asherah: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Specialised (Academic / Theological / Historical)
Quick answer
What does “asherah” mean?
A Semitic goddess of fertility, or a sacred wooden post or pole representing her, worshipped in ancient Canaanite and Israelite religions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Semitic goddess of fertility, or a sacred wooden post or pole representing her, worshipped in ancient Canaanite and Israelite religions.
In scholarly contexts, the term can refer to the goddess herself, her cult, or the wooden cult object (pole, tree, or stylized tree) associated with her worship, often condemned in the Hebrew Bible.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Pronunciation may show minor variation in the first vowel.
Connotations
Identical; carries connotations of ancient history, archaeology, biblical idolatry, and Canaanite religion.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, confined to specialised academic or religious discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “asherah” in a Sentence
The [noun/pronoun] destroyed the asherahArchaeologists discovered an asherahWorship of Asherah was commonVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “asherah” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not applicable; no verb form)
American English
- (Not applicable; no verb form)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable; no adverb form)
American English
- (Not applicable; no adverb form)
adjective
British English
- (Not applicable; no standard adjective form)
American English
- (Not applicable; no standard adjective form)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used in archaeology, ancient history, religious studies, and biblical scholarship.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Used with precise meaning in the fields listed under 'academic'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “asherah”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “asherah”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “asherah”
- Capitalising when referring to the object (it can be lowercase).
- Using it as a general synonym for 'tree' or 'statue'.
- Mispronouncing the first syllable as /eɪ/ (like 'ace').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the term appears numerous times, usually in the context of idols or pagan symbols that the Israelites are commanded to destroy (e.g., Exodus 34:13, Deuteronomy 16:21, 1 Kings 15:13).
Some ancient texts and modern scholars interpret her as the consort of the chief god El, and later possibly of Yahweh in popular Israelite religion, though this is a subject of academic debate.
The common Hebrew plural is 'asherim' (אֲשֵׁרִים), and this form is frequently used in English-language scholarly writing. The anglicised plural 'asherahs' is also acceptable.
No, it is a highly specialised historical/religious term. Using it in general conversation would likely cause confusion unless speaking with experts in the field.
A Semitic goddess of fertility, or a sacred wooden post or pole representing her, worshipped in ancient Canaanite and Israelite religions.
Asherah is usually specialised (academic / theological / historical) in register.
Asherah: in British English it is pronounced /əˈʃɪərə/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈʃɛrə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(No common idioms in English; specialised term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an ASH tree, where people in the ERA of the Old Testament worshipped a goddess named Asherah.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable; the term is a specific, concrete historical/religious referent and does not function metaphorically in modern English.
Practice
Quiz
What is an 'asherah' in its most common scholarly sense?