The practice of keeping idols and graven images is mentioned frequently throughout the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. There are a few key reasons why some people kept idols and images used for worship and veneration, especially within families and households:
1. Idolatry was widespread in ancient cultures
During Biblical times, the worship of idols and false gods was extremely commonplace. The cultures surrounding the Israelites such as the Canaanites, Babylonians, Egyptians, and Greeks all had complex polytheistic religions that incorporated idols into worship. Even when the Israelites entered the Promised Land, the Bible records that idolatry from neighboring peoples infiltrated into Israelite families (Judges 2:11-13). Keeping idols was simply a normative part of most ancient near-eastern cultures and religions.
2. Idols were thought to represent the presence of gods
In the polytheistic worldview, idols were conceived as physical manifestations of the gods. Having an idol in one’s home was believed to make the god or goddess present with the family in a tangible way. The idol was thought to contain the essence of the deity and serve as a medium through which people could interact with the spiritual realm. For instance, Rachel stole her father Laban’s household gods when she left his home (Genesis 31:19) likely because she viewed the idols as sources of guidance and blessing.
3. Idols were used for household blessings and protection
Connected with the idea of idols representing spiritual presence, families kept idols to invoke blessings and protection over the household. In the ancient mindset, different gods had jurisdiction over different areas of life, so housing idols of various deities ensured coverage for things like fertility, harvest, safety in childbirth, protection in war, and more. Keeping idols demonstrated devotion to the gods so the gods would reciprocally bless and guard the family.
4. Worship was centered around the family and household
The ancient Israelites did not have designated temples early in their history. Worship centered around altars and sacred objects within the home. Teraphim, figurines of ancestors and deities, were passed down and revered through generations as objects of worship. Having idols in the home allowed families to carry out sacrifices, offerings, and other acts of worship before literal representations of the divine.
5. Idols were viewed as sources of divination and insight
In some ancient Near Eastern cultures, idols were used for divination purposes to gain knowledge and insight from the gods. People would place offerings before idols and then interpret reactions from the idols – whether by lots, dice, examining entrails of animal sacrifices, or other methods – as divine messages. Household idols provided access to divination and guidance without having to visit a priest or temple.
6. Idols reinforced social and political power
The prominence and extravagance of a family’s idols displayed their wealth, status and priority among the community. Possessing rare or ornate idols proved devotion to the gods. The more idols a family had, the more blessed they were considered to be. Political leaders also kept idols to reinforce their authority and close relationship with the divine to rule over the people.
7. Idols were viewed as sources of protection in the afterlife
Some ancient cultures placed idols representing gods and ancestors in burial tombs to protect and bless the deceased in the afterlife. Amulets and figurines were interred with the dead as forms of divine guidance and power during one’s journey to the next world. Having family idols buried alongside enhanced one’s standing in the afterlife.
8. Idols commemorated divine-human encounters and covenants
Idols were often erected to memorialize a place where the divine was believed to have physically manifested and interacted with humans. The idols served as reminders of the gods’ activity among the people and reinforced the bond and covenant between the deity and the community that worshipped him or her. These sacred encounter stories were passed down generationally.
9. Idols were perceived as permanent dwelling places for the divine
Unlike the Hebrew view of Yahweh as an omnipotent, omnipresent God far above any human-made form, other ancient cultures perceived the gods as being contained within finite physical idols. The gods were not transcendent, but literally inhabited and were equated with the idols fashioned for them. Destroying an idol was destroying the actual god.
10. Idolatry was rooted in human pride, discontentment with God’s provisions
Despite the cultural reasons for idol-worship, the Bible consistently frames idolatry as the result of human sinfulness and a rejection of God’s rightful authority. Idolatry stemmed from pride, as humans desired a “god” they could control and manipulate versus submitting to the unseen one true God. It also stemmed from discontentment with God’s provisions, as God commands reliance on Him versus human efforts and counterfeit gods (Exodus 20:4-5, Jeremiah 2:11-13). No matter the reason, Scripture communicates God’s hatred of idols and idolatry for usurping His rightful worship.
In summary, families kept idols in the ancient Biblical world for a variety of cultural, religious, sociopolitical and afterlife purposes. But Scripture reveals idolatry as offensive to God and toxic for His people. As 1 John 5:21 warns simply: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” All reasons for idolatry ultimately fail in light of God’s supreme worth, glory and dominion.