Residual Imprint of God's Image Used to Justify Idolatry

Idolatry is defined as the worship or divine honor given to any created object, rather than to God ^[1]. This practice involves paying homage to visible forms, whether these images symbolize the true God or false deities ^[2]. The Bible consistently portrays idolatry as originating outside of Israel, later being adopted by the Hebrews through cultural contact ^[1].

The origins of idolatry are described in Romans 1:21-25, where humanity is depicted as forsaking God and subsequently descending into ignorance and moral corruption ^[1]. This passage states that people "turned the glorie of the incorruptible God to the similitude of the image of a corruptible man, and of birdes, and foure footed beastes, and of creeping things" ^[5]. This act of exchanging the glory of God for images of created things is a core aspect of idolatry.

Various forms of idolatry are identified in biblical scholarship:

Fetishism involves the worship of natural objects such as trees, rivers, hills, or stones ^[1]. Early objects of worship included meteoric stones, believed to be divine images sent from heaven, and later, unhewn blocks or pillars of wood thought to house divinity ^[3].
Nature worship focuses on celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars, which were regarded as powers of nature ^[1].
Hero worship entails the veneration of deceased ancestors or heroes ^[1].

In the Old Testament, idolatry is strictly forbidden. Exodus 20:2-3 and Deuteronomy 5:7 prohibit having other gods, while Exodus 20:5 and Deuteronomy 5:9 forbid bowing down to images ^[4]. The making of graven images for worship is explicitly condemned, with Deuteronomy 4:16 specifying that no image or representation should be made for worship ^[9]. This prohibition extends to images of any of God's creatures, as idols and images can lead to the worship of the creature rather than the Creator ^[11]. Abraham Ibn Ezra, a Jewish rationalist, defines "other gods" as idols, which are the work of human hands ^[12].

The Bible records instances of idolatry among the Israelites. Rachel's theft of her father's teraphim (idols) is an early example ^{[2, 6]}. During their time in Egypt, the Israelites "defiled themselves with the idols of the land" ^[2]. A prominent example is the golden calf made by Aaron in the wilderness (Exodus 32:4). This idol may have been an image of a bull, similar to Egyptian deities, representing power and fertility. The term "calf" might have been used contemptuously, or Aaron might have considered it a less serious sin than a full-sized bull ^[8]. The people attributed to this idol the power that had brought them out of Egypt, demonstrating how idolatry shifts allegiance from God to a created object ^[8].

The prophets frequently condemned idolatry. Isaiah, for instance, presents extensive arguments against it, highlighting the ridiculousness of idols ^[16]. Idols are described as powerless, man-made trinkets that offer a false sense of security and lead to disappointment ^[16]. Calvin, in his commentary on Isaiah, notes that Hezekiah's actions in removing "false gods and superstitious worship" were in line with God's abhorrence of such practices ^[13].

Idolatry is not merely the worship of other gods but also includes worshipping the true God through an image ^[4]. This practice confines the Lord to the artist's imagination ^[11]. The "image of jealousy" seen by Ezekiel in the temple (Ezekiel 8:3, 5) was an idolatrous object, possibly a statue of Astarte ^[7]. The "spot" of idolaters, mentioned in Deuteronomy 32:5, refers to marks inscribed on their bodies in devotion to their chosen idol ^[14].

The New Testament also addresses idolatry. In Revelation, the beast is given power to give "life" or "breath" to an image, compelling worship ^[10]. This echoes historical instances like Nebuchadnezzar's golden image and the Roman practice of worshipping the emperor's image ^[10]. The prophet Zechariah symbolizes idolatry as an aggressively evil force that God will purge from his people, sending it back to its source in Babylonia, a land condemned for its wickedness and idolatry ^[15].

Sources

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 ”
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”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Idol — An image or anything used as an object of worship in place of the true God. Among the earliest objects of worship, regarded as symbols of deity, were the meteoric stones, which the ancients believed to have been images of the Gods sent down from heaven. From these they transferred their regard to rough unhewn blocks, to stone columns or pillars of wood, in which the divinity worshipped was supposed to dwell, and which were connected, like the sacred stone at Delphi, by being anointed with oil and crowned with wool on solemn days. Of the forms assumed by the ido”
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:”
Romans “Romans 1:23 (Geneva1599) — For they turned the glorie of the incorruptible God to the similitude of the image of a corruptible man, and of birdes, and foure footed beastes, and of creeping things.”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Teraphim — images; idols”
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).”
Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 32:4: 32:4 the shape of a calf: The idol might actually have been an image of a bull, like the images of the Egyptian god Amon-Re that the people had known in Egypt. The bull represented power, domination, and fertility. The writer would then be using the term calf as a way of expressing contempt for the idol. Alternatively, Aaron might have made a calf, feeling that this sin was not as serious as if the idol were a full-sized bull. • these are the gods who brought you out: The people attributed to the idol what they had just said that Moses had done (32:1). Idolatry ex”
Deuteronomy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Deuteronomy 4:16: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image--The things are here specified of which God prohibited any image or representation to be made for the purposes of worship; and, from the variety of details entered into, an idea may be formed of the extensive prevalence of idolatry in that age. In whatever way idolatry originated, whether from an intention to worship the true God through those things which seemed to afford the strongest evidences of His power, or whether a divine principle was supposed to reside in the things themselves, ther”
Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 13:15: he had power--Greek, "it was given to him." to give life--Greek, "breath," or "spirit." image--Nebuchadnezzar set up in Dura a golden image to be worshipped, probably of himself; for his dream had been interpreted, "Thou art this head of gold"; the three Hebrews who refused to worship the image were east into a burning furnace. All this typifies the last apostasy. PLINY, in his letter to Trajan, states that he consigned to punishment those Christians who would not worship the emperor's image with incense and wine. So JULIAN, the apostate, set ”
Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 4:16: 4:16 idol: Idolatry inherently confined the Lord to the artist’s imagination. Israel was not to make idols in the form of any of his creatures (4:17-18). Idols and images could lead to worship of the creature rather than the Creator (5:8-9; Rom 1:23-25).”
Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 17:3: OTHER GODS. Idols, the work of man.”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 3, section 4.14: to us, that, imitating the example of Hezekiah, we may stand unshaken against such accusations and slanders. So far as relates to the last clause, in which Rabshakeh reproaches him with having overturned the worship of God, 36 36 Our author refers to the charges contained in the 7 th verse of this chapter. — Ed. every person must plainly see how slanderous is that charge; for Hezekiah had taken away false gods and superstitious 37 37 “ Les idols et l’idolatrie .” “Idols and idolatry.” worship, which God abhors. ( 2 Kings 18:4 .) But we need n”
Deuteronomy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Deuteronomy 32:5: They have corrupted themselves--that is, the Israelites by their frequent lapses and their inveterate attachment to idolatry. their spot is not the spot of his children--This is an allusion to the marks which idolaters inscribe on their foreheads or their arms with paint or other substances, in various colors and forms--straight, oval, or circular, according to the favorite idol of their worship.”
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).”
Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 40:18: 40:18 To whom . . . What image: Earlier in the book, idolatry was shown to be ridiculous (16:12; 37:16-19). Chapters 40–48 open up a much more extensive argument against idolatry. Idols are symbolic representations of gods and, at times, other religious concepts. Those who worship them don’t recognize the implication that they are man-made trinkets. Idols are powerless (41:7, 22-24; 48:14), give a false sense of security (42:17), delude people (44:20), and lead to severe disappointment (42:17; 45:16, 20). They cannot help those who care for them. In fact, they ar”

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