We cannot see GOD nor His form, hence we cannot create an image of Him, but His word in our hearts represents His image. GOD wants to be the one and only object of our worship and He is a jealous GOD. We don't necessarily have to physically bow to an image before we commit idolatry worship is of the heart, once the image we adore which could be anything is created in the heart, the deed is done. So, when we create an image of this object, whether in our hearts, or we carve it out outside GOD's instruction is called idolatry(worship of images). Anything we adore or take pleasure in, is an object of worship. "Do not worship them" - worship is way deeper than just bowing to a thing. Whenever you create images of yourself or anything in heaven, on earth and in the seas, for yourself, you're violating the commandment. Instances where GOD instructed images to be made were instruments for His service and to show His power(Cherubim in the ark, brazen serpent).
GOD never contradicts Himself, if you look carefully at all scriptures on images it clearly states do not make "FOR YOURSELF" any graven or molten images. an idol) then all embroidery containing flowers, or pictures in books, or photos of family members, or statutes of any kind whatever, or museum displays, etc., are all a severe breaking of the express commandment of God. That this is the meaning contextually is also obvious from the fact that if taken to mean this is against all imagery (i.e. This is immensely clear and explicit.Ĭonsidered its own commandment by some denominations, by Catholics and Lutherans and others it is considered simply an extension or elaboration of the First Commandment, considered: "I am the Lord thy God: thou shalt not have strange gods before me." This is because there is no given division of the commandments of Exodus, and the numbering is per the reader. This doesn't forbid all images, but only those adored and served. 5 Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them: I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands to them that love me, and keep my commandments. 4 Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth. 3 Thou shalt not have strange gods before me. Something is always omitted when people use Exodus 20 to claim God forbids all images: the immediately surrounding words/context:Įxodus 20:1-6 (DRB) And the Lord spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. No, God did not contradict Himself, since He never forbade all kinds of images to begin with, that, going on to command images to be made, He could be said to contradict Himself.
One piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two
Make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat.ġ9 Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. God commands graven images be placed on top of the Ark of the Covenant – the holiest religious artifact in all of Israel!ġ8 And you shall make two cherubim of gold of hammered work shall you Upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten,ĩ>And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and itĬame to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the Thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, orĨ>And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any