The meaning of “אֲשֵׁרָה”
Understanding ʼăshêrâh reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
or אֲשֵׁירָה ʼăshêyrâh (ash-ayraw'); from אָשַׁר; happy grove. Compare עַשְׁתֹּרֶת. - § Ashera(h) = "groves (for idol wo...
אֲשֵׁרָה
or אֲשֵׁירָה ʼăshêyrâh (ash-ayraw'); from אָשַׁר; happy grove. Compare עַשְׁתֹּרֶת. - § Ashera(h) = "groves (for idol worship)" - Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess - also an image of the same 1) a Babylonian (Astarte)-Canaanite goddess (of fortune and happiness), the supposed consort of Baal, her images 1a) the goddess, goddesses 1b) her images 1c) sacred trees or poles set up near an altar
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Exodus 34:13 | “But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:” Word: אֲשֵׁרָה (ʼăshêrâh) | |
| Deuteronomy 12:3 | “And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.” Word: אֲשֵׁרָה (ʼăshêrâh) | |
| Judges 6:26 | “And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.” Word: אֲשֵׁרָה (ʼăshêrâh) | |
| 1 Kings 15:13 | “And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.” Word: אֲשֵׁרָה (ʼăshêrâh) | |
| 2 Kings 21:7 | “And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the Lord said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:” Word: אֲשֵׁרָה (ʼăshêrâh) |
Usage Statistics
Related Words
Cross-referenced Strong's numbers with semantic or etymological connections.