Lexical Summary kavvan: Archer, Bow Original Word: כַּוָּן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cake From kuwn; something prepared, i.e. A sacrificial wafer -- cake. see HEBREW kuwn NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kun Definition a cake, sacrificial cake NASB Translation cakes (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [כַּוָּן] noun [masculine] cake, sacrificial cake (? √ כון; compare Hiph`il 2. a. prepare food, etc.) **probably Babylonian loan-word, from kamânu, cake used in worship of Ištar, ZimKAT 3. 441. — only plural absolute לַעֲשׂוֺת כַּוָּנִים לִמְלֶכֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם Jeremiah 7:18; עָשִׂינוּ לְהַעֲצִבָהֿ ׳לָהּ כ Jeremiah 44:19. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrences• Jeremiah 7:18 Historical Background The two passages belong to the final decades of the kingdom of Judah and the early years of the exile. Jeremiah 7 records the prophet’s Temple Sermon (circa 609–605 B.C.), while chapters 44–45 address the remnant who fled to Egypt after Jerusalem’s fall (586 B.C.). Both audiences had adopted foreign cultic practices that flourished throughout the ancient Near East under various names—Ishtar, Astarte, Ashtoreth, and others—goddesses associated with fertility, war, and the celestial realm. Judah’s flirtation with this cult had already surfaced in the reigns of Solomon (1 Kings 11:5) and Manasseh (2 Kings 21:3). The integration of these rites into family life in Jeremiah’s day shows the depth of apostasy: children gathered fuel, fathers set the fires, and mothers prepared sacrificial cakes. Religious Context and Identification Scholars link this “Queen of Heaven” to the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar, the Canaanite Ashtoreth, or the Phoenician Astarte, all of whom carried lunar or planetary symbolism. The description in Jeremiah 44:19—“cakes shaped in her image”—suggests molded figures or stamped loaves bearing the heavenly emblem, perhaps the eight-pointed star that epitomized Ishtar. Though the name behind Strong’s number 3561 appears only twice, its theological weight is immense: it represents all idolatrous systems that rival the Lord for Israel’s allegiance. Jeremiah’s Prophetic Denunciation Jeremiah exposes the ritual as a calculated act of provocation: “The children gather wood, the fathers light the 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” (Jeremiah 7:18). The prophet’s indictment underscores three truths: 1. Idolatry fractures covenant loyalty (Exodus 20:3-5). Theological Themes Exclusive Worship: The first commandment tolerates no rival deities. Scripture consistently interprets “other gods” as false, powerless, and lifeless (Jeremiah 10:5; Psalm 115:4-8). Divine Jealousy and Holiness: God’s anger is the righteous response of a covenant Lord betrayed by His people’s infidelity (Jeremiah 7:20; Isaiah 42:8). Family Discipleship: The same intergenerational dynamic that spreads idolatry can transmit faith (Psalm 78:5-7; 2 Timothy 1:5). Remnant Responsibility: Even in Egypt, Judah’s survivors were expected to bear witness to the nations (Deuteronomy 4:5-8); their failure became a cautionary tale for later exiles. Practical and Ministry Applications 1. Guarding the Home: Modern believers must evaluate cultural influences that shape family habits, entertainment, and priorities (Joshua 24:15). Related Scriptures • Deuteronomy 32:16-17 – sacrificial provocation to “demons, not to God.” Summary Strong’s Hebrew 3561, though rare in occurrence, encapsulates a perennial conflict between exclusive devotion to the living God and the seductive allure of syncretistic worship. Jeremiah’s confrontation with the Queen of Heaven cult warns every generation that idolatry, however socially accepted or emotionally satisfying, leads to divine judgment and personal ruin. Conversely, wholehearted allegiance to the Lord secures covenant blessing and passes a legacy of faith to the next generation. Forms and Transliterations כַּוָּנִ֜ים כַּוָּנִים֙ כונים kavvaNim kaw·wā·nîm kawwānîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 7:18 HEB: בָּצֵ֑ק לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת כַּוָּנִ֜ים לִמְלֶ֣כֶת הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם NAS: to make cakes for the queen KJV: to make cakes to the queen INT: dough to make cakes the queen of heaven Jeremiah 44:19 2 Occurrences |
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