אשרה

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

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

1. a visa, a permit

• אַשְׁרַת כְּנִיסָה‎ ('ashrát k'nisá)

Cognate with Ugaritic 𐎀𐎘𐎗𐎚 (ảṯrt)

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.

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