Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, statues are often associated with idolatry and the worship of false gods, which is strictly prohibited in the Scriptures. The Bible contains numerous references to statues, primarily in the context of graven images or idols that the Israelites were commanded to avoid.
Old Testament ReferencesThe prohibition against making and worshiping statues is clearly articulated in the Ten Commandments.
Exodus 20:4-5 states, "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me."
The Israelites frequently struggled with the temptation to worship statues, as seen in the incident of the golden calf in
Exodus 32. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the law from God, the people grew impatient and asked Aaron to make them a god. Aaron fashioned a golden calf, and the people worshiped it, leading to God's anger and Moses' intercession on their behalf.
In
Deuteronomy 4:15-18 , Moses warns the Israelites, "So be very careful yourselves, since you saw no form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves an idol in the shape of any figure, the form of a man or woman, the form of any beast on the earth, any winged bird that flies in the air, any creature that crawls on the ground, or any fish in the waters below."
Prophetic CondemnationsThe prophets frequently condemned the worship of statues and idols.
Isaiah 44:9-20 vividly describes the futility of idol-making, emphasizing that those who fashion statues are "nothing" and that their "precious things" do not profit. The passage highlights the absurdity of using part of a tree to warm oneself and cook food, while using the rest to carve a god to worship.
Jeremiah also speaks against the worship of statues, warning the people of Judah about the consequences of idolatry. In
Jeremiah 10:3-5 , he writes, "For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good."
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the emphasis shifts from physical statues to the broader concept of idolatry, which includes anything that takes the place of God in one's heart. The Apostle Paul addresses this in his letters, urging believers to flee from idolatry. In
1 Corinthians 10:14 , he writes, "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry."
Paul also speaks to the futility of idol worship in
Acts 17:29 , where he addresses the people of Athens: "Being then God’s offspring, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination."
Cultural and Historical ContextIn the ancient Near East, statues were commonly used in religious practices, often representing deities or serving as objects of veneration. The surrounding nations frequently worshiped these images, which posed a constant temptation for the Israelites to assimilate into pagan practices.
The biblical injunctions against statues and idolatry served to distinguish the worship of Yahweh, the one true God, from the polytheistic practices of neighboring cultures. The emphasis on worshiping God without the use of images underscored His transcendence and the importance of faith in the unseen.
ConclusionThe biblical narrative consistently warns against the creation and worship of statues, emphasizing the importance of worshiping God in spirit and truth. The Scriptures call believers to reject idolatry in all its forms, focusing their devotion solely on the Lord.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The likeness of a living being sculptured or modeled in some solid substance, as marble, bronze, or wax; an image; as, a statue of Hercules, or of a lion.
2. (n.) A portrait.
3. (v. t.) To place, as a statue; to form a statue of; to make into a statue.
Greek
1504. eikon -- an image, ie lit.statue, fig. representation... 1503, 1504. eikon. 1505 . an image, ie lit.
statue, fig. representation.
... Word
Origin from eiko Definition an image, ie lit.
statue, fig. representation
...2857. Kolossai -- Colossae, a city in Phrygia
... Word Origin appar. akin to kolossos (a colossus, a hugestatue) Definition Colossae,
a city in Phrygia NASB Word Usage Colossae (1). Colosse....
5179. tupos -- typically
... From tupto; a die (as struck), ie (by implication) a stamp or scar; by analogy,
a shape, ie Astatue, (figuratively) style or resemblance; specially, a sampler...
5480. charagma -- a stamp, impress
... stamp, mark. From the same as charax; a scratch or etching, ie Stamp (as a badge
of servitude), or scupltured figure (statue) -- graven, mark. see GREEK charax....
Strong's Hebrew
5566. semel -- an image,statuesemel or semel. 5565, 5566. semel or semel. 5567 . an image,
statue.
Transliteration: semel or semel Phonetic Spelling: (seh'-mel) Short Definition:
...3594. Kiyyun -- a heathen god
... Chiun. From kuwn; properly, astatue, ie Idol; but used (by euphemism) for some
heathen deity (perhaps corresponding to Priapus or Baal-peor) -- Chiun....
5333. netsib -- a pillar, prefect, garrison, post
... garrison, officer, pillar. Or ntsib {nets-eeb'}; from natsab; something stationary,
ie A prefect, a military post, astatue -- garrison, officer, pillar....
6755. tselem -- an image
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to tselem Definition an image NASB Word
Usage expression (1), image (11),statue (5). form, image....
Library
of theStatue of Christ in Paneas which Julian Overthrew and Made...
... Book V. Chapter XXI." Of theStatue of Christ in Paneas which Julian overthrew and
made Valueless; he erected his ownStatue; this was overthrown by a Thunder...
TheStatue which the Woman with an Issue of Blood Erected.
... Book VII. Chapter XVIII."TheStatue which the Woman with an Issue of Blood
erected.... 3. They say that thisstatue is an image of Jesus....
Remarkable SpeakingStatue
... Chapter 12. Wesley's Letter to an Editor; Impositions and Declarations; the Speaking
Statue; Wesley's Pentecost Remarkable SpeakingStatue....
The SpeakingStatue Again
... Chapter 16. Windsor Park; Wesley as Art Critic; Glasgow and Perth; At 70,
Wesley Preaches to 30,000 People The SpeakingStatue Again....
TheStatue of the Empress; what Happened There; the Teaching of...
... Book VIII. Chapter XX."TheStatue of the Empress; what happened there; the Teaching
of John; Convocation of another Synod against John; his Deposition....
Eudoxia'sStatue
... BOOK V CHAPTER XLVII EUDOXIA'SSTATUE. Envie is lavender to the Court alway,... Here,
then, thestatue was erected. First there was a massive stylobate....
Of theStatue of Constantine Holding a Cross, and Its Inscription.
... The Life of the blessed emperor constantine, by eusebius pamphilus. Book I. Chapter
XL."Of theStatue of Constantine holding a Cross, and its Inscription....
Of theStatue of Apollo at Cum??, Whose Tears are Supposed to have...
... Book III. Chapter 11."Of theStatue of Apollo at Cum??, Whose Tears are Supposed
to Have Portended Disaster to the Greeks, Whom the God Was Unable to Succor....
Of Eudoxia's SilverStatue. On Account of it John is Exiled a...
... Book VI. Chapter XVIII."Of Eudoxia's SilverStatue. On account of it John
is exiled a Second Time. At this time a silverstatue...
The Newly ErectedStatue at Antioch.
... Book IX. Chapter III."The Newly ErectedStatue at Antioch. After this man
had carried on all kinds of war against us and had caused...
Thesaurus
Statue (15 Occurrences)... 1. (n.) The likeness of a living being sculptured or modeled in some solid substance,
as marble, bronze, or wax; an image; as, a
statue of Hercules, or of a
...Magus
... Justin also relates that, in the time of Claudius Caesar, Simon was worshipped as
a god at Rome on account of his magical powers, and that astatue had been...
Wild (147 Occurrences)
... And he told the inhabitants of the earth to erect astatue to the Wild Beast
who had received the sword-stroke and yet had recovered. (WEY)....
Rhodes (2 Occurrences)
... Near the entrance of the harbor stood one of the seven wonders of the ancient
world-a colossal bronzestatue dedicated to Helios....
Dura (1 Occurrence)
... 3:1. The place still retains its ancient name. On one of its many mounds the pedestal
of what must have been a colossalstatue has been found....
Memphis (8 Occurrences)
... meet the eye in every direction. Near the village of Mitraheny is a colossal
statue of Rameses the Great. It is apparently one of...
Claudius (3 Occurrences)
... policy of his predecessors regarding the Jews and, considering himself a real and
corporeal god, had deeply offended the Jews by ordering astatue of himself...
Cnidus (1 Occurrence)
... well preserved. The city was especially noted for its shrine of Venus
and for thestatue of that goddess by Praxiteles. Here in...
Athens (5 Occurrences)
... A monumental bronzestatue by Phidias stood on the left, as one emerged on the plateau,
and the mighty Parthenon a little further on, to the right....
Antiquity (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The quality of being ancient; ancientness; great
age; as, astatue of remarkable antiquity; a family of great antiquity....
Resources
Where was Daniel when his three friends were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar's statue? | GotQuestions.orgHow should Christians view statues of Jesus? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are some biblical examples of dream interpretation? | GotQuestions.orgStatue: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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