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Questions tagged [idolatry]

the worship of physical objects as a representation of a god, or, more broadly, the worship of false gods in general

0 votes
2 answers
95 views

2 Kings 23:4 indicates that there were pagan idols in the Temple. Is it possible the Ark of the Covenant had a statue of Yahweh then or at any time?

I came across an article that indicated that Thomas Römer argues that the Ark of the Covenant had a statue of Yahweh on top, and possibly even a statue of 'Yahweh's Asherah'. I can't think of a ...
Traildude's user avatar
  • 276
3 votes
1 answer
160 views

Did Cyrus know that God spoke to him (Isaiah 44:28, 45:1), or did he think it was Marduk/Bel (Isaiah 46:1)?

Isaiah 44:28 28 I say of Cyrus, My shepherd! He carries out my every wish, Saying of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Lay its foundations.” Isaiah 45:1 Thus says the Lord to his ...
Dan Fefferman's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
44 views

Biblical authors, Ancient Jewish/Hebrew and/or Early Christians Vs 21st Century Modern view when it comes to the interpretation of "idols"/"idolatry"

A lot of the Old Testament bible verses/passages use the terms "idol(s)"/"idolatry" within the context of -physical "carved image", (Exodus 20:3–6) -physical materials ...
user1338998's user avatar
  • 3,640
8 votes
5 answers
7k views

Why did Rachel steal her father's idols? (Genesis 31:19)

In Genesis 31:17-21 NKJV we read: 17 Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired ...
Jason_'s user avatar
  • 6,118
1 vote
2 answers
112 views

Deeper understanding of Isaiah 40:20 "..who is too impoverished for such an offering...seeks...a skillful craftsman...To prepare an idol..."

Isaiah 40:18-21 New American Standard Bible 1995 18 To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him? 19 As for the [a]idol, a craftsman casts it, A goldsmith plates it with ...
user1338998's user avatar
  • 3,640
1 vote
2 answers
539 views

What is the host of heaven in 2 Kgs. 17:16; 21:3 & 2 Chr. 33:3

In 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, it speaks of the Israelites and their leaders worshipping "all the host of heaven". The term host of heaven can refer to angels and also the stars/planets. ...
Any_mouse's user avatar
  • 247
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

Who Was Jonathan the Grandson of Moses (or Manasseh) in Judges 18:30?

The Book of Judges relates a story of the founding of a northern settlement by the tribe of Dan, in which the Danites conquer a defenseless town and set up an idolatrous shrine there. The priest at ...
Dan Fefferman's user avatar
9 votes
5 answers
3k views

Is it clear from the text that Aaron was lying about the golden calf coming out of the fire?

In Exodus 32:24 Aaron says to Moses: So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” it seems ...
Peter Turner's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
193 views

Isa. 65:11—troop/fortune, number/destiny

KJV: prepare a table for that troop, … furnish  the drink offering  unto that number NIV: spread a table for Fortune … fill bowls … for Destiny Brown/Driver/Briggs suggests that the bolded words ...
WGroleau's user avatar
  • 354
1 vote
2 answers
298 views

What was the "Idol" that Moses' descendants served in Dan (Judges 18:30)

There (in the city formerly called Laish) the Danites set up for themselves the idol, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of ...
Dan Fefferman's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
160 views

Does Acts 17:29's charagmati (χαράγματι) also mean image, or icon (eikón)?

Acts 17:29 (NIV) says: “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image (charagmati) made by human design and skill. The ...
Dan's user avatar
  • 423
0 votes
2 answers
99 views

Ecclesiastes aims to desensitise us from worldly aspects ( and/or helps De-idolizing/De-worshipping worldly aspects?)

(Ecclesiastes 1:1-3) 1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” 3 What advantage does man have in ...
user1338998's user avatar
  • 3,640
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why did God punish only the Midianites but not the Moabites?

The Moabites and the Midianites were both involved in luring Israel into idolatry. But why were only the Midianites punished in Numbers 25 and Numbers 31?
user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
164 views

Deuteronomy 4:15 - No form, not male nor female

“When the Lord spoke to you from the fire on Mount Sinai, you did not see any form. For your own good, then, make certain that you do not sin by making for yourselves an idol in any form at all—...
VNPython's user avatar
  • 131
1 vote
2 answers
88 views

Can 'face of his father' refer to human sacrifice in Gen. 11:28?

Gen. 11:28 says that Haran died in the face (פְּנֵ֖י) of his father. I'm wondering if this is a euphemism for human sacrifice, that Haran was a sacrifice to gods sort of the way Isaac was later ...
user14423's user avatar
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