sacred pole

The Hebrew that is typically translated as “sacred pole” in English is translated in Elhomwe with mafanwiiwa a Asherimu or “idol of Asherah” (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext) and in the English translation by Goldingay (2018) as totem pole.

See also Asherah.

complete verse (2 Kings 17:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 17:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “They also made pillars and shaped an idol which was like that woman who is called Asherah and placed them on all the hills and under every green tree.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “On the top of every hill and under every green tree, they put sacred stone pillars and poles of the Asherah goddess.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They built-up remembrance stones and posts/[lit. thing-like-pillars] that symbolize the goddess Ashera on top of every mountain and under every leafy tree.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They set up stone pillars to honor gods, and poles to worship the goddess Asherah at the top of every high hill and under every big tree.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 17:10

The wording of this verse is very similar to 1 Kgs 14.23. The vocabulary also corresponds in some measure to Deut 12.2; 2 Kgs 16.4 and Jer 17.2.

The pillars were tall stones set up for worship (see the comments on 1 Kgs 14.23), while the Asherim were wooden representations of the goddess named Asherah. Asherim is translated “sacred poles” by a number of modern versions (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is quite similar with “sacred posts.” See the comments on 1 Kgs 14.15 and 2 Kgs 13.6.

The location of these objects of worship is said to be on every high hill and under every green tree. These two expressions are generally taken to refer to different places, although it is not impossible to understand that the green trees were on the hilltops. See 1 Kgs 14.23.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .