Idols and Images

† [גִּלּוּל] n.m. Je 50:27 only pl. idols (= logs, blocks, shapeless things Ges BaudRel. i. 95; Ew doll-images > dungy things Sm Ez 6:4 SS after Rabb.) Vid. BaudZMG, 1904, 395 ff. (cps. Biblical Aramaic גְּלָל (אֶבֶן), Palm. גללאTariff i. 9 = στήλη λιθίνη; and concludes that it was orig. a designation of the primitive stone menhir or מַצֵּבָה) גִּלּוּלִים Ez 22:3 + 3 times + Ez 30:13 (del B Co); גִּלֻּלִים 1 K 15:12 + 2 times; cstr. גִּלּוּלֵי Ez 8:10 + 6 times; גִּלּוּלַיִךְ Ez 22:4; גִּלּוּלָיו 2 K 21:11 + 4 times; גִּלּוּלֶיהָ Je 50:2; ֵיכֶםLv 26:30 + 7 times; ֵיכֶןEz 23:49; ֵיהֶםEz 6:9 + 14 times + Ez 6:5 (del Biblical Aramaic al Co); ֵיהֶןEz 23:37;—idols (39 times Ez);—1 K 15:12 2 K 17:12; 21:21 Ez 6:5 (del Co) v 9 6:13(×2); 14:4, 5; 18:6, 15; 20:16, 24, 39; 23:37, 39, 49; 33:25; 44:10, 12; ‖ שִׁקּוּצִים Dt 29:16 2 K 23:24 (‖ also תְּרָפִים), Ez 20:7, 18 (both c. vb. טמא) v 8 37:23, cf. also 8:10 (שֶׁקֶץ, but שִׁקּוּצִים appar. 𝔊 𝔖 𝔗 & so Co); ‖ תּוֹעֵבָה Ez 14:6 2 K 21:11, cf. Ez 18:12; 16:36 (גִּלּוּלֵי תוֹעֲבוֹתַיִךְ), & 1 K 21:26 (where vb. תָּעַב); ‖ טֻמְאוֹת Ez 36:25; ‖ מִכְשׁוֹל עֲוֹנוֹ Ez 14:3, 4, 7; ‖ עֲצַבִּים Je 50:2; ‖ אֱלִילִים Ez 30:13 (Co אילים; cf. also supr.); ‖ חַמָּן Ez 6:4, 6 Lv 26:30 (cf. infr.); ‖ תְּרָפִים 2 K 23:24 (supr.); in phr. טִמֵּא בְּגִלּ׳ etc. Ez 20:7, 18, 31; 22:3, 4; 23:7, 30; 36:18 (del. Co); תְּחַלְּלוּ בְגִלּ׳ Ez 20:39;—note especially the expression וְנָתַתִּי פִּגְרֵיכֶם עַל־פִּגְרֵי גִלּוּלֵיכֶם Lv 26:30 and I will lay your carcases upon the carcases of your idols.

† אֲשֵׁרָה, אֲשֵׁירָה 2 K 17:16 n.pr.f. Ashera (Assyrian n.pr.f. Aš-ra-tu, c. sign for deity, in Canaanitish n.pr. Abad-Ašratum, servant of A. SchrZA 1888, 363, cf. Wkl & AbelThontafelfund v. El Amarna ii. No. 77, 1. 9, & SayceRP2. ii. 67, iii. 71; on deriv. cf. Assyrian aširat, adj. fem. gracious, COTGloss) see now also GFMEB Asherah Dr Dt 16:21 AllenDB Asherah, all doubtful as to Can. goddess Asherah; question left open by ZimKAT3. 436 ff. (on Sem. goddess Aširtu-Ašratu Id. ib. 432 ff.); but v. JeremAT1 im Licht d. Alten Orients 207 (name of goddess Aširat in letter found at Taanach by Sellin (1902–3) and Id. ib. 37. 237) (Oppenheim’s find at Ras el-’Ain in Mesop., stone shaft with veiled head as top, supposed to identify post with goddess; if 2 K 23:7 refers to draped Asherim [v. on text Benz Bur], this even more plausible), Id. ib. 23, 208 f., 286. On pictorial representations of Asherah-symbol v. WHWardAJSL xix. 1 (Oct. 1902).:—usually with the art.: prob. a. a Canaanitish goddess of fortune & happiness; having prophets 1 K 18:19, an image 15:13 = 2 Ch 15:16 2 K 21:7, sacred vessels 2 K 23:4, houses v 7. b. a symbol of this goddess, a sacred tree or pole set up near an altar 1 K 16:33 2 K 13:6; 17:16; 18:4; 21:3; 23:6, 15; prohibited Dt 16:21; burnt by Gideon Ju 6:25, 26, 28, 30. Pl. אֲשֵׁרוֹת a. the goddess Ju 3:7 (prob. error for עַשְׁתָּרֹת 𝔙). b. sacred trees or poles 2 Ch 19:3; 33:3; elsewhere אֲשֵׁרִים id. Is 27:9 + 12 times; sf. Mi 5:13 + 5 times;—Ex 34:13 (J) Dt 7:5; 12:3 Is 17:8; 27:9 Je 17:2 Mi 5:13 1 K 14:15, 23 2 K 17:10, 23:14 2 Ch 14:2; 17:6; 24:18; 31:1; 33:19; 34:3, 4, 7.—(Cf. also StaZAW 1881, 344 f. RSSem i. 171 f., 175n. WeH 235, who think א׳ only the sacred pole.)

פֶּ֫סֶל31 n.m. Hb 2:18 idol, image;—abs. פ׳ Ju 17:3 +, פָּ֑סֶל Is 42:17; cstr. פֶּסֶל Ju 18:31 +; sf. פִּסְלִי Is 48:5, etc.; pl. supplied by פְּסִילִים, v. foll.;—idol, as likeness of man or animal Ex 20:4 = Dt 5:8; Dt 4:16, 23, 25, also 27:15; 2 K 21:7; 2 Ch 33:7; Is 42:17; 44:9; 48:5; Na 1:14; Hb 2:18 (of wood or stone, cf. v 19); of metal Ju 17:3, 4 + 6 times 18 (cf. GFM), Is 40:19; 44:10 (c. נָסַךְ), Je 10:14; 51:17 (c. צוֹרֵף); of wood Is 40:20; 44:15, 17; 45:20.

† I. מַסֵּכָה n.f. 1. libation; 2. molten metal, or image;—מ׳ Ex 32:4 +; cstr. מַסֵּכַת Is 30:22; pl. מַסֵּכוֹת 1 K 14:9 +; sf. מַסֵּכֹתָם Nu 33:52;— 1. libation, with covenant sacrif. in making covenant Is 30:1 (= 1. נֶסֶךְ; see, however, sub II. [נָסַךְ]). 2. molten metal, or image: עֵגֶל מַסֵּכָה molten calf Ex 32:4, 8; Dt 9:16; Ne 9:18, cf. ψ 106:19; אֱלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה molten gods Ex 34:17; Lv 19:4; צַלְמֵי מ׳ Nu 33:52; פֶּסֶל וּמַסֵּכָה Dt 27:15; Ju 17:3, 4; 18:14; Na 1:14; 2 Ch 34:3, 4, elsewhere (variously) Dt 9:12; Ju 18:17, 18; 1 K 14:9; 2 K 17:16; 2 Ch 28:2; Is 30:22; 42:17; Ho 13:2; Hb 2:18.

† [פָּסִיל23] n.m. Dt 7:25 id.;—pl. (פֶּ֫סֶל serving as sg.) פְּסִילִים Ju 3:19 +; פְּסִלִים Ho 11:2 +; cstr. פְּסִילֵי Je 51:47 +; sf. פְּסִילֶיךָ Mi 5:12, etc.;—idols, Ho 11:2; Is 10:10 + 10 times, + (of wood, c. שָׂרַף) Dt 7:5, 25, so (c. גִּדַּע) 12:3; of stone Is 21:9 (c. שִׁבַּר), Ju 3:19, 26 (cf. GFM), stone or metal Mi 1:7; 2 Ch 34:7 (כִּתַּת), cf. v 3, 4; (sheathed with) silver Is 30:22.

εἰκών, ἡ, genitive όνος, accusative όνα, etc.: poetry and Ionic dialect nominative εἰκώ is implied (though not found) in genitive εἰκοῦς Refs 5th c.BC+:—likeness, image, whether picture or statue, Refs 5th c.BC+; of needlework, Refs 5th c.BC+; bust, Refs 2nd c.AD+; εἰ. βασιλικαί, = Latin imagines imperatorum, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 image in a mirror, Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 personal description, Refs 2nd c.BC+ __4 metaphorically, living image, representation, εἰ. ζῶσα τοῦ Διός Refs 2nd c.BC+; τοῦ θεοῦ NT __II semblance, phantom, Refs 5th c.BC+; imaginary form, Refs 5th c.BC+; image in the mind, εἰκοὺς πατρός Refs 5th c.BC+; εἰκόνας σῆς ἀρετῆς thy virtue's counterparts, of children, Refs 5th c.BC+ __III similitude, comparison, Refs 5th c.BC+ __IV pattern, archetype, ποτὶ τὰν εἰκόνα [κόσμος] ἀπειργασμένος Refs 5th c.BC+

† אֱלִיל n.m. (etym. uncertain: most prob. akin to Syriac ܐܰܠܻܝܠ weak, feeble, poor; perhaps also in usage [cf. b.] felt to suggest אַל not; cf. Che on Is 2:8) insufficiency, worthlessness. a. Zc 11:17 רֹעִי הָאֱלִיל the shepherd of worthlessness = the worthless shepherd, Jb 13:4 רֹפְאֵי אֱלִל worthless physicians (‖ טֹפְלֵי־שֶׁקֶר), Je 14:14 Qr concr. a thing of nought (uttered by prophets), but here קֶסֶם אֱלִיל a worthless divin. (‖ חֲזוֹן שֶׁקֶר, תַּרְמִית לִבָּם) should perhaps be read (cf. Gf). b. especially pl. אֱלִילִים concr. worthless gods, idols (cf. הֲבָלִים) (possibly orig. an indep. word = gods, cf. Sab. אלאלת, & v. NöSBAk 1882, p. 1191, but even if so, associated by the prophets with idea of worthlessness, & used by them in iron. contrast with אֵלִים, אֱלֹהִים) Lv 19:4 (not to be made) 26:1 (both H), Is 2:8, 18, 20(×2) (of silver & gold), 10:10 מַמְלְכֹת הָאֱלִיל (coll.) kingdoms of idolatrous worthlessness, v 11; 19:1, 3 (of Egypt) 31:7(×2) Ez 30:13 (Egypt), Hb 2:18 א׳ אִלְּמִים dumb idols, ψ 96:5 (= 1 Ch 16:26) all the gods of the nations are א׳ vain, worthless gods 97:7.

† [עָצָב] n.[m.] idol;—always pl. עֲצַבִּים (Ges§ 93 ee); Ho 4:17; 8:4 (כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב), 13:2 (כֶּסֶף, ‖ מַסֵּכָה), 14:9; Zc 13:2; 2 Ch 24:18 (+ אֲשֵׁרִים); cstr. עֲצַבֵּי ψ 106:38; 135:15 (כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב); sf. עֲצַבֶּיהָ Is 10:11 (‖ אֱלִילֶיהָ), Je 50:2 (‖ גִּלּוּלֶיהָ), Mi 1:7; עֲצַבֵּיהֶם 1 S 31:9 = 1 Ch 10:9; 2 S 5:21 (but read אֱלֹהֵיהֶם as ‖ 1 Ch 14:12, so 𝔊 We Dr al.), Is 46:1 ψ 106:36; 115:4 (כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב).

† צְלֵם17 n.m. Dn 2:31 image (v. BH צלם);—abs. צ׳ Dn 2:31; 3:1; cstr. צ׳ 3:19, צֶ֫לֶם v 5 +; emph. צַלְמָא 2:31 +;—image Dn 2:31(×2), 32, 34, 35; 3:1 + 10 times 3; צ׳ אַנְפּוֹהִי 3:19 i.e. his expression.

† תְּרָפִים n.m. Zc 10:2 pl. (= pl. majest. NöZMG xlii (1888), 476) a kind of idol, obj. of reverence, and means of divination (√ and etymol.-meaning dub., cf.GFMHast. DB Teraphim SayZA ii. 195 (citing Neubauer, and Assyrian tarpû, spectre), al. √ רפא, cf.רְפָאִים);—always ת׳:—portable and sometimes small Gn 31:19, 34, 35 (called אֱלֹהִים v 30, all E), but in size and shape like a man 1 S 19:13, 16; in household shrine (v. also l.c.) Ju 17:5 (+ אֵפוֹד, cf.GFM Ju), 18:14, 17, 18 (all + אֵפוֹד, פֶּסֶל, מַסֵּכָה), cf.v 20 (om. מַסֵּכָה), Ho 3:4 (+ א׳, מַצֵּבָה, זֶבַח); condemned 1 S 15:23; 2 K 23:24 (+ גִּלֻּלִים); used in divining (by king of Bab.), שָׁאַל בַּתּ׳ Ez 21:26 (+ קִלְקַל בַּחִצִּים, רָאָה בַּכָּבֵד); as giving empty oracles Zc 10:2 (‖ הַקּוֹסְמִים.—Vid. GFMl.c. NowArch. ii. 23 StaBib. Theol. d. A.T. s.v..

† III. עַשְׁתָּרוֹת n.pr.loc. Ασταρωθ, etc., E. of Jordan (name from worship of diff. forms of ʿAštart; in Egypt. ʿastiratu, as E. Jordan loc. WMMAs. u. Eur. 162, 313; cf. TelAm. n. pr. loc. Aštarti);—in Bashan (near Edrei) Dt 1:4 (-רֹת), Jos 12:4; 13:12, 31 (all + אֶדְרֶ֑עִי), 9:10; 1 Ch 6:56 = בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָה (i.e. בֵּית עַשְׁתָּרָה) Jos 21:27; also עַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם Gn 14:5 (𝔊 Ασταρωθ Καρναιν, cf. GFM JBL xvi (1897), 155 f. who expl. name as ʿAshtereth of the two-peaked mt.); cf. further, קַרְנַיִם Am 6:13;—site prob. either Tel ʿAštara, 21 miles E. of Sea of Galilee, or Muzeirib, 8 miles further S.; poss. both occur in OT; cf. especially Dr Ashtaroth in HastDB Di Gn 14:5 BuhlGeogr. 248 ff. GASm Ency. Bib. 335 f.

εἴδωλον, τό, (εἶδος) phantom, Refs 8th c.BC+; βροτῶν εἴδωλα καμόντων, of ghosts, Refs 8th c.BC+ __2 any unsubstantial form, εἴδωλον σκιᾶς Refs 5th c.BC+; εἴ. ἄλλως a mere form, Refs; αἰῶνος εἴ. Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 image reflected in a mirror or in water, Refs 5th c.BC+ __4 in the system of Epicurus, film given off by any object and conveying an impression to the eye, Refs 4th c.BC+ __II image in the mind, idea, Refs 5th c.BC+; phantom of the mind, fancy, Refs 5th c.BC+ __III image, likeness, γυναικὸς εἴ. χρύσεον Refs 5th c.BC+ __IV later, image of a god, idol, LXX+NT+6th c.AD+ __V εἴ. οὐράνια constellations, Refs 3rd c.BC+

εἰδωλό-θῠτος, ον, sacrificed to idols: substantive εἰδωλόθυτα, τά, meats offered to idols, NT

εἰδωλο-λάτρης, ου, ὁ, ἡ, idol-worshipper, idolater, [prev. work] 5.10, etc.

† מַשְׂכִּית n.f. show-piece, figure, imagination;—abs. מ׳ Lv 26:1, sf. מַשְׂכִּיּתוֹ Ez 8:12, מַשְׂכִּתוֹ Pr 18:11; pl. cstr. מַשְׂכִּיּוֹת Pr 25:11 ψ 73:7, sf. מַשְׂכִּיֹּתָם Nu 33:52;— 1. show-piece, specif. carved figure, of idolatrous symbols, Nu 33:52 (P; ‖ צַלְמֵי מַסֵּכֹתָם), אֶכֶן מ׳ Lv 26:1 (‖ מַצֵּבָה etc.), חַדְרֵי מ׳ Ez 8:12 (>del. Co); elsewhere מ׳ כֶּסֶף Pr 25:11 silver carvings. 2. imagination, conceit, Pr 18:11, מ׳ לֵבָב ψ 73:7.

† סֶ֫מֶל n.m. Ez 8, 5 perhaps orig. n.pr.div., then gen. image, statue (Ph. סמל id., f. סמלת, Lzb 151, 329, also פנסמלת Id 329; BauRel. i. 88 understands ס׳ to be design. of foreign god);—abs. הַסּ׳ 2 Ch 33:7, 15, סָ֑מֶל Dt 4:16; cstr. סֵ֫מֶל Ez 8:3, 5;—image, figure of anything, פֶּסֶלּ תְּמוּנַת כָּל־ס׳ Dt 4:16; idol-image פֶּסֶל הַסּ׳ 2 Ch 33:7 and (פֶּסֶל om.) v 15; סֵמֶל הַקִּנְאָת Ez 8:3 the statue of jealousy, i.e. that rouses י׳’s jealousy, = v 5.

εἰδωλο-λατρία, ἡ, idolatry, NT

† מִפְלֶ֫צֶת n.f. horrid thing (thing to shudder at);—עָֽשְׂתָה מ׳ לַאֲשֵׁרָה 1 K 15:13 (of some abominable object of idolatry, not precisely known), so sf. מִפְלַצְתָּהּ v 13 = 2 Ch 15:16(×2).

† I. [נָסִיךְ] n.m. 1. libation; 2. molten image;— 1. sf. יֵין נְסִיכָם wine of their drink-offering Dt 32:38. 2. molten image, sf. נְסִכֵיהֶם Dn 11:8.

† I. [צִיר] n.m. image;—pl. צִירִים Is 45:16 = idols; sg. sf. צירם ψ 49:15 Kt their form (v. צוּרָה).

εἰδωλ-εῖον or εἰδώλ-ιον, τό, idol's temple, LXX+NT

κατείδωλος, ον, full of idols, given to idolatry, NT

Μολόχ, ὁ indecl. (Heb. מֶלֶךְ, prop. מֶלֶךְ King, but vocalized to read בֺּשֶׁת, shame, of. Βάαλ, and see DB, iii, 415 f.), Moloch, the god of the Ammonites : Act.7:43 (LXX).† (From Abbott-Smith. LSJ has no entry)

Ῥεμφάν, Ῥεφάς, see: Ῥομφά. Ῥομφά (-άν, T; Ῥεφάν, LTr.; Ῥεμφάν, Rec.; see WH, App., 92), [in LXX: Amo.5:26 (Ῥαιμφάν or Ῥεφάν, Heb. כִּיּוּן)* ;] Rompha, Rephan (RV), one of the names of Seb, the Egyptian Saturn: Act.7:43 (LXX).† (From Abbott-Smith. LSJ has no entry)

† II. עֶ֫צֶב n.m. vessel (as fashioned);—ע׳ נִבְזֶה וגו׳ Je 22:28 a vessel despised, etc. (fig. of Coniah = Jehoiachin).