Queen of the South (biblical reference)

Queen of the South (Greek: βασίλισσα νότου, basilissa notou) is an alternative title for the Queen of Sheba, used in two passages in the New Testament, where Jesus said:

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it (or in Luke: with the men of this generation and condemn them), for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.[1]

Background

Occasionally, biblical translators have used the phrase "a Queen of the South",[2] the Greek having no article, but this has been criticized as incorrect.[3] The Bible itself did not directly reference Queen Sheba as the Queen of the South or that she came from the south.[4] However, she was described in Genesis 10 to have lived in the southern area of the Arabian peninsula, hence, the "South" attribution.[4] An account also cited that the "Queen of the South" was a reference to a queen of Egypt because the term "king of the South" was recognized as a biblical term for the Egyptian monarch.[5] There are also claims that the term south refers to Ethiopia.[6]

Biblical references

The arrival of the Queen of Sheba (or “Queen of the South”) occurs in 1 Kings 10. The Queen had heard about Solomon’s fame and his relationship with the Lord, so she came to Solomon with a list of deep questions. According to the scriptural account, Solomon answered all her questions. The Queen believed as she received answers while face-to-face with Solomon.

In the New Testament passages, Jesus refers to the Queen's arrival, saying that even she, being skeptical until she met with Solomon personally, will condemn the current generation for their lack of faith.

References
  1. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+12%3A42&version=ESV; compare http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010&version=ESV
  2. e.g. the Darby Bible:https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A42&version=DARBY
  3. Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/matthew/12.htm accessed 17 September 2015
  4. Liu, Soleilmavis (2018). The Queen of the South in Matthew 12:42. International Bible Society. p. 247. ISBN 9781304745354.
  5. Scott, Emmet (2012). Hatshepsut, Queen of Sheba. New York: Algora Publishing. pp. 35–36. ISBN 9780875869452.
  6. Keener, Craig S. (2013-10-15). Acts: An Exegetical Commentary : Volume 2: 3:1-14:28. Baker Academic. ISBN 9781441240392.
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