mal.kah denotes a female royal figure, whether identified with Sheba, Vashti, Esther, or a group of queens.

The term designates a female royal figure: it identifies the woman associated with Sheba in accounts of her visit to Solomon, names Vashti and Esther within the king’s court, and can stand in the plural for queens as a group.

1. Female royal figure · dominant

   The singular form identifies the woman associated with Sheba as she hears of Solomon, tests him with riddles, and later returns to her own land; in 1 Kings 10:1 the APB renders the clause “the queen of Sheba.” Absolute singular forms identify Vashti and Esther in scenes involving the king, petitions, and Esther’s written authorization; in Esther 5:3 the APB renders the king’s address, “What is it to you, Queen Esther?” The plural form includes queens as a group alongside concubines in Song of Songs 6:8.

   1 Kings 10:11 Kings 10:13Esther 1:12Esther 5:3Esther 9:29Song of Songs 6:8

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the supplied verses, the APB regularly presents the term with “queen,” including “queen of Sheba,” “Queen Vashti,” and “Queen Esther”; it also renders the plural as “queens” in Song of Songs 6:8. These renderings confirm the verse-level presentation rather than define each token independently.