Who is the queen of heaven mentioned in Jeremiah 44?
The queen of heaven in Jeremiah 44 refers to female goddesses worshiped by apostate Judah. The context identifies her as Ashtoreth in one case and Venus in another—always the same female deity at the core of abject idolatry. The people burned incense and poured drink offerings to her, believing she provided their food.
Les explains that the queen of heaven was not a single named figure but the female goddesses behind much idolatry. He notes it was Ashtoreth in one case and Venus in another, yet always the same female goddess at the very core of abject idolatry. In Jeremiah 44, the men knew their wives burned incense to other gods, and a great multitude of women answered Jeremiah, refusing to hearken to the Lord. They insisted they would burn incense and pour drink offerings to the queen of heaven, claiming that since they stopped, they lacked all things and could not even get food. Les points out the absurdity of their reasoning: they thought refusing to worship the queen of heaven meant they had nothing. He also observes that in apostasy and spiritual things, the women led the way, though he clarifies he is not anti-feminist. Jeremiah declared that the Lord remembered the incense burned in Judah and Jerusalem and could no longer bear the evil. This idolatry contributed to Israel's removal from God's sight, as 2 Kings 17 describes.