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Biblical Definition of Idolatry and Its Consequences

Idolatry is broadly defined as the worship of deity in a visible form, or divine honor paid to any created object [1, 2]. This can include symbolic representations of the true God or false divinities [2]. The Apostle Paul describes its origin as humanity forsaking God, leading to ignorance and moral corruption (Romans 1:21-25) [1].

Biblical texts identify various forms and manifestations of idolatry:

The Hebrew term for abomination, תּוֺעֵבָה (toebah), is often used in a ritual sense and can refer to the worship of idols [8]. For instance, the "image of jealousy" seen by Ezekiel in the temple court (Ezekiel 8:3, 5) was an idolatrous object, possibly a statue of Astarte [6].

Idolatry is not limited to overt acts of worship. The Bible also identifies covetousness as a form of idolatry (Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5) [4, 5]. This is because covetousness engrosses the heart and can be seen as worshipping wealth or material possessions instead of God [4]. John Gill, in his commentary on Galatians 5:19, suggests that while some interpret idolatry as covetousness, it more broadly refers to the worship of other gods or graven images [12].

The consequences of idolatry are severe and far-reaching:

The history of idolatry among the Jews is noted from early biblical accounts, such as Rachel stealing her father's teraphim (Genesis 31:19) and the Israelites defiling themselves with idols during their time in Egypt [2].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Idolatry — Image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object. Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Rom. 1:21-25: men forsook God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption (1:28). The forms of idolatry are, (1.) Fetishism, or the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc. (2.) Nature worship, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as the supposed powers of nature. (3.) Hero worship, the worship of deceased ancestors, or of heroes. In Scripture, idolatry is regarded as of heathen origin, and as being imported among the Hebrews through contact with ”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Idolatry — strictly speaking denotes the worship of deity in a visible form, whether the images to which homage is paid are symbolical representations of the true God or of the false divinities which have been made the objects of worship in his stead. I. History of idolatry among the Jews.--The first undoubted allusion to idolatry or idolatrous customs in the Bible is in the account of Rachel's stealing her father's teraphim. (Genesis 31:19) During their long residence in Egypt the Israelites defiled themselves with the idols of the land, and it was long before the ta”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Idolatry — Forbidden -- Ex 20:2,3; De 5:7. Consists in Bowing down to images. -- Ex 20:5; De 5:9. Worshipping images. -- Isa 44:17; Da 3:5,10,15. Sacrificing to images. -- Ps 106:38; Ac 7:41. Worshipping other gods. -- De 30:17; Ps 81:9. Swearing by other gods. -- Ex 23:13; Jos 23:7. Walking after other gods. -- De 8:19. Speaking in the name of other gods. -- De 18:20. Looking to other gods. -- Ho 3:1. Serving other gods. -- De 7:4; Jer 5:19. Fearing other gods. -- 2Ki 17:35. Sacrificing to other gods. -- Ex 22:20. Worshipping the true God by an image, & c. -- Ex 32:”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Covetousness — Comes from the heart -- Mr 7:22,23. Engrosses the heart -- Eze 33:31; 2Pe 2:14. Is idolatry -- Eph 5:5; Col 3:5. Is the root of all evil -- 1Ti 6:10. Is never satisfied -- Ec 5:10; Hab 2:5. Is vanity -- Ps 39:6; Ec 4:8. Is inconsistent In saints. -- Eph 5:3; Heb 13:5. Specially in ministers. -- 1Ti 3:3. Leads to Injustice and oppression. -- Pr 28:20; Mic 2:2. Foolish and hurtful lusts. -- 1Ti 6:9. Departure from the faith. -- 1Ti 6:10. Lying. -- 2Ki 5:22-25. Murder. -- Pr 1:18,19; Eze 22:12. Theft. -- Jos 7:21. Poverty. -- Pr 28:22. Misery. -- 1Ti 6:10”
  5. Colossians “Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; -- Colossians 3:5”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jealousy, Image of — An idolatrous object, seen in vision by Ezekiel (Ezek. 8:3, 5), which stood in the priests' or inner court of the temple. Probably identical with the statue of Astarte (2 Kings 21:7).”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Forsaking God — Idolaters guilty of -- 1Sa 8:8; 1Ki 11:33. The wicked guilty of -- De 28:20. Backsliders guilty of -- Jer 15:6. Is forsaking His house. -- 2Ch 29:6. His covenant. -- De 29:25; 1Ki 19:10; Jer 22:9; Da 11:30. His commandments. -- Ezr 9:10. The right way. -- 2Pe 2:15. Trusting in man is -- Jer 17:5. Leads men to follow their own devices -- Jer 2:13. Prosperity tempts to -- De 31:20; 32:15. Wickedness of -- Jer 2:13; 5:7. Unreasonableness and ingratitude of -- Jer 2:5,6. Brings confusion -- Jer 17:13. Followed by remorse -- Eze 6:9. Brings down his wrath ”
  8. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H8441] toebah (part 1/2) — H8441. toebah תּוֺעֵבָה117 noun feminine abomination; — absolute ׳ת Gen 43:32 21t.; תֹּעֵבָה Jer 44:4; construct תּוֺעֲבַת Gen 46:34 +; plural תּוֺעֵבוֺת Ezek 8:6 +; construct תּוֺעֲבוֺת 6:11 +, etc.; suffix תֹּעֲבֹתָיוֺ2Chr 36:8, etc.; — 1 ritual sense: a. Israel's sacrifices, ׳ת מִצְרַיִם (genitive object) Exod 8:22 (twice in verse) (E), compare Gen 46:34 (J); ׳ת למצרים 43:32 (J); ׳ת לְ of physical repugnance Psa 88:9. b. to God and his people: ׳ת of unclean food Deut 14:3; worshipper of idols Isa 41:24, compare Jer 2:7; various objectionable acts: ׳ת י ׳לפני ”
  9. Zechariah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zechariah 5:11: 5:11 Idolatry is potently and aggressively evil; it cannot be confined, but must be shipped back to its source (Babylonia) by God’s decree. This symbolism indicates that God is able to purge his people of all the various forms of wickedness that separated them from him. • The land of Babylonia was the land of Hebrew captivity (Mic 4:10). The prophets condemn it as wicked and idolatrous (Isa 46–47; Jer 50–51). In the New Testament, Babylon represents the evil Roman Empire (Rev 17:5; 18:2; see 1 Pet 5:13).”
  10. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 106:39: 106:39 Idolatry, like adultery, defiles God’s people (see Lev 18:24; Hos 5:3).”
  11. Hosea (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hosea 6:10: I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel,.... Idolatry, the calves set up at Dan and Bethel, which God saw with abhorrence and detestation; or the prophet saw it, and it made his hair stand on end as it were, as the word (g) signifies, that such wickedness should be committed by a professing people: there is the whoredom of Ephraim; in the house of Israel is the whoredom of Jeroboam, who was of the tribe of Ephraim, and caused Israel to sin, to go a whoring after idols; or the whoredom of the tribe of Ephraim, which belonged to the house of Israel, and ev”
  12. Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 5:19: Idolatry,.... Which some understand of covetousness, which is so called; but rather it means the worshipping of other gods, or of graven images: witchcraft; any real or pretended league and association with the devil, seeking to converse with familiar spirits, to gain unlawful knowledge, or to do hurt to fellow creatures; which, as it is doing honour to Satan, detracts from the glory of God, and rightly follows idolatry; conjuration, soothsaying, necromancy, and all kind of magic are included and condemned hereby: hatred: internal hatred of any man's person, ev”
  13. Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 29:18: 29:18 This metaphor describes idolatry (the root), which, if cultivated, would result in idol worship (the fruit).”
  14. Hosea (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Hosea 1 (introduction): I. Israel's Adultery - Hosea 1-3 On the ground of the relation hinted at even in the Pentateuch (Exo 34:15-16; Lev 17:7; Lev 20:5-6; Num 14:33; Deu 32:16-21), and still further developed in the Song of Solomon and Psalm 45, where the gracious bond existing between the Lord and the nation of His choice is represented under the figure of a marriage, which Jehovah had contracted with Israel, the falling away of the ten tribes of Israel from Jehovah into idolatry is exhibited as whoredom and adultery, in the following manner. In the first section (Hosea ”
  15. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 10:19: 10:19 rouse your jealousy . . . provoke your anger: This quotation from Deut 32:21 concerns God’s punishment of Israel for their idolatry. In Paul’s day, Israel remained guilty of idolatry because it put the law in place of God himself. God’s punishment involved using the Gentiles, people who are not even a nation, to make Israel jealous and angry (Rom 11:12-32 elaborates on this theme).”
  16. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 29:17: [A ROOT THAT BEARETH GALL AND WORMWOOD.] For gall injures the healthy. 31 Hence it symbolizes idolatry. Even a spiritually healthy person is injured by idolatry. It is a disease that is infectious. 32 The person afflicted by idolatry will infect others.”
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