What does idol mean
What does idol mean
What does idol mean
An idol is an object or image, such as a statue, that is worshipped as the representation of a deity or god.
The word idol can also refer to the deity or god that is being worshipped.
The worship of such an idol is sometimes called idolatry (or idol worship) and the people who do it can be called idolaters. The adjective idolatrous can be used to describe idolaters or their practices.
This sense of idol and its related terms are typically used in a negative, judgmental way, implying that the god that the idol represents is not actually real and that such worship is wrong or sinful. In this way, an idol is sometimes called a false idol.
A well-known example of an idol mentioned in a story in the Bible is the statue of a golden calf that the Israelites were said to have made while Moses was away receiving the Ten Commandments (which prohibit the worship of idols or “graven images”).
Sometimes, idol is used in a metaphorical way to compare something to an object of religious devotion and worship, as in Money has become her idol. This sense of the word is also used in a critical way.
Idol is also commonly used in a figurative way to refer to a person, especially a famous celebrity such as a pop singer, whom someone treats with extreme admiration and devotion. The word sometimes implies that such devotion is excessive, likening it to religious worship. The term teen idol refers to a star who is the subject of such devotion and adoration among teens (teen idols are often young but they may or may not be teens themselves).
To be a fan of someone in this way is to idolize them (or, in more modern terms, to stan them). The words idolatry, idolater, and idolatrous can be used in this context, but they are much more commonly used in a religious context.
Example: The trouble with having idols is that you start to model your behavior on them while ignoring their faults.
Where does idol come from?
The first records of the word idol come from the 1200s. It comes from the Greek eídōlon, meaning “image,” from eîdos, meaning “shape and form.”
Although the word idol can refer to a deity being worshipped, it typically refers to a physical object or image that has been made to represent the deity. Some religions prohibit any such likenesses of a deity or religious figure, considering them to be a form of idolatry.
Today, the most common use of the word idol is probably to refer to stars with huge fan bases. The word is used this way in the name of American Idol, a popular singing contest show based on the idea of finding an up-and-coming singer who will become a new superstar.
What are some other forms related to idol?
What are some synonyms for idol?
What are some words that share a root or word element with idol?
What are some words that often get used in discussing idol?
What are some words idol may be commonly confused with?
How is idol used in real life?
In a religious context, idol is usually used in a judgmental way. In pop culture, it refers to a star whose fans show an almost religious devotion.
Gospel: Everyone laughs when you ask if they worship an idol. But if your life centers on money, then it has become an idol. It’s your God.
These Are The Top “Hot 100 K-Pop Idols” Of 2020, Chosen By Fanshttps://t.co/wPxWXuVQoA
Here is the story of Ashley Parker Angel, the teen idol and ‘Wicked’ star who got his start in #Redding#Broadwayhttps://t.co/zb7alUEUKV
Try using idol!
Is idol used correctly in the following sentence?
Elvis Presley became a rock-’n-roll idol in the 1950s.
Words related to idol
How to use idol in a sentence
People made representational art—cave paintings of horses, ivory goddesses, lion-headed idol s, showing artistic flair and imagination.
“You don’t age out of your passion,” Radha Blank shared with Robert Townsend, her filmmaking idol whose Hollywood Shuffle inspired her, during their spotlight discussion for the Urbanworld Film Festival last month.
In short, they will influence their followers – who follow suggestions and advice from their idol s.
Second baseman Isan Diaz has a swing that resembles his idol Robinson Cano.
The other thing about Idol was that it really was a star-maker at first.
Pryor, a second-generation senator, is holding off a fierce challenge from conservative idol Tom Cotton.
She thought the idol would consume them, for bachelor cooking was never intended for bachelor invalids.
He hath chosen strong wood, and that will not rot: the skilful workman seeketh how he may set up an idol that may not be moved.
Buzot adored Madame Roland as the inspiration of his mind, as the idol of his worship.
What does idol mean
Dictionary entry overview: What does idol mean?
1. a material effigy that is worshipped 
2. someone who is adored blindly and excessively
3. an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept
Familiarity information: IDOL used as a noun is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
A material effigy that is worshipped
Nouns denoting man-made objects
money was his god
Hypernyms («idol» is a kind of. ):
effigy; image; simulacrum (a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of «idol»):
golden calf ((Old Testament) an idol made by Aaron for the Israelites to worship; destroyed by Moses; it is now used to refer to anything worshipped undeservedly)
joss (a Chinese god worshipped in the form of an idol)
Juggernaut (a crude idol of Krishna)
idolise; idolize (love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol)
Someone who is adored blindly and excessively
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms («idol» is a kind of. ):
lead; principal; star (an actor who plays a principal role)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of «idol»):
heartthrob (an object of infatuation)
idolise; idolize (love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol)
An ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms («idol» is a kind of. ):
ideal (the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of «idol»):
gold standard (a paragon of excellence)
idolise; idolize (love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol)
Not a human being that ever lived could wish to be loved better than I was loved; and him who thus loved me I absolutely worshipped: and I must renounce love and idol.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
And yet when I looked upon that ugly idol in the glass, I was conscious of no repugnance, rather of a leap of welcome.
(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
Turning as from a fallen idol, she made other discoveries which rapidly dispelled her romantic illusions.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Then three or four western bad men aspired to clean out the town, were riddled like pepper-boxes for their pains, and public interest turned to other idols.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
I was their plaything and their idol, and something better—their child, the innocent and helpless creature bestowed on them by Heaven, whom to bring up to good, and whose future lot it was in their hands to direct to happiness or misery, according as they fulfilled their duties towards me.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
But the Doctor himself was the idol of the whole school: and it must have been a badly composed school if he had been anything else, for he was the kindest of men; with a simple faith in him that might have touched the stone hearts of the very urns upon the wall.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
I could not, in those days, see God for His creature: of whom I had made an idol.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
Want of exercise robs them of cheerfulness, and too much devotion to that idol of American women, the teapot, makes them feel as if they were all nerve and no muscle.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
“Oh! There is nothing,” observed Hamlet’s aunt, “so satisfactory to one! There is nothing that is so much one’s beau-ideal of—of all that sort of thing, speaking generally. There are some low minds (not many, I am happy to believe, but there are some) that would prefer to do what I should call bow down before idols. Positively Idols! Before service, intellect, and so on. But these are intangible points. Blood is not so. We see Blood in a nose, and we know it. We meet with it in a chin, and we say, “There it is! That’s Blood!”
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
He thought himself her idol, ugly as he was: he believed, as he said, that she preferred his «taille d’athlete» to the elegance of the Apollo Belvidere.
What Does The Word ‘Idol’ Mean In Hebrew and Greek?
If you’re a follower of Christ and a studier of the scriptures, then you know God doesn’t mess around with people serving false Gods. Reading through the Old Testament, you can see how many times the people of Israel turned away from God and served false idols, leading to the Lord punishing them. You would think Israel would learn their lesson. But just like Israel, many people today follow false idols. That’s why I wanted to share with you the meaning of idol in Hebrew and Greek.
All scriptures are taken from NKJV unless otherwise marked.
What Does The Word ‘Idol’ Mean In Hebrew?
aven- trouble, wickedness, vanity.
This word means “iniquity; misfortune.” The first occurrence of this word is found in Numbers 32:21:
“ He has not observed iniquity in Jacob,
Nor has He seen wickedness in Israel.
The Lord his God is with him,
And the shout of a King is among them. “
Aven can be used to mean disaster, such as in Job 18:21.
Also, it’s part of human existence. In this sense, it’s identical to toil (Psalm 90:10).
Yet, in a deeper sense, it characterizes the way of life for those who do not know God.
Some people enjoy causing difficulties and misfortunes for others by lying, scheming, and acting deceptively (Psalm 7:14; Job 15:35). The Bible calls these people the “workers of iniquity.” They constantly seek the downfall of the just and righteous.
“ Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
And from the traps of the workers of iniquity. “
eliyl- vain idol.
This word means “idol; gods; nought (nothing); vain. Its first appearance is found in Leviticus 19:4:
“Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the Lord your God.”
In Leviticus 26:1, God tells Israel they are forbidden to make elilim. Please notice how similar that word is to elohim.
Out of all 48 occurrences of this word, all but 9 occur in Ezekiel.
This word and the others used for “idol” show the scorn and horror that biblical writers felt about them. For example, these are the other words used and what they mean:
miphleseth- terror idol.
cemel- likeness of a false diety.
etseb- earthen vessel; painful toil.
otseb- fashioned idol; pain
What Does The Word ‘Idol’ Mean In Greek?
eidolothuton- idolatrous offering.
Eidolothuton is used many times in the New Testament. You can find it translated in Acts 15:29, 1 Corinthians 8:1, and Revelation 2:14
“ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. “
eidolon- idol, or the worship of such.
“And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.”
Conclusion
You must be careful and sure to protect your heart from serving other gods at all times. For example, many people worship and love their family more than God. However, God should always be number one in our lives. Besides family, people have come to worship music artists, celebrities, political figures, and more.
Please understand that God is a jealous God and made humans in His image. That’s the definition of the word idol in Hebrew and Greek. I pray you found this article helpful. If so, please share this content. Also, feel free to share any thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
Definitions for IDOL
ˈaɪd l IDOL
Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word IDOL.
Princeton’s WordNet (4.00 / 1 vote) Rate this definition:
idol, graven image, god noun
a material effigy that is worshipped
«thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image»; «money was his god»
idol, matinee idol noun
someone who is adored blindly and excessively
paragon, idol, perfection, beau ideal noun
an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept
Wiktionary (5.00 / 1 vote) Rate this definition:
A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power.
A cultural icon, or especially popular person.
Etymology: From εἴδωλον, from εἶδος.
Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary (0.00 / 0 votes) Rate this definition:
Etymology: idole, French; ἔιδωλον; idolum, Latin.
1. An image worshipped as God.
They did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God. 1 Mac. i. 59.
The apostle is there arguing against the gnosticks who joined in the idol feasts, and whom he therefore accuses of participating of the idol god. Francis Atterbury.
2. A counterfeit.
Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock. Zech. ii. 17.
Never did art so well with nature strive,
Nor ever idol seem’d so much alive;
So like the man, so golden to the sight;
So base within, so counterfeit and light. Dryden.
4. A representation.
Men beholding so great excellence,
And rare perfection in mortality,
Do her adore with sacred reverence,
As th’ idol of her maker’s great magnificence. Fairy Qu.
5. One loved or honoured to adoration.
Webster Dictionary (5.00 / 1 vote) Rate this definition:
an image or representation of anything
an image of a divinity; a representation or symbol of a deity or any other being or thing, made or used as an object of worship; a similitude of a false god
that on which the affections are strongly (often excessively) set; an object of passionate devotion; a person or thing greatly loved or adored
a false notion or conception; a fallacy
Freebase (0.00 / 0 votes) Rate this definition:
Idol is a television show on the Polish television network Polsat, based on the popular British show Pop Idol. The show is a contest to determine the best young singer in Poland. It is hosted by Maciej Rock. In the show, people first audition but eventually the performers are narrowed down to 10 finalists, with each contestant performing live. There are four judges who provide critiques of each competitor’s performance. Viewers have two hours following the broadcast of the show to vote via telephone and SMS for their favorite contestant. On the night’s results episode, the contestant with the fewest votes is sent home. The winners of Idol were Alicja Janosz in season one, Krzysztof Zalewski in season two, Monika Brodka in season three & Maciek Silski in season four. Although never being officially cancelled, a fifth season has been delayed several times so far.
What does the word ‘idols’ mean in 1 John 5:21 and what exactly is idolatry?
‘Little children, guard yourselves from idols‘ (1 John 5:21).
What was John’s meaning? Did he mean, «Be careful not to end up in the local pagan temple» or does he intend to convey another type of idolatry (perhaps a spiritual idolatry of the heart)? Or does He mean both?
6 Answers 6
Executive Summary
The Greek New Testament in addition to most English translations of the passage treat verses 18-21 as one unit, or one paragraph. John is admonishing his followers in this paragraph to protect themselves from the slavery of sin (idolatry), which otherwise exposes one to direct demonic influence.
Discussion
In the Hebrew Bible idols were correlated with demons. The following two passages are examples.
Psalm 106:34-38 (NASB)
34 They did not destroy the peoples,
As the Lord commanded them,
35 But they mingled with the nations
And learned their practices,
36 And served their idols,
Which became a snare to them.
37 They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons,
38 And shed innocent blood,
The blood of their sons and their daughters,
Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
And the land was polluted with the blood.
Deut 32:16-17 (NASB)
16 “They made Him jealous with strange gods;
With abominations they provoked Him to anger.
17 “They sacrificed to demons who were not God,
To gods whom they have not known,
New gods who came lately,
Whom your fathers did not dread.
Other passages correlate idols with images of animals. The following passage provides one such example of how Cannanite deities were depicted in the images of animals.
Lev 17:7 (NASB)
7 They shall no longer sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat demons with which they play the harlot. This shall be a permanent statute to them throughout their generations.
Idolatry is the usurpation of divine authority. The image of the idol represents disobedience. This image stems from original disobedience in the Garden of Eden. The following graph therefore provides the self-evident model of divine usurpation, where the image of the animal replaces God.
Thus idols represent demonic power, which comes from disobedience (sin). The Apostle Paul brings this concept from the Hebrew Bible into the Christian New Testament in the following passage.
1 Cor 10:20 (NASB)
20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.
In another passage Paul correlates idolatry with slavery. That is, slavery is correlated with idolatry.
Colossians 3:5 (NASB)
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
Paul is not saying that immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed are demonic, but that they «add up» to idolatry. In other words, the sinner «pays obeisance» to particular addictive behaviors. While all men are sinners (Rom 3:23), some are enslaved to particular sinful behaviors.
The enslavement to sin is the power through which demons may exercise their influence over human beings. The «idol» is therefore not only the image made with hands (traditional definition of idol), but slavery to some form of addictive, sinful behavior.
Galatians 4:7-10 (NASB)
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. 8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.
The phrase, «by nature are no gods,» is the same reference that Paul used in 1 Cor 8:4 and 1 Cor 10:20 in regard to demons.
In summary, idolatry encompasses not only graven images (traditional definition of idol), but also slavery to addictive sinful behaviors, which make the sinner «pay obeisance» to the power of sin. When the sinner is enslaved to some addictive sinful behavior, then is the sinner exposed to direct demonic influence, since idolatry is persistent sin (whether continually bowing to the man-made graven image or addiction to sinful behaviors). In this sense, «idolatry» usurps divine authority.
Wrap Up
The passage (paragraph) of 1 John 5:18-21 reads as follows.
1 John 5:18-21 (NASB)
18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
The Greek word for «touch» is ἅπτομαι, which, in every other instance of its usage in the Greek New Testament, means to touch something (like a cloak, garment, the eyes, etc.), but in the LXX, the word is used of Satan, who «touched» Job. That is, it was not that Satan «touched» Job so much as Satan struck him.
Job 2:5-6 (NASB)
5 However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.” 6 So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.”
Other LXX passages that use the Greek word ἅπτομαι to mean strike down are 2 Sam 5:8, 2 Ki 15:5, Job 1:11-12, Job 1:19, Job 19:21, and Jer 12:14.
Conclusion
The Apostle John is indicating that without specific permission from the Lord, the child of God is protected from being «touched» by Satan. However, any addictive sinful behaviors (idolatry) will expose the child of God to direct demonic influence.
It’s not a matter of either/or but both/and.
Spiritual idolatry, as you put it, and physical idolatry, as I put it, are very often—if not always—conjoined, in more ways than one.
In our post-modern world, it’s rare for a person to bow down to an idol that is literally made of wood and stone and metal. The adherents to the Canaanite religions certainly did, and the ANE culture, in general, was more prone to believe in talismans and the like than we are today, though an argument could be made that the New Age Movement and its belief in the power of crystals and the like is more talisman oriented than you might at first think.
Nevertheless, the Apostle John is alluding to any thing which comes between us and our unstinting devotion to our God and Savior. Idols of this sort could be any one of a number of things, including pleasure, fame, fortune, independence and self-reliance, grown-boys’ toys, and in the Apostle’s day, a false- and quasi religion, Gnosticism, which in part introduced the heresy that we can and should separate the spiritual from the material.
In conclusion, just as one cannot completely segregate spiritual- from physical idolatry, neither can you exclude the spiritual component from even physical things. In other words, human beings are an admixture, so to speak, of spiritual and physical (or material) aspects, and amazingly enough, so was Jesus! That’s the way we—and He—were designed by God. Ultimately, however, aren’t most, if not all, idolatries indicative of a spiritual problem?
The question asks about idols in the context of 1 John, rather than for a broader opinion about idolatry. And we will find that the author of 1 John has a very specific purpose of mentioning idols at the end of a long epistle that does not otherwise mention idols or pagan ideas.
W. Hall Harris III (‘3. The Author’s Opponents and Their Teaching in 1 John’) says 1 John 2:19 provides good reason for thinking that a split has taken place in the Johannine community and the author’s opponents now constitute a community of their own, just as thoroughly committed as the author’s to spreading their understanding of who Jesus is. Throughout this epistle, the ‘elder’, author of the three Johannine epistles (see 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:1) speaks pejoratively of their attempts to convert the members who remained loyal to the community.
Burton L. Mack says, in Who Wrote the New Testament, pages 215-218, that the author of First John accuses his erstwhile brothers and sisters of hating those who remain with the community, and therefore both of being liars and of not loving God, even referring to them as the antiChrist. Since the departing members are known to those to whom this epistle is addressed, he can not directly accuse them of idolatry, but achieves this effect in 1 John 5:21 by implying that to follow them is to risk following idolatry. Keep yourselves from these apostates; keep yourselves from idols.
In the contemporary application both «Be careful not to end up in the local pagan temple» and «Avoid spiritual idolatry of the heart» would apply. However at the the time it was written the meaning is to avoid temples and all other physical objects used in the worship of any false god. Also given the widespread existence of idols in every city and the use of idols in everyday life, it is improbable that a first century reader would have understood a «spiritualized» meaning and not the obvious: avoid the physical objects.
The actual Greek is Τεκνία, φυλάξατε ἑαυτὰ ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων. The language is the idols (both the article and idols are plural) as Young’s Literal Translation states:
Little children, guard yourselves from the idols! Amen.
The New Testament use of the word is everywhere else used to mean physical objects. For example:
And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol (εἰδώλῳ) and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. (Acts 7:41 ESV)
but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols (εἰδώλων), and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. (Acts 15:20 ESV)
The writer of the letter ends saying: «guard yourself from the idols,» repeating what James announced to the apostles and elders who had gathered in Jerusalem to consider the issue of Gentile believers, «. abstain from things polluted by idols. » Both address the same concern.
Also, it would mean more than just avoiding the pagan temples. Personal gods and household idols were widespread. Acts attests to a riot provoked by those who made idols of Diana. Archaeological discoveries at Herculaneum include household shrines used for worship. The Christian should avoid and guard themselves from any and all types of idols. The instruction is given to «little children.» Obviously the writer uses the term metaphorically; yet there is a specific application. If the father or family member kept objects in the house others, espcially children would be exposed.
In addition, the early church was faced with the problem of emperor worship:
«We have clear evidence for the pervasive presence of the imperial cult in the provinces of Asia Minor where we find all of Revelation’s seven churches. Significantly, emperor worship in these provinces had grown dramatically under Vespasian’s second son Domitian (d. 96). In the context of the popularity of the emperor cult in Asia Minor at this time, John interpreted conditions in his own churches in western Asia as rank compromise with Rome and intolerable.» 1
Emperor worship was a serious threat to the existence of the Christian church; failure to participate meant expulsion from the trade guilds, economic loss, often accompanied by physical persecution, and death.
Pliny the Younger wrote in his letter to the emperor Trajan that he would test people who had been reported to him as being Christians:
Pliny’s test invloved physical objects used to represent the emporer and «the gods.»
As Joseph shows in his answer, idols have the potential to expose a person to the evil one. Any object which becomes the focus of attention exposes a person to the evil one; so the writer ends by saying guard yourself from the objects which are everywhere in the city and possibly in the houses of family and friends.
1. Revealtion, Gerald L Stevens p, 22
According to BDAG there are two main usages of the word εἴδωλον. The first has to do with «figures» and the second with false conceptions. It is this second usage that is suggested by the context (as BDAG suggests):
Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., pp. 280–281). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.