The term “Queen of Heaven” appears only twice in the Bible, both times in the book of Jeremiah. The context shows that this refers to a pagan goddess named Astarte who was worshipped by some of the people of Judah during the prophet Jeremiah’s time. Jeremiah warned the people against worshipping this false goddess and called them to repent and turn back to the true God of Israel.
The first mention is in Jeremiah 7:18, where Jeremiah condemns the people for making offerings and pouring out drink offerings to other gods. He specifically mentions the Queen of Heaven as one of the false gods being worshipped:
The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven. And they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger.
The second mention is in Jeremiah 44, where Jeremiah is rebuking the people who fled to Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem. He accuses them of persisting in idolatrous worship of the Queen of Heaven, which provokes God to anger (Jeremiah 44:15-23). The people respond defiantly, claiming that when they worshipped this goddess and poured out drink offerings to her, they had plenty of food and were well off. But since they stopped worshipping her, they have suffered famine and war (Jeremiah 44:17-18). Jeremiah warns them that this idolatry will bring further judgment.
From the context, we can conclude that the Queen of Heaven was a false goddess associated with fertility, abundance and protection. The people worshipped her by making cakes and pouring out drink offerings. But God through Jeremiah strongly condemns this idolatry and calls His people to repentance. The true God demands exclusive worship and devotion.
Throughout the Bible, God is portrayed as the only true King who rules over all. There are a few passages that use feminine imagery or metaphors in describing God’s compassion and care for His people (e.g., Isaiah 42:14, 49:15; Hosea 13:8). However, Scripture makes it clear there is only one God, who exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is never presented as a “queen” or goddess figure.
In summary, the Queen of Heaven was a pagan goddess rejected by God and condemned by the prophet Jeremiah. The Bible upholds God alone as supreme. He is the almighty Creator and Savior, compassionate yet demanding exclusive allegiance. There is no support in Scripture for the worship of any other deity.
Now that we’ve covered the brief mentions in the Bible, it may be helpful to provide some historical background. Though the Queen of Heaven is not endorsed in Scripture, we find references to her in other ancient texts and archeological discoveries.
Most scholars identify the Queen of Heaven that Jeremiah condemned with the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar or the Canaanite goddess Astarte. These goddesses were associated with fertility, sexuality and war. Worship of Ishtar/Astarte was widespread among ancient pagan cultures. For example:
- In Mesopotamian mythologies, Ishtar was a primary goddess related to love, beauty, sex, desire, fertility, war, combat, and political power. She was known as the Queen of Heaven and shown wearing a crown.
- Canaanite texts from Ugarit portray Astarte as a goddess of fertility and war. She appears alongside Baal as his consort.
- The Phoenicians worshipped Astarte as a supreme goddess and Queen of Heaven. She was often depicted naked.
- Egyptian, Greek and Roman mythologies included goddesses with similar attributes as Ishtar/Astarte, such as Isis, Aphrodite and Venus.
Archaeological evidence confirms the widespread worship of female fertility goddesses matching Ishtar/Astarte across ancient Middle Eastern cultures. Examples include:
- Clay plaques and figures of naked goddesses, some showing an infant at the breast or flanked by lions.
- Temples and shrines dedicated to various supreme mother goddesses across Mesopotamia, Egypt, Canaan, Greece and Asia Minor.
- Inscriptions naming Ishtar/Astarte as Queen of Heaven found at sites like the Phoenician city Sidon.
Given this cultural backdrop, it’s thought the people Jeremiah rebuked adopted beliefs and practices related to Ishtar/Astarte worship from surrounding peoples. Though God had revealed Himself to the Israelites, they were often drawn to idolatry, which brought stern warnings from the prophets.
TheQueen of Heaven described by Jeremiah contrasts sharply with the true God of Scripture. While she was associated with fertility and sexuality, God is portrayed as transcendent and holy. She represented military power and lust, but God shows strength through justice, mercy and love. The worship practices Jeremiah condemned focused on physical gratification and Agent desires, whereas God called His people to ethical righteousness and spiritual devotion. The prophet made it clear only one God was worthy of worship – Yahweh, the Lord alone.
After the Old Testament era, the title Queen of Heaven came to be used for the Virgin Mary in Roman Catholic tradition. Mary is venerated as an intercessor and Mother of the Church. Some parallels are drawn between Mary and the Queen of Heaven condemned by Jeremiah. However, while Catholics give Mary an exalted position, she is not viewed as a goddess equal to the Trinity. Still, Protestants and others argue this improperly approaches worship of Mary, straying from the principle of sola Scriptura.
Beyond the biblical warnings, the Queen of Heaven has emerged in folklore over time. For example:
- Ancient European paganism – Various mother goddesses were linked to the heavens, the moon, fertility and harvests. For instance, Greek mythology named Hera as Queen of Heaven.
- Middle Ages Europe – Legends arose connecting the Queen of Heaven to figures like Diana, Herodias or Holda, who led groups of women on magical flights and processions during the night.
- Modern esoteric writings – Occult texts describe the Queen of Heaven as an ascended master and powerful cosmic being guiding spiritual evolution and feminine power.
These more speculative ideas go beyond what Scripture reveals. The Bible does not endorse the worship of any Queen of Heaven or feminine divine being. Since Jeremiah’s day, the danger persists of blending idolatrous beliefs with devotion to the true God. Discernment is needed to distinguish truth from error in religious traditions.
In closing, the wise course is to heed Scripture’s warnings and examples. The Queen of Heaven originally condemned in Jeremiah points us to the dangers of idolatry, syncretism and false worship. Through the prophets, God insisted His people worship Him alone in sincerity and obedience. Salvation comes not through earthly queens and idols, but through Jesus Christ, Son of God and heavenly King. Our faith should be focused on Yahweh, the sovereign Lord revealed in the Bible.