אֲשֵׁרָה (a.she.rah)
a.she.rah
Asherah
N:N-F-TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 38 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-F-T
Word Overview
The noun Asherah refers to a Canaanite goddess associated with fortune and happiness, often viewed as the consort of Baal. In the Hebrew Bible, the term identifies both the deity herself and the physical symbols erected in her honor. These images typically took the form of sacred poles or trees placed near altars, serving as tangible markers of idolatrous worship.
While older translations frequently render Asherah as "grove," this is a historical misunderstanding that conflates the goddess with the natural setting. Lexical sources clarify that the word denotes the cult object itself rather than a forest. The text records kings like Manasseh and Ahab installing these poles, and reformers such as Josiah destroying them to purify the temple (2 Kings 23:6).
The term appears thirty-eight times, primarily in the historical books of Kings and Chronicles. Its usage highlights the persistent struggle against syncretism in ancient Israel. By mentioning Asherah alongside Baal, the biblical authors emphasize the comprehensive nature of the religious corruption that prophets and kings sought to eradicate.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Asherah appears frequently in the Old Testament, but not as a title for God. It refers to a Canaanite goddess and the wooden poles or symbols erected in her honor. Ancient Israel faced constant pressure to blend their worship of Yahweh with these local pagan practices. The biblical text records kings like Manasseh installing these idols and reformers like Josiah destroying them to restore pure worship.
For modern readers, this word highlights the serious danger of syncretism—mixing truth with error. It serves as a historical warning against allowing cultural trends or competing values to dilute devotion to God. The prophets and kings understood that true faith requires exclusive loyalty. They recognized that sharing one’s heart with other gods leads away from divine blessing.
Understanding this context helps us appreciate the clarity of biblical monotheism. It reminds us that our commitment to Christ should be complete and undivided. We are called to keep our spiritual focus sharp, rejecting anything that competes for the place of honor in our lives. This historical struggle underscores the enduring call to faithful obedience.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 38 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Asherah poles8×
- the/ Asherah pole6×
- and/ the/ Asherah poles3×
- and/ Asherah poles/ their3×
- an Asherah pole3×
- and/ Asherah poles2×
- Asherah poles2×
- <the>/ Asherah2×
- to/ an Asherah pole1×
- to <the>/ Asherah pole1×
- for <the>/ Asherah1×
- and/ the/ Asherah pole1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/אֲשֵׁרִ֑ים2×
- הָ/אֲשֵׁרָ֥ה2×
- הָ/אֲשֵׁרָ֖ה2×
- הָ/אֲשֵׁרִ֖ים2×
- לָ/אֲשֵׁרָֽה\׃1×
- לָ/אֲשֵׁרָ֑ה1×
- לַ/אֲשֵׁרָ֖ה1×
- וַ/אֲשֵׁרֵי/הֶ֖ם1×
- וַ/אֲשֵֽׁרֵי/הֶם֙1×
- וַ/אֲשֵֽׁירֵ/הֶם֙1×
- וְ֠/הָ/אֲשֵׁרִים1×
- וְ/לָֽ/אֲשֵׁרָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 34:13
but you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherah poles;
This verse establishes the foundational command to actively destroy Asherah symbols, linking them directly with the altars and pillars of pagan nations.
-
Judges 6:25
That same night, Yahweh said to him, “Take your father’s bull, even the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it.
Gideon’s obedience in cutting down his father’s Asherah demonstrates the personal cost of rejecting idolatry and choosing exclusive loyalty to Yahweh.
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I Kings 18:19
Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
Elijah lists four hundred prophets of Asherah to show the widespread institutional corruption that threatened Israel during Ahab’s reign.
-
II Kings 23:6
He brought out the Asherah from Yahweh’s house, outside of Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it to dust, and cast its dust on the graves of the common people.
King Josiah’s thorough destruction of the Asherah image from the temple illustrates the depth of religious reform required to purify worship.