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Deuteronomy 16:21

19 Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.

20 Pursue justice, and justice alone, so that you may live, and you may possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole next to the altar you will build for the LORD your God,

22 and do not set up for yourselves a sacred pillar, which the LORD your God hates.

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole next to the altar you will build for the LORD your God,
KJV
Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.
WEB
You shall not plant for yourselves an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the LORD your God’s altar, which you shall make for yourselves.
ASV
Thou shalt not plant thee an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of Jehovah thy God, which thou shalt make thee.
DARBY
Thou shalt not plant thyself an Asherah of any wood near unto the altar of Jehovah thy God, which thou shalt make thee.
BLB
You shall not plant for yourself an Asherah pole of any tree near the altar of YHWH your God that you build for yourself.
ÅB
Du skal ikke sette et Astartebilde av noe slags tre ved siden av Herrens, din Guds alter, det som du skal bygge deg,
OTB
Ikke plant en Asjera-pæl av noe slags tre ved siden av Herrens din Guds alter, som du skal lage for deg selv.
B1930
Du skal ikke sette et Astarte-billede av noget slags tre ved siden av Herrens, din Guds alter, det som du skal bygge dig,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Chronicles 33:3

    For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he raised up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. And he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

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  • 2 Kings 17:16

    They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 34:13

    Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles.

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  • 2 Kings 21:3

    For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

    Read in context

  • 1 Kings 14:15

    For the LORD will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that He gave their fathers, and He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their Asherah poles, provoking the LORD to anger.

    Read in context

  • Judges 3:7

    So the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.

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  • 1 Kings 16:33

    Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.

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  • Deuteronomy 7:5

    Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire.

    Read in context