1 Kings 15 13

1 Kings 15:13 kjv

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.

1 Kings 15:13 nkjv

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

1 Kings 15:13 niv

He even deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

1 Kings 15:13 esv

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.

1 Kings 15:13 nlt

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.

1 Kings 15 verses

1 Kings 15 13 Meaning

This verse details King Asa of Judah's decisive action to remove his grandmother, Maacah, from her powerful position as queen mother. This was a consequence of her engagement in severe idolatry, specifically constructing an abominable image dedicated to the Canaanite goddess Asherah. Demonstrating his commitment to purity and loyalty to Yahweh, Asa personally destroyed the idol, cutting it down and burning it in the Kidron Valley, a symbolic act of spiritual cleansing for the nation.

1 Kings 15 13 Context

King Asa's reign began after that of his father, Abijam (also known as Abijah), who walked in the sins of Rehoboam, his father, allowing idolatry and a divided heart to persist in Judah. In stark contrast, 1 Kings 15 introduces Asa as a king who "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (1 Kgs 15:11). This verse (1 Kgs 15:13) immediately follows this positive appraisal, highlighting a specific, prominent act of religious reform early in his reign. This was a critical act of leadership to purge an internal source of idolatry—his own family, specifically the queen mother, a position of significant influence. Historically, Judah frequently struggled with syncretism, blending the worship of Yahweh with Canaanite deities like Baal and Asherah, making Asa's actions a vital return to covenant faithfulness.

1 Kings 15 13 Word Analysis

• Moreover: (Hebrew: v'gam) Connects this specific reform action to Asa's overall righteous reign and his commitment to the Lord previously stated.
• he removed: (Hebrew: vayyasar) From the root סוּר (sur), meaning "to turn aside," "to remove." This implies a deliberate and decisive act of disempowerment, stripping away her authority and position.
• Maacah: The name of Asa's "mother" (grandmother according to 2 Chr 15:16). This Maacah was the mother of Abijam (Asa's father), making her Asa's grandmother. In the royal court, "queen mother" (gevira) held significant power, influence, and prestige, sometimes acting as regent or a powerful advisor. Her removal indicates Asa's radical commitment to God above familial loyalty.
• his mother: (Hebrew: אִמּוֹ, immo) While "mother," context and parallel passages (2 Chr 15:16) clarify this refers to his grandmother. This highlights the intergenerational aspect of spiritual influence, both for good and for evil. The term im can also denote a matriarch or an influential female ancestor.
• from being queen mother: The role of the queen mother (gevira) was one of significant status and political influence in the ancient Near East, often a co-regent or chief advisor to the king. Her removal signals a complete loss of power and public disgrace.
• because she had made: Asa's action was a direct consequence of Maacah's idolatry, demonstrating a principle of accountability even for high-ranking individuals.
• an abominable image: (Hebrew: מִפְלֶצֶת, miphletseth) A strong and negative term, literally meaning "a frightful thing," "an object of horror," "a monstrous image." This indicates something particularly grotesque, repulsive, or horrifying, not just an ordinary idol. It underscores the severity of her transgression against YHWH's holiness.
• for Asherah: (Hebrew: אֲשֵׁרָה, Asherah) The name of a Canaanite fertility goddess, often worshipped alongside Baal. Her worship involved sacred poles or carved images, often associated with promiscuous cultic practices. It represented a direct threat to the exclusive worship of Yahweh and the purity of Israel's covenant faith.
• and Asa cut down: (Hebrew: vayyikrot) From the root כָּרַת (karat), "to cut off," "to destroy." This emphasizes the forceful and absolute destruction of the idol. It was not merely discarded but physically dismantled.
• her abominable image: Reiterates the offensive nature of the object and reinforces that it was her creation, directly linked to her influence.
• and burned it: (Hebrew: vayyisrop) The act of burning (as commanded in Deut 7:5, 25) was a common and powerful means of showing utter contempt for pagan deities, reducing their representations to ashes, signifying their impotence and nullity.
• by the brook Kidron: (Hebrew: נַחַל קִדְרוֹן, nachal Qidron) A valley/wadi on the east side of Jerusalem, often used as a dumping ground for defiled objects and human waste (2 Kgs 23:4, 6, 12; Jer 31:40). Its use here emphasizes the utter contempt and purification, declaring the idol and its worship unclean and worthy only of disposal outside the city's sanctity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "he removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother": This phrase highlights the political and familial challenge Asa faced. Removing the queen mother was a significant power move and a public declaration of allegiance to YHWH above dynastic convenience or familial loyalty. It set a precedent for leadership valuing righteousness over kinship.
• "because she had made an abominable image for Asherah": This states the direct reason for Maacah's removal, firmly grounding Asa's action in covenant fidelity and rejecting syncretism. The nature of the "abominable image" shows the depth of Maacah's apostasy.
• "Asa cut down her abominable image and burned it by the brook Kidron": This describes the specific, deliberate, and public act of destruction and purification. The two verbs "cut down" and "burned" signify a complete obliteration, while the Kidron Valley location reinforces the defilement and utter rejection of the idol. It symbolizes Jerusalem's purification and Asa's zeal.

1 Kings 15 13 Bonus Section

The detail that Maacah was "his mother" (אִמּוֹ) in 1 Kings 15:13 versus "mother of Abijah" (meaning grandmother of Asa) in 2 Chronicles 15:16 is an example of ancient Hebrew usage where "father" or "mother" can refer to an ancestor, especially in a royal lineage. This shows that the title "queen mother" was an official and powerful position regardless of the direct filial relationship to the reigning king, making Asa's act all the more significant as it targeted a major power player in the kingdom, not merely a distant relative. The specific term "miphletseth" (abominable image) used for Asherah's idol, rather than a more general term for an idol, suggests a particularly offensive or hideous form of idolatry that was actively corrupting Judah. Its presence points to the deeply entrenched nature of pagan worship that required such a dramatic and public purging.

1 Kings 15 13 Commentary

1 Kings 15:13 stands as a pivotal statement regarding King Asa's reign, marking a clear break from the idolatrous practices prevalent in Judah. His willingness to confront and remove Maacah, his own grandmother and a powerful figure, demonstrates a profound and rare zeal for Yahweh. The "abominable image for Asherah" signifies deep-seated Canaanite idolatry that polluted the royal court, and Asa's destruction of it in the Kidron Valley underscores his commitment to ritual and spiritual purity. This act established Asa as a reformer, a king who put the spiritual welfare of his nation above personal loyalties and political expediency, thus doing "what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (1 Kgs 15:11). While commendable, Asa's reforms were not entirely complete, as he did not remove the high places (1 Kgs 15:14), indicating the pervasive nature of syncretism and perhaps a pragmatic limitation on his zealousness. This act provides a powerful example of radical commitment required by God.For practical usage, this verse illustrates that genuine commitment to God may require confronting difficult family or influential relationships that compromise faith, prioritizing God's honor over personal comfort or societal norms. It underscores that spiritual leadership demands action against evil, even within one's own sphere of influence.