Lexical Definition

‎אֲשֵׁרָה‎ ʼăshêrâh (ash-ay-raw') Asherah ^N:N-F-T
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

See Greek: δένδρον

Extended Information

• her images
• sacred trees or poles set up near an altar

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אֲשֵׁרָה‎, ‎אֲשֵׁירָה‎ 2Kgs 17:16 proper name, feminine Ashera (Assyrian proper name, feminine Aš-ra-tu, with sign for deity, in Canaanitish proper name Abad-Ašratum, servant of A. Schr^{ZA 1888, 363}, compare Wkl & Abel^{Thontafelfund} see El Amarna ii. No. 77, 1. 9, & Sayce^{RP2. ii. 67, iii. 71}; on derivatives compare Assyrian aširat, adjective feminine gracious, COT^Gloss): **see now also GFM^{EB ASHERAH} Dr^{Deut 16:21} Allen^{DB ASHERAH}, all doubtful as to Canaanite goddess Asherah; question left open by Zim^{KAT 3. 436 ff.} (on Semitic goddess Aširtu-Ašratu Id.^{ib, 432 ff.}); but see Jerem^{AT im Licht d. Alten Orients 207} (name of goddess Aširat in letter found at Taanach by Sellin (1902-3) and Id.^{ib. 37. 237}) (Oppenheim's find at Ras el-`Ain in Mesopotamia, stone shaft with veiled head as top, supposed to identify post with goddess; if 2Kgs 23:7 refers to draped Asherim [see on text Benz Bur], this even more plausible), Id.^{ib. 23, 208 f. 236}. On pictorial representations of Asherah-symbol see WHWard^{AJSL xix.l (Oct.1902)}. — usually with the article: probably
a. a Canaanitish goddess of fortune & happiness; having prophets 1Kgs 18:19, an image 1Kgs 15:13 = 2Chr 15:16; 2Kgs 21:7, sacred vessels 2Kgs 23:4, houses v2Kgs 23:7.
b. a symbol of this goddess, a sacred tree or pole set up near an altar 1Kgs 16:33; 2Kgs 13:6; 2Kgs 17:16; 2Kgs 18:4; 2Kgs 21:3; 2Kgs 23:6; 2Kgs 23:15 prohibited Deut 16:1 burnt by Gideon Judg 6:25; Judg 6:26; Judg 6:28; Judg 6:30. Plural ‎אֲשֵׁרוֺת‎
a. the goddess Judg 3:7 (probably error for ‎עַשְׁתָּרֹת‎ ᵑ9).
b. sacred trees or poles 2Chr 19:3; 2Chr 33:3 elsewhere ‎אֲשֵׁרִים‎ id. Isa 27:9 + 12 t.; suffix Mic 5:14* + 5 t.; — Exod 34:13 (J) Deut 7:5; Deut 12:3; Isa 17:8; Isa 27:9; Jer 17:20; Mic 5:13*; 1Kgs 14:15; 1Kgs 14:23; 2Kgs 17:10; 2Kgs 23:14; 2Chr 14:2*; 2Chr 17:6; 2Chr 24:18; 2Chr 31:1; 2Chr 33:19; 2Chr 34:3; 2Chr 34:4; 2Chr 34:7. — (compare also Sta^{ZAW 1881, 344 f.} RS^{Semitic i. 171 f., 175 n.} We^{H 235}, who think ‎׳‎‎א‎ only the sacred pole.)

Brown-Driver-Briggs References