אשרה

Hebrew

Etymology 1

Root
א־שׁ־ר (ʾ-š-r)

From אישר (“to authorize, confirm, permit”).

Noun

אַשְׁרָה • ('ashrá) f (plural indefinite אַשְׁרוֹת, singular construct אַשְׁרַת־)

1. a visa, a permit

Related terms

• אַשְׁרַת כְּנִיסָה ('ashrát k'nisá)

Etymology 2

Cognate with Ugaritic 𐎀𐎘𐎗𐎚 (ảṯrt)

Proper noun

אֲשֵׁרָה • ('asherá) f (plural indefinite אֲשֵׁרִים)

1. the goddess Asherah
   • Tanach, Deuteronomy 16:21, with translation of the New International Version:

     לֹֽא־תִטַּע לְךָ אֲשֵׁרָה כָּל־עֵץ אֵצֶל מִזְבַּח יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ׃

     Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build to the LORD your God,

   • Tanach, 2 Kings 17:10, with translation of the New International Version:

     וַיַּצִּבוּ לָהֶם מַצֵּבֹות וַאֲשֵׁרִים עַל כָּל־גִּבְעָה גְבֹהָה וְתַחַת כָּל־עֵץ רַעֲנָֽן׃

     They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree.

Usage notes

• In the Bible, usually the wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah.