In popular theology, the term “idol” has effectively had its
meaning changed, and has been reapplied very broadly. People sometimes
talk about abstract interests or objects that are not worshiped as
becoming “idols” when people prioritize incorrectly, for example,
“watching TV can be an idol” or “money can be an idol”, but this is not
an accurate assessment.
The distinction I intend to make is between the commands regarding not making/worshiping/possessing idols (Exodus 20:4-5, Deuteronomy 7:25-26, etc) and the commands regarding not having other elohim before Him (Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 5:7, etc).
In the Torah, there are multiple words that are used for “idol”, including phsiyl, phesel, and masekah. These words etymologically are derived from the verbs for carving and casting, referring to actual physically manufactured representations. For example, the golden calf was a casting (masekah), see Exodus 32. The commands regarding idols often refer to “[carving], representation of any figure…”, as in items being manufactured as an image of a deity (Exodus 20:4-5, Deuteronomy 4:16-23, etc). These things we are not to make, not to worship, and not to possess.
In regard to having other elohim on/over his face, we must first define “elohim“. Of course, this is commonly translated as “god” or “gods”, but it is also applied in senses other than divine figures, such as in Exodus 22:9 seemingly in regard to judges. Based upon its roots, it could potentially be translated as “powers”.
In a situation where someone’s priority is not obeying the commandments of YAHUAH, but instead that person’s priority is the accumulation of wealth, for example, then there is potentially a problem by the standard of Exodus 20:3, among others. In this example, the person has made his master to be wealth, and this has been prioritized over YAHUAH and His commandments. Does this have anything to do with carvings or castings? No. As an aside, does this mean there is anything wrong with accumulating wealth, or desiring wealth? No. The issue is whether the person’s master is YAHUAH. Unless the person has made an idol that is supposed to be a representation of a money deity, then there is no actual idolatry inherently going on in this example (except in the case of possessing Abominable Coinage). That person is making money his elohim, but that money is not an idol.
As another possible situation, one could take something that was created as a different object (an object which was not meant to be representative of any deity) and treat it as a phesel. Someone could literally bow down to or burn incense to a TV, believing it to be a representation of their deity, in theory. This would indeed relate to the worship of an idol. That person’s belief in there being a certain deity, however, does not automatically make all TVs into phesel, as the actual TV itself is not an object that was manufactured as a representation of a deity (unlike with certain coins having deliberately made deity representations on them, mentioned in the previous link). His treating of his personal TV as an representation would still be wrongdoing on his part and with that specific object. A similar situation occurred with “the incinerating” on the pole commanded to be made in the Torah (Numbers 21:8), as we see it was later worshiped and subsequently destroyed according to 2 Kings. At the time it was made, its purpose was as an object to be looked upon after one was bitten by a snake. Simply looking at something is not worship. However, if people in the camp began to sacrifice to it, pray to it, or bow down to it during the time of the wilderness, then surely Numbers would have seen another plague upon Israel and the subsequent drinking of the bronze shavings. It was not until later that “the incinerating” was treated as phesel, or technically in this case, a masekah.
My main reason in making this clarification between “idols” and “other elohim” is mainly to provide clarity in regard to the commandments regarding representations. Whenever one argues “anything can be an idol”, the meaning of the commandments regarding carvings/castings is diluted or even nullified in some cases. Idols are always abominable, and they are commanded to be hated (Deuteronomy 7:26). The issue of someone prioritizing something other than YAHUAH and His commandments as their guiding priority in life is a separate issue from this, and should be treated as such.
(From prior posting on Gr. 8/13/14)
The distinction I intend to make is between the commands regarding not making/worshiping/possessing idols (Exodus 20:4-5, Deuteronomy 7:25-26, etc) and the commands regarding not having other elohim before Him (Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 5:7, etc).
In the Torah, there are multiple words that are used for “idol”, including phsiyl, phesel, and masekah. These words etymologically are derived from the verbs for carving and casting, referring to actual physically manufactured representations. For example, the golden calf was a casting (masekah), see Exodus 32. The commands regarding idols often refer to “[carving], representation of any figure…”, as in items being manufactured as an image of a deity (Exodus 20:4-5, Deuteronomy 4:16-23, etc). These things we are not to make, not to worship, and not to possess.
In regard to having other elohim on/over his face, we must first define “elohim“. Of course, this is commonly translated as “god” or “gods”, but it is also applied in senses other than divine figures, such as in Exodus 22:9 seemingly in regard to judges. Based upon its roots, it could potentially be translated as “powers”.
In a situation where someone’s priority is not obeying the commandments of YAHUAH, but instead that person’s priority is the accumulation of wealth, for example, then there is potentially a problem by the standard of Exodus 20:3, among others. In this example, the person has made his master to be wealth, and this has been prioritized over YAHUAH and His commandments. Does this have anything to do with carvings or castings? No. As an aside, does this mean there is anything wrong with accumulating wealth, or desiring wealth? No. The issue is whether the person’s master is YAHUAH. Unless the person has made an idol that is supposed to be a representation of a money deity, then there is no actual idolatry inherently going on in this example (except in the case of possessing Abominable Coinage). That person is making money his elohim, but that money is not an idol.
As another possible situation, one could take something that was created as a different object (an object which was not meant to be representative of any deity) and treat it as a phesel. Someone could literally bow down to or burn incense to a TV, believing it to be a representation of their deity, in theory. This would indeed relate to the worship of an idol. That person’s belief in there being a certain deity, however, does not automatically make all TVs into phesel, as the actual TV itself is not an object that was manufactured as a representation of a deity (unlike with certain coins having deliberately made deity representations on them, mentioned in the previous link). His treating of his personal TV as an representation would still be wrongdoing on his part and with that specific object. A similar situation occurred with “the incinerating” on the pole commanded to be made in the Torah (Numbers 21:8), as we see it was later worshiped and subsequently destroyed according to 2 Kings. At the time it was made, its purpose was as an object to be looked upon after one was bitten by a snake. Simply looking at something is not worship. However, if people in the camp began to sacrifice to it, pray to it, or bow down to it during the time of the wilderness, then surely Numbers would have seen another plague upon Israel and the subsequent drinking of the bronze shavings. It was not until later that “the incinerating” was treated as phesel, or technically in this case, a masekah.
My main reason in making this clarification between “idols” and “other elohim” is mainly to provide clarity in regard to the commandments regarding representations. Whenever one argues “anything can be an idol”, the meaning of the commandments regarding carvings/castings is diluted or even nullified in some cases. Idols are always abominable, and they are commanded to be hated (Deuteronomy 7:26). The issue of someone prioritizing something other than YAHUAH and His commandments as their guiding priority in life is a separate issue from this, and should be treated as such.
(From prior posting on Gr. 8/13/14)
