Ashtoreth
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Ashtoreth was a prominent goddess in the ancient Near East, associated with fertility, war, and sexuality, and often identified with the Canaanite Asherah and the Mesopotamian Ishtar.
What is the meaning of Ashtoreth in the Bible?
Ashtoreth was a prominent goddess in the ancient Near East, associated with fertility, war, and sexuality, and often identified with the Canaanite Asherah and the Mesopotamian Ishtar.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Ashtoreth clarifies the religious conflicts described in the Old Testament, where the worship of this deity is frequently condemned as idolatry that led Israel away from the worship of Yahweh.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Ashtoreth in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Ashtoreth clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.