Scripture provides illustrations of idolatry from various periods in the history of the people of God. Idolatry is seen as a constant temptation for believers, especially in times of national or personal stress.
Idolatry among the Gentiles
Judges 11:24, Judges 16:23–24; 2 Kings 5:18; Isaiah 36:18–20, Isaiah 37:38, Isaiah 46:1; Ezekiel 8:14; Acts 14:11–13; 1 Corinthians 8:5
Idolatry among God's people
In patriarchal times
Joshua 24:2 See also Genesis 31:30, Genesis 31:34 these household gods may have been either masks or statuettes; Genesis 35:2
And Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your fathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods.
In the Mosaic period
He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”
In the period of the judges
Judges 17:5 See also Judges 10:6
Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household idols, and ordained one of his sons as his priest.
In the early monarchy
1 Kings 11:10 See also 1 Kings 12:28 The golden calves were perhaps pedestals on which the LORD was thought to sit.
Although He had warned Solomon explicitly not to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command.
In the middle monarchy
1 Kings 16:33 An Asherah pole was probably a crude carved wooden image of a Canaanite fertility goddess. See also 1 Kings 11:7–8, 1 Kings 16:32
Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.
In the late monarchy
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven. Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My Name.” In both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the host of heaven. He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.
After the fall of Jerusalem
Ezekiel 8:10 See also Ezekiel 8:3, Ezekiel 8:14, Ezekiel 8:16
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.
Objects of false worship
The sun, moon and stars
Deuteronomy 4:19 See also Deuteronomy 17:3; Job 31:26
When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars— all the host of heaven— do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.
Other objects of worship
Deuteronomy 4:28 See also Deuteronomy 16:22 sacred stones; 1 Kings 12:31 high places; Isaiah 1:29 oaks
And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.
Practices associated with idolatry
The burning of children
He also desecrated Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech.
The superstitious use of religious symbols
2 Kings 18:4 See also Judges 8:27 The ephod was a priestly garment sometimes subject to excessive veneration.
He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it.
Sexual deviance
Deuteronomy 23:17 See also 1 Kings 14:24; Hosea 4:14
No daughter or son of Israel is to be a shrine prostitute.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.