Lexical Summary pesel: Idol, graven image Original Word: פֶסֶל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance carved graven image From pacal; an idol -- carved (graven) image. see HEBREW pacal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pasal Definition an idol, image NASB Translation carved image (2), graven image (14), graven images (1), idol (10), idols (3), image (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מֶּ֫סֶל31 noun masculineHabakkuk 2:18 idol, image; — absolute ׳פ Judges 17:3 +, מָּ֑סֶל Isaiah 42:17; construct מֶּסֶל Judges 18:31 +; suffix מִּסְלִי Isaiah 48:5, etc.; plural supplied by מְּסִילִים see following; — idol, as likeness of man or animal Exodus 20:4=Deuteronomy 5:8; Exodus 4:16,23,25, also Deuteronomy 27:15; 2 Kings 21:7; 2Chronicles 33:7; Isaiah 42:17; Isaiah 44:9; Isaiah 48:5; Nahum 1:14; Habakkuk 2:18 (of wood or stone, compare Habakkuk 2:19); of metal Judges 17:3,4 6t. 18 (compare GFM), Isaiah 40:19; Isaiah 44:10 (with נָסַךְ), Jeremiah 10:14; Jeremiah 51:17 (with צוֺרֵף); of wood Isaiah 40:20; Isaiah 44:15,17; Isaiah 45:20. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope פֶּסֶל refers to a manufactured, carved image set up for religious veneration. Scripture never treats the word neutrally; every occurrence frames the object as a rival to the living God. Whether fashioned from wood, stone, or precious metal, a פֶּסֶל represents humanity’s attempt to localize, manipulate, or replace divine presence. Foundational Prohibition in the Decalogue The first appearance defines the term’s moral status for all subsequent revelation. “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below” (Exodus 20:4). The same command is repeated in Exodus 34:17 and Deuteronomy 5:8, where the carving of an image is coupled with the prohibition of bowing down to it. From the outset, idolatry is framed not merely as a misguided ritual but as covenant infidelity (Exodus 20:5). Presence in Israel’s Narrative 1. Settlement Period The loss of land vindicates the warnings spoken through Moses: “Cursed is the man who makes a carved image… and sets it up in secret” (Deuteronomy 27:15). Prophetic Denunciations Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk mock the impotence of idols: The prophets expose idols as theological frauds and call Israel to exclusive devotion. Theological Themes 1. Exclusivity of Worship A פֶּסֶל violates the first and second commandments simultaneously, dethroning God and distorting His image. Worship of a man-made object reverses the rightful order, placing human artifice in God’s place. Idolatry is consistently portrayed as unfaithfulness within a covenant marriage (Jeremiah 3:6–10; Hosea 2:1–13). Archaeological and Historical Background Canaanite religion celebrated physical images of Baal, Asherah, and Anat. Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and later Greco-Roman cultures did likewise. Israel’s geographic location placed it in constant contact with image-centered worship, explaining both the allure and the severity of biblical prohibitions. Ministry and Discipleship Applications • Guard the Heart: Modern believers may not bow to wooden statues, yet anything—career, pleasure, technology—can become a functional פֶּסֶל when it receives ultimate trust or affection. Christological and Eschatological Outlook Jesus Christ, “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), renders carved images obsolete. In the New Jerusalem, nothing unclean “nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood” will enter (Revelation 21:27). The age-long struggle against פֶּסֶל ends in the unmediated vision of God’s glory. Key References Exodus 20:4; Exodus 34:17; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:16–25; Deuteronomy 5:8; Deuteronomy 27:15; Judges 17:3–6; Judges 18:14–31; 2 Kings 21:7; 2 Kings 23:6; 2 Chronicles 33:7; Psalm 97:7; Isaiah 40:19; Isaiah 44:9–20; Jeremiah 10:14; Hosea 13:2; Micah 1:7; Habakkuk 2:18–19. Forms and Transliterations בַּפָּ֑סֶל בפסל הַפֶּ֙סֶל֙ הַפָּ֑סֶל הפסל וּפִסְלִ֥י וּפֶ֖סֶל וּפֶ֣סֶל וּפֶ֤סֶל ופסל ופסלי לְפִסְל֑וֹ לפסלו מִפָּ֑סֶל מפסל פִּסְלָ֔ם פֶ֖סֶל פֶ֗סֶל פֶ֣֙סֶל֙ ׀ פֶ֤סֶל פֶ֨סֶל פֶּ֖סֶל פֶּ֗סֶל פֶּ֙סֶל֙ פֶּ֣סֶל פֶּ֥סֶל פֶּ֧סֶל פסל פסלם bap·pā·sel bapPasel bappāsel fesel hap·pā·sel hap·pe·sel hapPasel happāsel happesel lə·p̄is·lōw lefisLo ləp̄islōw mip·pā·sel mipPasel mippāsel pe·sel p̄e·sel pesel p̄esel pis·lām pisLam pislām ū·p̄e·sel ū·p̄is·lî uFesel ufisLi ūp̄esel ūp̄islîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 20:4 HEB: תַֽעֲשֶׂ֨ה־ לְךָ֥֣ פֶ֣֙סֶל֙ ׀ וְכָל־ תְּמוּנָ֡֔ה NAS: You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any KJV: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness INT: shall not make an idol any likeness Leviticus 26:1 Deuteronomy 4:16 Deuteronomy 4:23 Deuteronomy 4:25 Deuteronomy 5:8 Deuteronomy 27:15 Judges 17:3 Judges 17:4 Judges 18:14 Judges 18:18 Judges 18:20 Judges 18:30 Judges 18:31 2 Kings 21:7 2 Chronicles 33:7 Psalm 97:7 Isaiah 40:19 Isaiah 40:20 Isaiah 42:17 Isaiah 44:9 Isaiah 44:10 Isaiah 44:15 Isaiah 44:17 Isaiah 45:20 30 Occurrences |
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