אֲשֵׁרָה
𐤀𐤔𐤓𐤄
Asherah
H842 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A wooden cultic object, typically a sacred pole or tree, associated with ancient Canaanite and Israelite religious practice, often representing or symbolically connected to the goddess Asherah. The term may refer to both the object itself and, by extension, to the deity personified as Asherah. Most frequently, refers to the tree or wooden pole set up near altars or high places as part of local fertility cults. In some contexts, the word may denote the goddess herself as worshipped in the ancient Levant.
Semantic Range
cultic wooden pole or object associated with Asherah, symbolic tree representing the goddess, physical representation of a deity, possible reference to the goddess Asherah herself
Root / Etymology
From the root אָשַׁר (ʼāšar), possibly meaning 'to be upright' or 'to go straight,' but connection is uncertain. The noun form אֲשֵׁרָה developed to denote the cultic object (tree/pole) or the associated goddess. The root meaning 'to be happy' is not semantically connected to this noun.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, אֲשֵׁרָה is used for cultic objects linked with Canaanite female deity worship, typically condemned in Israelite/Judahite theology but evidently common in the popular practice of both northern Israel and southern Judah. The term frequently occurs alongside references to Baal, reflecting a broader Canaanite pantheon. The אֲשֵׁרָה was set up at high places, near altars, or within temple precincts, including at the Jerusalem Temple (cf. 2 Kings 21:7; 23:6). While some English versions render אֲשֵׁרָה as 'grove' or 'sacred tree,' these are interpretive translations; the term is best understood as referring to a single cultic object, not an actual grove of trees. In a few passages, especially where the article is used or when paralleled with other deities, אֲשֵׁרָה may function as a reference to the goddess Asherah herself rather than the object (e.g., Judges 3:7; 2 Kings 23:4). The word עַשְׁתֹּרֶת (Ashtoreth, corresponding to the goddess Astarte) is a distinct term, referring to another Canaanite female deity. The English term 'goddess' or 'grove' does not capture the cultural specificity of the אֲשֵׁרָה as an object central to ancient West Semitic religious practice.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or אֲשֵׁירָה; from אָשַׁר; happy; Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same; grove. Compare עַשְׁתֹּרֶת.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אשר (ʾ-š-r) — to be straight, go upright, proceed, prosper
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7789 | שׁוּר | Ashshur |
| H804 | אַשּׁוּר | Ashshur |
| H833 | אָשַׁר | Declare fortunate! |
| H834 | אֲשֶׁר | that-which |
| H835 | אֶשֶׁר | his happinesses |
Word Forms
17 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H842-08 |
הָ/אֲשֵׁרָ֥ה | haasherah | HTd/Np |
the Asherah | the Asherah-pole | 9 |
H842-09 |
הָ/אֲשֵׁרִ֑ים | haasherim | HTd/Np |
Asherim | the Asherah-poles | 7 |
H842-16 |
וְ/הָ/אֲשֵׁרִ֖ים | vehaasherim | HC/Td/Np |
and-the-Asherim | and the Asherah-poles | 3 |
H842-01 |
אֲשֵׁרָ֖ה | asherah | HNp |
an Asherah | Asherah-pole | 3 |
H842-11 |
לָ/אֲשֵׁרָ֑ה | laasherah | HRd/Np |
for Asherah | to the Asherah-pole | 3 |
H842-10 |
הָ/אֲשֵׁרֽוֹת | haasherot | HTd/Np |
the Asherah poles | the Asherah-poles | 2 |
H842-12 |
וַ/אֲשֵֽׁרֵי/הֶם֙ | vaashereyhem | HC/Np/Sp3mp |
and their Asherim | and their Asherah-poles | 2 |
H842-13 |
וַ/אֲשֵׁרִ֑ים | vaasherim | HC/Np |
and Asherah poles | and Asherah poles | 2 |
H842-17 |
וְ/לָֽ/אֲשֵׁרָ֔ה | velaasherah | HC/Rd/Np |
and for Asherah | and to the Asherah-pole | 1 |
H842-14 |
וַ/אֲשֵֽׁירֵ/הֶם֙ | vaasheyrehem | HC/Np/Sp3mp |
and their Asherim | and their Asherah-poles | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
40 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H842-02 |
Exodus 34:13 | אֲשֵׁרָ֖י/ו | asherayv | HNp/Sp3ms |
their Asherah poles | his Asherah-pole |
H842-14 |
Deuteronomy 7:5 | וַ/אֲשֵֽׁירֵ/הֶם֙ | vaasheyrehem | HC/Np/Sp3mp |
and their Asherim | and their Asherah-poles |
H842-12 |
Deuteronomy 12:3 | וַ/אֲשֵֽׁרֵי/הֶם֙ | vaashereyhem | HC/Np/Sp3mp |
and their Asherim | and their Asherah-poles |
H842-01 |
Deuteronomy 16:21 | אֲשֵׁרָ֖ה | asherah | HNp |
Asherah | Asherah-pole |
H842-10 |
Judges 3:7 | הָ/אֲשֵׁרֽוֹת | haasherot | HTd/Np |
the Asherahs | the Asherah-poles |
H842-08 |
Judges 6:25 | הָ/אֲשֵׁרָ֥ה | haasherah | HTd/Np |
the Asherah | the Asherah-pole |
H842-08 |
Judges 6:26 | הָ/אֲשֵׁרָ֖ה | haasherah | HTd/Np |
of the Asherah | the Asherah-pole |
H842-15 |
Judges 6:28 | וְ/הָ/אֲשֵׁרָ֥ה | vehaasherah | HC/Td/Np |
and the Asherah | and the Asherah-pole |
H842-08 |
Judges 6:30 | הָ/אֲשֵׁרָ֥ה | haasherah | HTd/Np |
the Asherah | the Asherah-pole |
H842-03 |
1 Kings 14:15 | אֲשֵׁ֣רֵי/הֶ֔ם | ashereyhem | HNp/Sp3mp |
their-Asherim | their Asherah-poles |