A graven image, as referenced in the Bible, is an idol or false god made to be worshiped. The Bible expressly forbids the making and worshiping of graven images, as this violates the first and second commandments given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.
Old Testament References
The prohibition against graven images first appears in Exodus 20:4-6, as part of the Ten Commandments:
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
This commandment expressly forbids the making of idols or false gods in the form of carved images or statues to be worshiped. God is clear that He will punish idolatry for generations, but will bless those who worship Him alone.
The command is repeated in Deuteronomy 5:8-10 as part of the re-giving of the Ten Commandments. Deuteronomy 27:15 also curses anyone who makes a carved image:
“Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.'”
These verses establish that graven images are detestable to God andAlt that those who make and worship them will face divine judgment.
In Exodus 32, Aaron makes a golden calf idol when Moses is delayed on Mount Sinai. The people worship this graven image, arousing God’s anger against their idolatry:
“So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf.'” (Exodus 32:6-8)
This incident shows how prone the Israelites were to violating God’s clear commandment against graven images. Even Aaron, the high priest, led the people into idolatrous worship of a golden calf.
The kings of Israel are later condemned for setting up graven images. King Jeroboam sets up two golden calves for the people to worship (1 Kings 12:28-30). King Ahaz cuts up the bronze furnishings of the temple and sends them to the king of Assyria as a tribute (2 Kings 16:17). These wicked kings led the people away from true worship of God.
In Isaiah, God mocks the impotence of man-made idols which cannot speak or act:
“The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals; he fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arms. He becomes hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint. The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in human form, human form in all its glory, that it may dwell in a shrine. He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. It is used as fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, ‘Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.’ From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, ‘Save me! You are my god!’ They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand.” (Isaiah 44:12-18)
This passage mocks the absurdity of worshiping man-made idols of wood and metal. Isaiah emphasizes that idols are empty false gods with no power or knowledge.
New Testament References
In the New Testament, the prohibition against graven images continues. Believers in the early church abstain from idolatry and false worship:
“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.” (Acts 15:19-20)
Paul urges new Christians to flee from idolatry and instead serve the true living God:
“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say… What pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.” (1 Corinthians 10:14, 20)
In 1 John 5:21, John closes his first epistle with a command to keep away from idols: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”
The book of Revelation describes how idolatry will increase in the end times, as people worship the beast and its image:
“The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.” (Revelation 13:15-17)
This warns how the temptation toward idolatry will continue to threaten believers until Christ returns.
What Qualifies as a Graven Image?
Based on these verses, a graven image can be defined as any idol, statue, carving, painting, or object made by human hands for the purpose of worshiping a false god. Catholic and Orthodox churches often use statues and icons in worship, which seems to violate the command against graven images. However, these churches teach the images are not themselves worshiped but rather are visual aids for worshiping God and remembering saints.
The Bible Project notes that the key issue is not the image itself, but the attitude of worship or dependence directed toward it. If an image is treated as an idol or believed to have power in itself, it becomes a graven image. They summarize: “The essence of idolatry isn’t about images but about worship…Idolatry exchanges the Creator with something He created.”
Wayne Grudem similarly comments: “The sin is not first of all in the making of these images, because God did not prohibit all kinds of representative art…Rather it is in the worshipping that is forbidden.”
Historical Jewish and Muslim traditions strictly forbid any paintings, statues, or visual depictions of God or religious figures. They take the commandment against graven images as a complete prohibition of religious artwork. However, most Christian traditions have allowed artwork that visually represents biblical events and characters for instructional purposes, while prohibiting their use as objects of worship.
Why Are Graven Images Sinful?
The Bible identifies several reasons why graven images are prohibited:
1. They represent worship of a false god. Worshiping an idol contradicts the first commandment to worship God alone.
2. They provoke God’s jealousy. God describes Himself as a jealous God who will not share worship with idols (Exodus 20:5).
3. They cannot truly represent God. Since God is Spirit, no image made of “wood or stone” can accurately depict His nature and glory (Deuteronomy 4:15-19).
4. They reflect a desire for control. Idols allow humans to create a manageable god that fits their own specifications (Psalm 115:4-8).
5. They demonstrate distrust in God. Turning to idols shows a lack of faith in God’s power and willingness to help (Isaiah 57:11-13).
6. They are useless and worthless. As Isaiah emphasizes, idols are empty false gods with no real existence or power to aid worshipers (Isaiah 41:29).
7. They deceive people. Idols cannot speak truth, prophesy accurately, or give true guidance (Habakkuk 2:18-19).
In summary, the creation and worship of graven images is sinful because it is an affront to the glory, uniqueness, and rightful worship of the one true God. Idols are false gods that only mislead and deceive people. As John Calvin stated, the human heart is an “idol factory,” prone to fashion even permissible things into idols. So the commandment remains instructive for examining our own hearts and maintaining proper worship of God.
Application
While few people in modern western culture worship literal carved idols, the temptation toward idolatry remains. Tim Keller explains that an idol is anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God: “It is anything you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, “If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I’ll know I have value, then I’ll feel significant and secure.” Anything can serve as a counterfeit god.”
Common modern idols include money, relationships, fame, success, politics, technology and social media. These are not inherently evil but become idols when they capture our trust and worship more than God. The solution is to turn from false gods and continually direct our worship to the one true God, realizing He alone is worthy and able to satisfy. As Augustine prayed: “He loves Thee too little who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake.”