You shall notלֹאplantתִטַּעfor yourselfלְךָan Asherah,אֲשֵׁרָהanyכָּלtree,עֵץbesideאֵצֶלthe altarמִזְבַּחof YHWHיְהוָהyour Elohimאֱלֹהֶיךָthatאֲשֶׁרyou makeתַּעֲשֶׂהfor yourself.לָּךְ
Deuteronomy 16:21
Study it in the app“You shall not plant for yourself an Asherah, any tree, beside the altar of YHWH your Elohim that you make for yourself.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Deuteronomy 16:21, word by word
- plantתִטַּעtita
plant
Plant; set firmly.
Where else “tita” appears- an Asherahאֲשֵׁרָהashera
Asherah
Asherah: a Canaanite goddess, and the pole or sacred tree that stood for her beside the altars.
Where else “ashera” appears- treeעֵץets
tree
A tall plant with trunk and branches, giving fruit, shade or timber.
Where else “ets” appears- besideאֵצֶלetsel
beside
Beside, next to.
Where else “etsel” appears- the altarמִזְבַּחmizbach
altar
Altar: a structure of stone or earth on which sacrifices are offered to God.
Where else “mizbach” appears- of YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- your Elohimאֱלֹהֶיelohe
Elohim
The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.
Where else “elohe” appears- you makeתַּעֲשֶׂהtaase
make
To build or create something.
Where else “taase” appears
The context
20Righteousness, righteousness you shall pursue, so that you may live and possess the land that YHWH your Elohim is giving you.
21 · This verse (above)
22And you shall not set up for yourself a standing stone, which YHWH your Elohim hates.