Art

Skilful, creative work, carried out using a variety of materials. Purposes included decoration, ornamentation and representation of objects of worship, the last of which Scripture firmly condemns.

Painting

Ezekiel 8:10 See also Ezekiel 23:11–15

So I went in and looked, and engraved all around the wall was every kind of crawling creature and detestable beast, along with all the idols of the house of Israel.

Decorative panelling

2 Chronicles 3:5–7 See also 1 Kings 6:14–15; Psalm 74:3–6; Jeremiah 22:14

He paneled the main room with cypress, which he overlaid with fine gold and decorated with palm trees and chains. He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and its gold was from Parvaim. He overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.

Decoration and ornamentation in gold

1 Kings 6:21–22 parallel 2 Chronicles 3:4–7 See also 1 Kings 6:31–35, 1 Kings 10:14–21 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:13–20

So Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. So he overlaid with gold the whole interior of the temple, until everything was completely finished. He also overlaid with gold the entire altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary.

Decoration and ornamentation in ivory

Song of Solomon 5:14 See also 1 Kings 10:18 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:17; 1 Kings 22:39; Psalm 45:8; Amos 3:15, Amos 6:4

His arms are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is polished ivory bedecked with sapphires.

Carving and sculpture

1 Kings 6:18 See also 1 Kings 6:29–35; 2 Chronicles 3:7; Psalm 144:12; Ezekiel 41:15–26

The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen.

Engraving

As an artistic skill

1 Kings 7:34–37 See also Exodus 28:9–12, Exodus 28:15–21, Exodus 28:36–38, Exodus 39:6–7, Exodus 39:8–14, Exodus 39:30–31; 1 Kings 7:31, 1 Kings 7:36; 2 Chronicles 2:5–7, 2 Chronicles 2:13–14

Each stand had four handles, one for each corner, projecting from the stand. At the top of each stand was a circular band half a cubit high. The supports and panels were cast as a unit with the top of the stand. He engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and panels, wherever each had space, with wreaths all around. In this way he made the ten stands, each with the same casting, dimensions, and shape.

Metaphorical references to engraving

Job 19:23–24 See also Isaiah 49:16; Jeremiah 17:1; Zechariah 3:9

I wish that my words were recorded and inscribed in a book, by an iron stylus on lead, or chiseled in stone forever.

Art in the tabernacle

Exodus 26:1 See also Exodus 25:18–21, Exodus 36:8, Exodus 36:35–38, Exodus 37:7–9

“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.

Art in the temple

1 Kings 7:48–50 parallel 2 Chronicles 4:19–22 See also 1 Kings 7:13–22, 1 Kings 7:27–37, 1 Kings 7:40–45 parallel 2 Chronicles 4:11–16; 2 Chronicles 3:15–17

Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of the LORD: the golden altar; the golden table on which was placed the Bread of the Presence; the lampstands of pure gold in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right side and five on the left; the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs; the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers; and the gold hinges for the doors of the inner temple (that is, the Most Holy Place) as well as for the doors of the main hall of the temple.

Art associated with idolatry

Forbidden

Deuteronomy 27:15 See also Exodus 20:3–6 parallel Deuteronomy 5:7–10; Exodus 20:22–23, Exodus 34:10–17; Leviticus 19:4, Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:16–19, Deuteronomy 4:23–24, Deuteronomy 29:16–18

‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image — an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman — and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Examples of idols and images

2 Kings 21:7 parallel 2 Chronicles 33:7 See also Exodus 32:1–4; Judges 17:1–6, Judges 18:11–31; Isaiah 46:1–2; Jeremiah 50:1–2; Ezekiel 8:9–12

Manasseh even took the carved Asherah pole he had made and set it up in the temple, of which the LORD had said to David and his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My Name forever.

Condemned

Habakkuk 2:18 See also Exodus 34:10–14; Numbers 33:51–52; Deuteronomy 7:25–26; 2 Chronicles 34:1–4; Isaiah 44:9–20; Ezekiel 7:20–22; Hosea 13:1–3; Micah 5:13–14; Nahum 1:14

What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it — or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.