Idolatry Idol
Jump to: ATSGreekHebrewLibrarySubtopicsResources
ATS Bible Dictionary
Idolatry Idol

The word idol signifies literally a representation or figure. It is always employed in Scripture in a bad sense, for representations of heathen deities of what nature soever. God forbids all sorts of idols, or figures and representations of creatures, formed or set up with intention of paying superstitious worship to them, Exodus 20:3,4 34:13 De 4:16-19 7:25,26. He also forbids all attempts to represent him by any visible form, Exodus 32:4,5 De 4:15 Nehemiah 9:18.

The heathen had idols of all sorts-paintings, bas-reliefs, and all varieties of sculpture-and these of many kinds of materials, as gold, silver, brass, stone, wood, potters earth, etc. Stars, spirits, men, animals, rivers, plants, and elements were the subjects of them. Scarcely an object or power in nature, scarcely a faculty of the soul, a virtue, a vice, or a condition of human life, has not received idolatrous worship. See STARS. Some nations worshipped a rough stone. Such is the black stone of the ancient Arabs, retained by Mohammed, and now kept in the Caaba at Mecca.

It is impossible to ascertain the period at which the worship of false gods and idols was introduced. No mentioned is made of such worship before the deluge; though from the silence of Scripture we cannot argue that it did not exist. Josephus and many of the fathers were of opinion, that soon after the deluge idolatry became prevalent; and certainly, whenever we turn our eyes after the time of Abraham, we see only a false worship. That patriarch's forefathers, and even he himself, were implicated in it, as is evident from Joshua 24:2,14.

The Hebrews had no peculiar form of idolatry; they imitated the superstitions of others, but do not appear to have been the inventors of any. When they were in Egypt, many of them worshipped Egyptians deities, Ezekiel 20:8; in the wilderness, they worshipped those of the Canaaites, Egyptians, Ammonites, and Moabites; in Judea, those of the Phoenicians, Syrians, and other people around them, Numbers 25:1-18 Jud 10:6 Am 5:25 Acts 7:42. Rachel, it may be, had adored idols at her father Laban's, since she carried off his teraphim, Genesis 31:30. Jacob after his return from Mesopotamia, required his people to reject the strange gods from among them and also the superstitious pendants worn by them in their ears, which he hid under a terebinth near Shechem. He preserved his family in the worship of God while he lived.

Under the government of the judges, "the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim. They forsook the Lord God of their fathers, and served Baal and Ashtaroth," Jud 2:11,12. Gideon, after he had been favored by God with a miraculous deliverance, made an ephod, which ensnared the Israelites in unlawful worship, Jud 8:27. Micah's teraphim also were the objects of idolatrous worship, even till the captivity of Israel in Babylon, Jud 17:5 18:30,31. See TERAPHIM.

During the times of Samuel, Saul, and David, the worship of God seems to have been preserved pure in Israel. There was corruption and irregularity of manners, but little or no idolatry. Solomon, seduced by complaisance to his strange wives, caused temples to be erected in honor of Ashtoreth goddess of the Phoenicians, Moloch god of the Ammonites, and Chemosh god of the Moabites. Jeroboam, who succeeded Solomon, set up golden calves at Dan and Bethel, and made Israel to sin. The people, no longer restrained by royal authority, worshipped not only these golden calves, but many other idols, particularly Baal and Ashtoreth. Under the reign of Ahab, idolatry reached its height. The impious Jezebel endeavored to extinguish the worship of the Lord, by persecuting his prophets, (who, as a barrier, still retained some of the people in the true religion,) till God, incensed at their idolatry, abandoned Israel to the kings of Assyria and Chaldea, who transplanted them beyond the Euphrates. Judah was almost equally corrupted. The descriptions given by the prophets of their irregularities and idolatries, of their abominations and lasciviousness on the high places and in woods consecrated to idols, and of their human sacrifices, fill us with dismay, and unveil the awful corruption of the heart of man. See MOLOCH. After the return from Babylon, we do not find the Jews any more reproached with idolatry. They expressed much zeal for the worship of God, and except some transgressor under Antichus Epiphanes, the people kept themselves clear from this sin.

As the maintenance of the worship of the only true God was one of the fundamental objects of the Mosaic polity, and as God was regarded as the king of the Israelitish nation, so we find idolatry, that is, the worship of other gods, occupying, in the Mosaic law, the first place in the list of crimes. It was indeed a crime, not merely against God, but also against the fundamental law of the state, and thus a sort of high treason. The only living and true God was also the civil legislator and ruler of Israel, and accepted by them as their king; and hence idolatry was a crime against the state, and therefore just as deservedly punished with death, as high treason is in modern times. By the Jewish law, an idolatrous city must be wholly destroyed, with all it contained, De 13:12-18 17:2,5.

At the present day, idolatry, prevails over a great portion of the earth, and is practiced by about 600,000,000 of the human race. Almost all the heathen nations, as the Chinese, the Hindoos, the South Sea islanders, etc., have their images, to which they bow down and worship. In some lands professedly Christians, it is to be feared that the adoration of crucifixes and paintings is nothing more nor less than idol-worship. But when we regard idolatry in a moral point of view, as consisting not merely in the external worship of false gods, but in the preference of, and devotion to something else than the Most High, how many Christians must then fall under this charge. Whoever loves this world, or the pursuits of wealth or honor ambition, or selfishness in any form, and for these forgets or neglects God and Christ, such a one is an idolater in as bad sense at least as the ancient Israelites, and cannot hope to escape an awful condemnation, Colossians 3:5.

Greek
1495. eidololatria -- image worship
... Definition: service (worship) of an image (an idol). Word Origin from eidolon and
latreia Definition image worship NASB Word Usage idolatries (1), idolatry (3 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1495.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
8655. teraphim -- (a kind of idol) perhaps household idol
... uncertain derivation Definition (a kind of idol) perhaps household idol NASB Word
Usage household idol (2), household idols (10), idolatry (1), teraphim (2). ...
/hebrew/8655.htm - 6k

8441. toebah -- abomination
... properly, something disgusting (morally), ie (as noun) an abhorrence; especially
idolatry or (concretely) an idol -- abominable (custom, thing), abomination. ...
/hebrew/8441.htm - 6k

Library

Idolatry Condemned by Baptism. To Make an Idol Is, in Fact, to ...
... Chapter VI."Idolatry Condemned by Baptism. To Make an Idol Is, in Fact,
to Worship It. If no law of God had prohibited idols to ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter vi idolatry condemned by baptism.htm

Idolatry: Origin and Meaning of the Name.
... For since even without an idol idolatry is committed, when the idol is there it
makes no difference of what kind it be, of what material, or what shape; lest ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter iii idolatry origin and meaning.htm

Idols not to be Made, Much Less Worshipped. Idols and Idol-Makers ...
... For this cause"the eradicating, namely, of the material of idolatry"the divine law
proclaims, "Thou shalt make no idol;" [179] and by conjoining, "Nor a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on idolatry/chapter iv idols not to be.htm

Connection Between Covetousness and Idolatry. Certain Trades ...
... odours; the frankincense-seller is a something even more serviceable even toward
demons, for idolatry is more easily carried on without the idol, than without ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter xi connection between covetousness and.htm

Other Arts Made Subservient to Idolatry. Lawful Means of Gaining a ...
... an idol indeed and with the things which are appropriate to an idol; since, moreover ...
often used, I think we are not free of the contagion of idolatry, we whose ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter viii other arts made subservient.htm

Whether Idolatry is Rightly Reckoned a Species of Superstition?
... But idolatry, apparently, is nothing: for the Apostle says (1:Cor.8:4): "We know
that an idol is nothing in the world," and further on (1:Cor.10:19): "What then ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether idolatry is rightly reckoned.htm

Concerning Idolatry in Words.
... that is, in an idol. [327] Whoever, therefore, honours an idol with the
name of God, has fallen into idolatry. But if I speak of ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter xx concerning idolatry in words.htm

On Idolatry
... 3:5; Ephesians 5:5.) But so far is that opinion or knowledge (by which he does not
esteem the idol as a god) from acquitting him of idolatry, who adores ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 23 on idolatry.htm

On Idolatry
... Chapter V. --Sundry Objections or Excuses Dealt with. Chapter VI.--Idolatry Condemned
by Baptism. To Make an Idol Is, in Fact, to Worship It. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on idolatry/

Spiritual Idolatry
... me thy heart!" And to give our heart to any other is plain idolatry. Accordingly,
whatever takes our heart from him, or shares it with him, is an idol; or, in ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 78 spiritual idolatry.htm

Resources
Is religious iconography considered idolatry? What is an icon? | GotQuestions.org

Do Catholics worship idols / practice idolatry? | GotQuestions.org

What is the difference between fornication and adultery? | GotQuestions.org

Idolatry: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Idolatry

Idolatry Idol

Idolatry is a Work of the Flesh

Idolatry is Changing the Glory of God Into an Image

Idolatry is Changing the Truth of God Into a Lie

Idolatry: A Virtual Forsaking of God

Idolatry: Abominable

Idolatry: Accompanied by Feasts

Idolatry: Adopted by Solomon

Idolatry: Adopted by the Wicked Kings

Idolatry: Ahab

Idolatry: Ahaz

Idolatry: All Forms of, Forbidden by the Law of Moses

Idolatry: All Heathen Nations Given up To

Idolatry: Altars Raised For

Idolatry: Amon

Idolatry: An Abomination to God

Idolatry: Angels Refuse to Receive the Worship of

Idolatry: Annual Feasts

Idolatry: Athenians

Idolatry: Belshazzar

Idolatry: Bloody

Idolatry: Captivity of Israel on Account of

Idolatry: Captivity of Judah on Account of

Idolatry: Consists in Bowing Down to Images

Idolatry: Consists in Covetousness

Idolatry: Consists in Fearing Other Gods

Idolatry: Consists in Looking to Other Gods

Idolatry: Consists in Sacrificing to Images

Idolatry: Consists in Sacrificing to Other Gods

Idolatry: Consists in Sensuality

Idolatry: Consists in Serving Other Gods

Idolatry: Consists in Setting up Idols in the Heart

Idolatry: Consists in Speaking in the Name of Other Gods

Idolatry: Consists in Swearing by Other Gods

Idolatry: Consists in Walking After Other Gods

Idolatry: Consists in Worshipping Angels

Idolatry: Consists in Worshipping Dead Men

Idolatry: Consists in Worshipping Demons

Idolatry: Consists in Worshipping Images

Idolatry: Consists in Worshipping Other Gods

Idolatry: Consists in Worshipping the Host of Heaven

Idolatry: Consists in Worshipping the True God by an Image

Idolatry: Curse Denounced Against

Idolatry: Defiling

Idolatry: Denunciations Against

Idolatry: Destruction of, Promised

Idolatry: Divination Connected With

Idolatry: Early Notice of, Amongst God's Professing People

Idolatry: Ephesians

Idolatry: Everything Connected With, should be Destroyed

Idolatry: Example of the Kings Encouraged Israel In

Idolatry: Exhortations to Turn From

Idolatry: Folly of

Idolatry: Forbidden

Idolatry: Great Prevalence of, in Israel

Idolatry: Hateful to God

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Adrammelech

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Anammelech

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Ashima

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Ashtoreth

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Baal

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Baal-Berith

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Baal-Peor

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Baalzebub

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Baal-Zephon

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Bel

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Chemosh

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Chiun

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Dagon

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Diana

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Huzzab

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Jupiter

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Mercury

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Merodach

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Molech or Milcom

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Nebo

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Nergal

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Nibhaz and Tartak

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Nisroch

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Queen of Heaven

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Remphan

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Rimmon

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Succothbenoth

Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Tammuz

Idolatry: Incompatible With the Service of God

Idolatry: Irrational

Idolatry: Israel

Idolatry: Jeroboam

Idolatry: Jezebel

Idolatry: Judah

Idolatry: Led the Heathen to Consider Their Gods to Have But a Local

Idolatry: Led the Heathen to Think That Their Gods Visited the Earth In

Idolatry: Led to Abominable Sins

Idolatry: Maachah

Idolatry: Making Idols for the Purpose of, Described and Ridiculed

Idolatry: Manasseh

Idolatry: Micah

Idolatry: Nebuchadnezzar

Idolatry: Objects of Angels

Idolatry: Objects of Animals

Idolatry: Objects of Brazen Serpent

Idolatry: Objects of Departed Spirits

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Abominations

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Dumb Idols

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Dumb Stones

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Gods That Cannot Save

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Gods That Have not Made the Heavens

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Graven Images

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Helpless

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Idols of Abomination

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Images of Abomination

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Molten Gods

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Molten Images

Idolatry: Objects of Described as New Gods

Idolatry: Objects of Described as No Gods

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Nothing

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Other Gods

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Senseless Idols

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Stocks

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Strange Gods

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Stumbling Blocks

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Teachers of Lies

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Vanities of the Gentiles

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Vanity

Idolatry: Objects of Described as Wind and Confusion

Idolatry: Objects of Earrings

Idolatry: Objects of Earthly Creatures

Idolatry: Objects of Gods of Egypt

Idolatry: Objects of Golden Calf

Idolatry: Objects of Images

Idolatry: Objects of Images of Angels

Idolatry: Objects of Net and Drag

Idolatry: Objects of Pictures

Idolatry: Objects of Pictures on Walls

Idolatry: Objects of Sun, Moon, and Stars

Idolatry: Objects of The Heavenly Bodies

Idolatry: Objects of, Carried in Procession

Idolatry: Objects of, Numerous

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped by Bowing to Them

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped by Burning Children

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped by Cutting the Flesh

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped by Kissing the Hand to Them

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped by Kissing Them

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped in Groves

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped in Private Houses

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped in Secret Places

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped in Temples

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped with Incense

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped with Libations

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped with Prayer

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped with Sacrifices

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped with Singing and Dancing

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped: On High Places

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped: On the Tops of Houses

Idolatry: Objects of, Worshipped: Under Trees

Idolatry: Obstinate Sinners Judicially Given up To

Idolatry: Other Customs of Bowing

Idolatry: Other Customs of Cutting the Flesh

Idolatry: Other Customs of Incense Burned on Altars

Idolatry: Other Customs of Kissing

Idolatry: Other Customs of Libations

Idolatry: Other Customs of Libations of Blood

Idolatry: Other Customs of Libations of Wine

Idolatry: Other Customs of Meat offerings

Idolatry: Other Customs of Music

Idolatry: Other Customs of Offered Burnt offerings

Idolatry: Other Customs of Peace offerings

Idolatry: Other Customs of Praise

Idolatry: Other Customs of Prayers to Idols

Idolatry: Other Customs of Singing and Dancing

Idolatry: Other Customs of Tithes and Gifts

Idolatry: People of Lystra

Idolatry: Philistines

Idolatry: Prophecies Relating To

Idolatry: Punishment of Banishment

Idolatry: Punishment of Dreadful Judgments Which End in Death

Idolatry: Punishment of Eternal Torments

Idolatry: Punishment of Exclusion from Heaven

Idolatry: Punishment of Judicial Death

Idolatry: Renounced on Conversion

Idolatry: Rites of, Obscene and Impure

Idolatry: Saints Preserved by God From

Idolatry: Saints Refuse to Receive the Worship of

Idolatry: Saints should Flee From

Idolatry: Saints should Keep From

Idolatry: Saints should not Covenant With Those Who Practise

Idolatry: Saints should not Have Anything Connected With in Their Houses

Idolatry: Saints should not Have Religious Intercourse With Those Who Practise

Idolatry: Saints should not Intermarry With Those Who Practise

Idolatry: Saints should not Partake of Any Thing Connected With

Idolatry: Saints should Refuse to Engage In, Though Threatened With Death

Idolatry: Saints should Testify Against

Idolatry: Sennacherib

Idolatry: Temples Built For

Idolatry: The Good Kings of Judah Endeavoured to Destroy

Idolatry: The Jews: Brought, out of Egypt With Them

Idolatry: The Jews: Followed the Assyrians In

Idolatry: The Jews: Followed the Canaanites In

Idolatry: The Jews: Followed the Moabites In

Idolatry: The Jews: Followed the Syrians In

Idolatry: The Jews: Forbidden to Practise

Idolatry: The Jews: Often Mixed Up, With God's Worship

Idolatry: The Jews: Practised, in Egypt

Idolatry: They Who Practise are Estranged from God

Idolatry: They Who Practise are Ignorant and Foolish

Idolatry: They Who Practise are Mad Upon It

Idolatry: They Who Practise are Vain in Their Imaginations

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Ask Counsel of Their Idols

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Boast of It

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Carried Away by It

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Defile the Sanctuary of God

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Forget God

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Forsake God

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Go After It in Heart

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Go Astray from God

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Hate God

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Have Fellowship With Devils

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Hold Fast Their Deceit

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Inflame Themselves

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Look to Idols for Deliverance

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Pollute the Name of God

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Provoke God

Idolatry: They Who Practise: Swear by Their Idols

Idolatry: Unprofitable

Idolatry: Vain and Foolish

Idolatry: Victims Sacrificed In, often Adorned With Garlands

Idolatry: Warnings Against

Idolatry: Warnings Against, and Punishments of

Idolatry: Wicked Practices of Human Sacrifices

Idolatry: Wicked Practices of Licentiousness of

Idolatry: Wicked Practices of Practices of, Relating to the Dead

Idolatry: Woe Denounced Against

Idolatry: Zeal Against: Asa

Idolatry: Zeal Against: Israel

Idolatry: Zeal Against: Jehoshaphat

Idolatry: Zeal Against: Josiah

Idolatry: Zeal Against: Manasseh

Idolatrous
Top of Page
Top of Page