Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "goddess" refers to female deities worshiped by various ancient cultures surrounding the Israelites. The worship of goddesses is consistently portrayed in the Scriptures as idolatrous and contrary to the worship of the one true God, Yahweh. The Bible provides numerous accounts of the Israelites being led astray by the worship of foreign deities, including goddesses, which often resulted in divine judgment.
Ashtoreth: One of the most prominent goddesses mentioned in the Bible is Ashtoreth, also known as Astarte or Ishtar in other cultures. She was a Canaanite goddess of fertility, love, and war. The worship of Ashtoreth is condemned in the Bible, as it was associated with various immoral practices. In
1 Kings 11:5 , it is noted that "Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians," which was a significant factor in his spiritual decline and the eventual division of the kingdom.
Queen of Heaven: Another reference to goddess worship is found in the book of Jeremiah, where the "Queen of Heaven" is mentioned. This title likely refers to a goddess associated with the moon or fertility, possibly linked to Ashtoreth or a similar deity. In
Jeremiah 7:18 , the prophet condemns the people of Judah for making offerings to the Queen of Heaven, stating, "The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger."
Diana (Artemis): In the New Testament, the goddess Diana, also known as Artemis, is mentioned in the context of Ephesus, a city known for its grand temple dedicated to her worship. In
Acts 19:27 , the silversmith Demetrius expresses concern that "the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and her majesty deposed, she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world." The worship of Diana was a significant part of Ephesian culture, and the spread of Christianity posed a threat to her cult.
Biblical Condemnation of Goddess Worship: The Bible consistently condemns the worship of goddesses as part of the broader prohibition against idolatry. In
Deuteronomy 6:14 , the Israelites are commanded, "Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you." The worship of goddesses is seen as a violation of the first commandment, which calls for exclusive devotion to Yahweh. The prophets frequently rebuked the Israelites for adopting the religious practices of their neighbors, which included the veneration of goddesses.
Spiritual Adultery: The worship of goddesses is often depicted metaphorically as spiritual adultery in the Bible. The prophets use the imagery of unfaithfulness in marriage to describe Israel's idolatry, including the worship of goddesses. In
Ezekiel 23:37 , the prophet declares, "For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols." This metaphor underscores the seriousness of idolatry and the betrayal of the covenant relationship between God and His people.
The biblical narrative consistently emphasizes the dangers of idolatry, including the worship of goddesses, and calls the faithful to exclusive worship of the one true God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A female god; a divinity, or deity, of the female sex.
2. (n.) A woman of superior charms or excellence.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
GODDESSgod'-es ('elohim, thea): There is no separate word for "goddess" in the Old Testament. In the only instance in which the word occurs in English Versions of the Bible (1 Kings 11:5, 33), the gender is determined by the noun-"Ashtoreth, the god (goddess) of the Sidonians." In the New Testament the term is applied to Diana of Ephesus (Acts 19:27, 35, 37).
Greek
2299. thea -- agoddess... thea. 2300 . a
goddess. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: thea Phonetic
Spelling: (theh-ah') Short Definition: a
goddess Definition: a
goddess.
...735. Artemis -- Artemis, the name of the Gr.goddess of the hunt
...goddess of the hunt. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Artemis Phonetic
Spelling: (ar'-tem-is) Short Definition: the Persian or Ephesian Artemis...
116. Athenai -- Athens, capital of Attica in Greece
... Word Origin from Athene (Athena Gr.goddess of wisdom) Definition Athens, capital
of Attica in Greece NASB Word Usage Athens (4). Athens....
1891. Epaphroditos -- Epaphroditus, a Christian
... Word Origin from epi and Aphrodite (name of Gr.goddess, Venus in Rom. myth.)
Definition Epaphroditus, a Christian NASB Word Usage Epaphroditus (2)....
5514. Chloe a prim. word -- Chloe.
... Word Origin young foliage (Verdant, epithet of the pagangoddess Demeter),
Chloe, a Chr. woman NASB Word Usage Chloe's (1). Chloe....
1216. Demetrios -- Demetrius, the name of a silversmith and of a...
... Word Origin from Demeter (Gr.goddess of agriculture) Definition Demetrius, the
name of a silversmith and of a Christian NASB Word Usage Demetrius (3)....
Strong's Hebrew
842. Asherah -- a Phoeniciangoddess, also an image of the same... 841, 842. Asherah. 843 . a Phoenician
goddess, also an image of the same.
Transliteration: Asherah Phonetic Spelling: (ash-ay-raw') Short Definition: Asherim
...6252b. Ashtoreth -- an ancient Near Easterngoddess
... 6252a, 6252b. Ashtoreth or Ashtaroth. 6253 . an ancient Near Easterngoddess.
Transliteration: Ashtoreth or Ashtaroth Short Definition: Ashtaroth....
430. elohim -- God, god
... of eloah Definition God, god NASB Word Usage divine (1), divine being (1), exceedingly
(1), God (2326), god (45), God's (14),goddess (2), godly (1), gods (204...
6253. Ashtoreth -- Ashtoreth
... Word Origin the same as Ashtoreth, qv. Ashtoreth Probably for ashtrah; Ashtoreth,
the Phoeniciangoddess of love (and increase) -- Ashtoreth. see HEBREW ashtrah...
Library
Pellonia is aGoddess Mighty to Drive Back Enemies. ...
... Book IV. 4 Pellonia is agoddess mighty to drive back enemies.? Pellonia is agoddess
mighty to drive back enemies. Whose enemies, say, if it is convenient?...
We Shall not Here Mention Laverna,Goddess of Thieves...
... Book III. 26 We shall not here mention Laverna,goddess of thieves? We
shall not here mention Laverna,goddess of thieves, the...
Concerning the Earth, which Varro Affirms to be aGoddess, Because...
... Chapter 23."Concerning the Earth, Which Varro Affirms to Be aGoddess, Because that
Soul of the World Which He Thinks to Be God Pervades Also This Lowest...
The Enlargement of Kingdoms is Unsuitably Ascribed to Jove; for If...
... Chapter 14."The Enlargement of Kingdoms is Unsuitably Ascribed to Jove; For If,
as They Will Have It, Victoria is aGoddess, She Alone Would Suffice for This...
Of True Religion and of Nature. Whether Fortune is aGoddess, and...
... Of the False Wisdom of Philosophers. Chap. XXVIII."Of True Religion and
of Nature. Whether Fortune is aGoddess, and of Philosophy....
That Although not Understanding them to be the Gifts of God, they...
... Whence, althoughgoddess Felicity could not be worshipped by one not yet born, in
order that, being made his friend, she might bestow this on him, yet she...
Which of the Gods Can the Romans Suppose Presided Over the...
... Now, surely of this work, which is so excellent and so very full of the highest
dignity, they dare not ascribe any part to thegoddess Cloacina; [166] or to...
Concerning the Surnames of Tellus and their Significations, Which...
... are for all that only single deities,"for by all these surnames it is signified
that a manifold virtue belongs to one god or to onegoddess; but the...
Concerning virtue and Faith, which the Pagans have Honored with...
... They have made Virtue also agoddess, which, indeed, if it could be a
goddess, had been preferable to many. And now, because it...
Concerning Felicity, whom the Romans, who Venerate Many Gods, for...
... But how does it happen, if their books and rituals are true, and Felicity is agoddess,
that she herself is not appointed as the only one to be worshipped...
Thesaurus
Goddess (6 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
GODDESS. god'-es ('elohim, thea): There is no
separate word for "
goddess" in the Old Testament.
...Goddess (6 Occurrences).
...Asherah (40 Occurrences)
... Authorized Version. This was the name of a sensual Canaanitishgoddess
Astarte, the feminine of the Assyrian Ishtar. Its symbol...
Astoreth
... ash'-to-reth, ash-to reth (`ashtoreth; plural `ashtaroth; Astarte): 1. Name and
Origin 2. Attributes of theGoddess 3. Ashtoreth as a Moon-Goddess 4. The Local...
Astarte (2 Occurrences)
... ash'-to-reth, ash-to reth (`ashtoreth; plural `ashtaroth; Astarte): 1. Name and
Origin 2. Attributes of theGoddess 3. Ashtoreth as a Moon-Goddess 4. The Local...
Ashtoreth (3 Occurrences)
... The moongoddess of the Phoenicians, representing the passive principle in nature,
their principal female deity; frequently associated with the name of Baal...
Diana (5 Occurrences)
... So called by the Romans; called Artemis by the Greeks, the "great"goddess
worshipped among heathen nations under various modifications....
Artemis (5 Occurrences)
... di-an'-a (Artemis "prompt," "safe"): A deity of Asiatic origin, the mothergoddess
of the earth, whose seat of worship was the temple in Ephesus, the capital...
Golden (86 Occurrences)
... and Ethics, under the word "Bull"). Among all these peoples the cowgoddess
was given at least equal honor. In Babylonia thegoddess...
Aryan
... His spouse was probably Spandaramet (Spenta Armaiti),goddess of the earth, who
was later held to preside over the underworld (compare Persephone; Hellenistic...
Paphos (2 Occurrences)
... Thegoddess, identified with the Greek Aphrodite, who was said to have risen from
the sea at Paphos, was in reality a Nature-goddess, closely resembling the...
Resources
Does the Bible teach that Sophia is the goddess of wisdom? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the origins of Easter? | GotQuestions.orgWho is the Artemis mentioned in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgGoddess: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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