Category:Idol

I"dol, n. Etym: [OE. idole, F. idole, L. idolum, fr. Gr. Wit, and cf. Eidolon.]

1. An image or representation of anything. [Obs.] Do her adore with sacred reverence, As th' idol of her maker's great magnificence. Spenser.

2. 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 they should not worship devils, and idols of gold. Revelation 9:20.

3. That on which the affections are strongly (often excessively) set; an object of passionate devotion; a person or thing greatly loved or adored. The soldier's god and people's idol. Denham.

4. A false notion or conception; a fallacy. Bacon. The idols of preconceived opinion. Coleridge.

---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Idol - (1.) Heb. aven, "nothingness;" "vanity" (Isaiah 66:3; Isaiah 41:29; Deuteronomy 32:21; 1 Kings 16:13; Psalms 31:6; Jeremiah 8:19, etc.). (2.) 'Elil, "a thing of naught" (Psalms 97:7; Isaiah 19:3); a word of contempt, used of the gods of Noph (Ezekiel 30:13). (3.) 'Emah, "terror," in allusion to the hideous form of idols (Jeremiah 50:38). (4.) Miphletzeth, "a fright;" "horror" (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Chronicles 15:16). (5.) Bosheth, "shame;" "shameful thing" (Jeremiah 11:13; Hosea 9:10); as characterizing the obscenity of the worship of Baal. (6.) Gillulim, also a word of contempt, "dung;" "refuse" (Ezekiel 16:36; Ezekiel 20:8; Deuteronomy 29:17, marg.). (7.) Shikkuts, "filth;" "impurity" (Ezekiel 37:23; Nahum 3:6). (8.) Semel, "likeness;" "a carved image" (Deuteronomy 4:16). (9.) Tselem, "a shadow" (Daniel 3:1; 1 Samuel 6:5), as distinguished from the "likeness," or the exact counterpart. (10.) Temunah, "similitude" (Deuteronomy 4:12). Here Moses forbids the several forms of Gentile idolatry. (11.) 'Atsab, "a figure;" from the root "to fashion," "to labor;" denoting that idols are the result of man's labor (Isaiah 48:5; Psalms 139:24, "wicked way;" literally, as some translate, "way of an idol"). (12.) Tsir, "a form;" "shape" (Isaiah 45:16). (13.) Matztzebah, a "statue" set up (Jeremiah 43:13); a memorial stone like that erected by Jacob (Genesis 28:18; Genesis 31:45; Genesis 35:14, Genesis 35:20), by Joshua (Joshua 4:9), and by Samuel (1 Samuel 7:12). It is the name given to the statues of Baal (2 Kings 3:2; 2 Kings 10:27). (14.) Hammanim, "sun-images." Hamman is a synonym of Baal, the sun-god of the Phoenicians (2 Chronicles 34:4, 2 Chronicles 34:7; 2 Chronicles 14:3, 2 Chronicles 14:5; Isaiah 17:8). (15.) Maskith, "device" (Leviticus 26:1; Numbers 33:52). In Leviticus 26:1, the words "image of stone" (A.V.) denote "a stone or cippus with the image of an idol, as Baal, Astarte, etc." In Ezekiel 8:12, "chambers of imagery" (maskith), are "chambers of which the walls are painted with the figures of idols;" compare Ezekiel 8:10, Ezekiel 8:11. (16.) Pesel, "a graven" or "carved image" (Isaiah 44:10). It denotes also a figure cast in metal (Deuteronomy 7:25; Deuteronomy 27:15; Isaiah 40:19; Isaiah 44:10). (17.) Massekah, "a molten image" (Deuteronomy 9:12; Judges 17:3, Judges 17:4). (18.) Teraphim, pl., "images," family gods (penates) worshipped by Abram's kindred (Joshua 24:14). Put by Michal in David's bed (Judges 17:5; Judges 18:14, Judges 18:17, Judges 18:18, Judges 18:20; 1 Samuel 19:13). "Nothing can be more instructive and significant than this multiplicity and variety of words designating the instruments and inventions of idolatry."