Hebrew

Noun

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

1. a visa, a permit

Etymology 2

Cognate with Ugaritic 𐎀𐎘𐎗𐎚 ‎(ảṯrt)

Proper noun

אֲשֵׁרָה • ‎(asherá) f ‎(plural indefinite אֲשֵׁרִים)

1. the goddess Asherah
   • 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,

   • 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.