• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • Christian Forums is looking to bring on new moderators to the CF Staff Team! If you have been an active member of CF for at least three months with 200 posts during that time, you're eligible to apply! This is a great way to give back to CF and keep the forums running smoothly! If you're interested, you can submit your application here!

Was Asherah the wife of Yahweh?

tonychanyt

24/7 Christian
Oct 2, 2011
5,970
2,200
Toronto
Visit site
✟184,974.00
Country
Canada
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Yes, according to some ancient people and some modern scholars, like Dan McClellan, but no, according to the OT.

Asherah was a major goddess in the ancient Near East, widely worshipped by various Semitic peoples, including the Canaanites. She was often associated with fertility, motherhood, and wisdom. In Canaanite mythology, Asherah was the consort (wife) of the chief god El and the mother of the gods (including Baal).

Before the Babylonia exile, Israelites often worshipped idols. Jdg 10:

6 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines."
The Bible often mentions the erection of "Asherah poles" (or "Asherim"), which were wooden symbols associated with the goddess Asherah. Jezebel promoted the worship of Baal and Asherah (1K 18:19). Archaeological findings, such as inscriptions and figurines, suggest that certain Israelites venerated Asherah in some form during the early periods of Israel's history. The Kuntillet Ajrud Inscription (8th century BCE) referred to "Yahweh of Samaria and his Asherah." The Khirsan Inscription similarly mentioned "Yahweh and his Asherah." These inscriptions suggest that some Israelites viewed Asherah as closely connected to Yahweh, possibly as a consort or divine partner. Archaeologists have found numerous clay figurines of female deities, often interpreted as representations of Asherah, in Israelite households. These objects may indicate domestic worship of Asherah alongside Yahweh.

The OT condemned the worship of Asherah, often in connection with Yahweh. Gideon was commanded to destroy Baal's altar. He cut down the Asherah pole beside it (Jdg 6:25). King Josiah removed Asherah poles and other symbols of pagan worship from the Temple in Jerusalem (2K 23:4-7). Asherah was worshipped alongside Yahweh, but biblical writers condemned this practice as idolatrous.

There is biblical and extra-biblical evidence that Asherah was worshipped alongside Yahweh in some pre-exiled Israelite contexts. However, she was never universally or officially regarded as Yahweh's "wife" in the OT. The association of Asherah with Yahweh was a syncretistic phenomenon that was consistently rejected.

Was Asherah the wife of Yahweh?

No, not officially according to the OT writers. It was a rebellious cultic practice. The last mention of 'Asherah' was by Micah just before the exile in Mic 5:

14 I will root out your Asherah images from among you and destroy your cities.
 

Maori Aussie

Active Member
Mar 13, 2025
185
110
Australia
✟4,385.00
Country
Australia
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Yes, according to some ancient people and some modern scholars, like Dan McClellan, but no, according to the OT.

Asherah was a major goddess in the ancient Near East, widely worshipped by various Semitic peoples, including the Canaanites. She was often associated with fertility, motherhood, and wisdom. In Canaanite mythology, Asherah was the consort (wife) of the chief god El and the mother of the gods (including Baal).

Before the Babylonia exile, Israelites often worshipped idols. Jdg 10:


The Bible often mentions the erection of "Asherah poles" (or "Asherim"), which were wooden symbols associated with the goddess Asherah. Jezebel promoted the worship of Baal and Asherah (1K 18:19). Archaeological findings, such as inscriptions and figurines, suggest that certain Israelites venerated Asherah in some form during the early periods of Israel's history. The Kuntillet Ajrud Inscription (8th century BCE) referred to "Yahweh of Samaria and his Asherah." The Khirsan Inscription similarly mentioned "Yahweh and his Asherah." These inscriptions suggest that some Israelites viewed Asherah as closely connected to Yahweh, possibly as a consort or divine partner. Archaeologists have found numerous clay figurines of female deities, often interpreted as representations of Asherah, in Israelite households. These objects may indicate domestic worship of Asherah alongside Yahweh.

The OT condemned the worship of Asherah, often in connection with Yahweh. Gideon was commanded to destroy Baal's altar. He cut down the Asherah pole beside it (Jdg 6:25). King Josiah removed Asherah poles and other symbols of pagan worship from the Temple in Jerusalem (2K 23:4-7). Asherah was worshipped alongside Yahweh, but biblical writers condemned this practice as idolatrous.

There is biblical and extra-biblical evidence that Asherah was worshipped alongside Yahweh in some pre-exiled Israelite contexts. However, she was never universally or officially regarded as Yahweh's "wife" in the OT. The association of Asherah with Yahweh was a syncretistic phenomenon that was consistently rejected.

Was Asherah the wife of Yahweh?

No, not officially according to the OT writers. It was a rebellious cultic practice. The last mention of 'Asherah' was by Micah just before the exile in Mic 5:
If you want a conversation with someone about Asherah, ask a well-educated Assyrian.
Christians for 2,000 years, but some still remember Asherah....
 
Upvote 0