Bible graven images4/24/2023 ![]() ![]() Judges 18:14 makes a distinction between a graven image and a molten image. Leviticus 26:1 commands, "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God." Again, the reason for commands against graven images is because only the Lord is to be worshiped. ![]() In the King James Version of the Bible, graven images are specifically mentioned more than forty times, always condemning the practice of making or worshiping them. In contrast, God commanded His people to worship only the one, true God of Israel (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). In Egypt, for example, the Israelites would have been aware of many idols that were worshiped by the Egyptians. Such images or idols were common in ancient culture, particularly in the nations surrounding Israel during its wilderness journey. The words "graven image" are first found in Exodus 20:4 of the King James Version of the Bible: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." It is a phrase that literally refers to an idol, whether made of wood, stone, metal, silver, gold, or other items. We must worship Him in spirit and in truth, for only then do we show our love.The Ten Commandments mention a 'graven image.' What is a graven image? ![]() Our thoughts and our actions, therefore, must be bound by the Word of God. Whenever we imagine God in any way contrary to what He has revealed Himself to be, we are making an idol. It is easier than one might think to break this command. We show our love for God when we obey His commands: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” But those who do not keep His law hate Him, and they (and their posterity) will suffer the consequences of such sin. And this is exactly what is involved here: our love. He will not allow us to set our love upon another. Like a jealous husband, God will allow no rival to Himself. We are not God, and He has not given us the authorization to make such representations.Īll rites that do not correspond with the spiritual worship of God are here forbidden. God choosing to manifest Himself in a physical form is far different from a human being choosing to fashion an image of the invisible God. But this fact does not give us license to break the second commandment and fashion an image of God according to our own imaginations. Now it is certainly true that God revealed Himself in physical manifestations to the prophets and others in Old Testament times. God is insulted not only when we worship an image, but when we represent Him by any outward form, for He is spirit. Consequently, we are not to make any image of Him, whether we intend to worship it or not, for, as Calvin so aptly puts it, “As soon as any one has permitted himself to devise an image of God, he immediately falls into false worship.” We should, therefore, take these two aspects of the second commandment together, not in the sense that we are free to make any graven image as long as we don’t worship it, but that we are not to make any graven image at all because as soon as we do, we are transferring to an image what should be reserved for God only: our adoration and worship. Nothing can adequately or comprehensively represent Him. God is spiritual and invisible nothing, therefore, in the earth or in the heavens above corresponds with His nature. The essence of the second commandment is that the worship of God must be spiritual so that it will correspond with His nature.
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