εἰδωλ-εῖον G1493
Idol temple, shrine for idols; a building or sacred space dedicated to the worship of images
This noun designates a temple dedicated to idol worship. In 1 Corinthians 8:10, Paul addresses the issue of a Christian being seen 'reclining in an idol temple'—eating in pagan shrines connected to temple worship. The compound word combines 'idol' (εἴδωλον) with a locative suffix, creating a term specifically for buildings housing idol worship. The multilingual evidence is remarkably consistent (English 'idol temple', Spanish 'templo de ídolos', French 'temple d'idole', German 'Götzentempel'), all conveying the specific religious architecture dedicated to pagan worship.
Senses
1. sense 1 — First Corinthians 8:10 addresses the controversial scenario of someone seeing you 'reclining in an idol-temple (εἰδωλείῳ)'—participating in meals within pagan temple precincts. All target languages render this consistently as 'idol temple' or 'temple of idols,' recognizing the specific architectural-religious designation. Paul's concern isn't merely pagan architecture but participation in worship contexts, since temple dining often involved sacrificial meals. The term precisely identifies spaces dedicated to idol worship, distinguishing them from synagogues or neutral public spaces. 1×
AR["بَيْتِ-وَثَنٍ"]·ben["মূর্তির-মন্দিরে"]·DE["Goetzentempel"]·EN["idol-temple"]·FR["temple-d'idole"]·heb["מִקְדַּשׁ-אֱלִילִים"]·HI["मूर्ति-के-मंदिर"]·ID["kuil-berhala"]·IT["idolo"]·jav["padaleman-brahala"]·KO["우상-의-전"]·PT["templo-de-ídolo"]·RU["капище"]·ES["templo-de-ídolos"]·SW["hekalu-la-sanamu"]·TR["put tapınağında"]·urd["بتخانے"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
εἰδωλ-εῖον or εἰδώλ-ιον, τό, idol's temple, LXX+NT