bake in the fire.

Where else “yisrof” appears
at the brookנַחַלnachal

torrent

A channel that runs with water only in the rainy season.

Where else “nachal” appears
Kidronקִדְרוֹןkidron

Kidron

See it on the mapWhere else “kidron” appears

Translation note

“The lady”: the title of the king’s mother (or grandmother), who had a place of honor at the court. “Horrid image”: the Hebrew word comes from “to shudder” and occurs only here and in 2 Chronicles 15:16; it is not known what form it had.

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

The reign of Asa

2 Chronicles 14:1-52 Chronicles 15:16-19

See them side by side

1 Kings 15:9-15

9In year twenty of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa king of Judah began to reign. 10Forty and one years he reigned in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. 11Asa did what was right in the eyes of YHWH, like David his father. 12He drove the sacred prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13And also Maacah his mother he removed from being lady, because she had made a horrid image for Asherah; and Asa cut down her horrid image and burned it at the brook Kidron. 14But the high places were not removed; only the heart of Asa was whole with YHWH all his days. 15He brought the holy things of his father and the holy things of the house of YHWH: silver and gold and vessels.

2 Chronicles 14:1-5

1Abijah lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years. 2Asa did what was good and what was right in the eyes of YHWH his Elohim. 3He removed the foreign altars and the high places, broke the standing stones, and cut down the Asherahs. 4He told Judah to seek YHWH, Elohim of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. 5He removed from all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars; and the kingdom was quiet before him.

2 Chronicles 15:16-19

16And also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being lady, because she had made for Asherah a horrid image; and Asa cut down her horrid image, ground it to dust and burned it at the brook Kidron. 17But the high places were not removed from Israel; only the heart of Asa was whole all his days. 18He brought into the house of Elohim the holy things of his father and his own holy things: silver and gold and vessels. 19And there was no war until year thirty-five of the reign of Asa.

Places in this verse

JerusalemKidron
Approximate location. A “?” means it is not known for sure where it was.
  • Kidron

    Today: Kidron Valley (Wadi en-Nar), Jerusalem

    The valley between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, east of the city.

    David crossed it as he fled from Absalom (2 Sam 15:23). Good kings burned idolatrous objects there (2 Kgs 23:4).

    2 Samuel 15:231 Kings 2:372 Kings 23:4

The context

12He drove the sacred prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

13 · This verse (above)

14But the high places were not removed; only the heart of Asa was whole with YHWH all his days.

Read all of 1 Kings 15

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