In the context of the Bible, the term "carves" is often associated with the act of engraving or sculpting, particularly in relation to the creation of idols, altars, or other religious artifacts. The practice of carving is mentioned in various passages, highlighting both its artistic significance and its potential for misuse in idolatry.

Biblical References:

1. Idolatry and Carved Images:
The Bible frequently warns against the creation and worship of carved images. In the Ten Commandments, God explicitly commands the Israelites, "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath" (Exodus 20:4). This prohibition underscores the danger of idolatry, where carved images could lead people away from the worship of the one true God.

2. Artistic Craftsmanship:
While the Bible condemns the use of carved images for idolatry, it also acknowledges the skill and craftsmanship involved in carving for sacred purposes. For instance, the construction of the Tabernacle involved skilled artisans who were divinely inspired to create intricate designs. In Exodus 31:3-5 , God says, "And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft."

3. Symbolism and Meaning:
Carving in the Bible often carries symbolic meaning. For example, the cherubim carved on the Ark of the Covenant and the walls of the Temple represent the presence and majesty of God (1 Kings 6:23-29). These carvings were not objects of worship but served to remind the Israelites of God's holiness and glory.

4. Warnings Against False Worship:
The prophets frequently spoke against the practice of carving idols, emphasizing the futility and deception involved. Isaiah 44:13-17 describes the process of a craftsman carving an idol from wood, highlighting the absurdity of worshiping something made by human hands. The passage serves as a powerful reminder of the distinction between the Creator and His creation.

5. Cultural Context:
In the ancient Near East, carving was a common practice in religious and cultural expressions. The Israelites, surrounded by nations that worshiped carved idols, were called to be distinct in their worship of Yahweh. This cultural backdrop underscores the repeated biblical injunctions against idolatry and the carving of images for worship.

Theological Implications:

The biblical perspective on carving reflects a broader theological theme: the call to worship God in spirit and truth, free from the distractions and distortions of idolatry. Carving, when used for God's glory, as in the construction of the Tabernacle and Temple, is celebrated as a gift of artistic expression. However, when misused, it becomes a symbol of humanity's tendency to replace the Creator with the created.

In summary, the act of carving in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing both the beauty of God-given creativity and the dangers of idolatry. The scriptures consistently call believers to discernment, ensuring that their artistic expressions honor God and align with His commandments.

Other Arts Made Subservient to Idolatry. Lawful Means of Gaining a ...
... overlay a sideboard! [203] How much sooner does he who carves a Mars out
of a lime-tree, fasten together a chest! No art but is ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter viii other arts made subservient.htm

"But to Me Reflecting on These Things, There Occurs the Thought of ...
... steeds; formerly content to dwell in a small and humble cell, he now builds a lofty
fretted ceiling; he constructs many rooms; he cuts and carves doors; he ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxi but to me.htm

The Record of Two Kings
... to be a peer; she was a noted beauty, a leader of fashion, a queen of society"what
will all such epitaphs be worth, if God's finger carves silently below them ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the record of two kings.htm

Mr. HG Wells and the Giants
... men and shooting angels like birds. Is the man who shoots angels and carves
beasts into men humble? Since then he has done something ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/v mr h g wells and.htm

Of Boasting.
... Matt.6. When a man shall make his own tongue the trumpet of his Alms, or the echo
of his prayers, he carves, or rather snatches his own reward, and must not ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section ix of boasting.htm

"Show Me Thy Glory!"
... This brings us to another plea. I find it in the verse that carves out with two
strokes the whole result of two lives. "If any man's work abide. . . . ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxxii show me thy.htm

God and the Godly
... The little burn amongst the heather carves its tiny bed, and impels its baby ripples
by the same laws which roll the waters of the Amazon, and every fall that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/god and the godly.htm

Waiting Only Upon God
... command. The old puritans said, "As sure as ever a Christian carves for himself
he'll cut his own fingers;" and that is a great truth. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/waiting only upon god.htm

Daily Blessings for God's People
... He that carves for himself will cut his fingers; but when God has been foremost,
and you have been content to follow, you have never had any mistake then; and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/daily blessings for gods people.htm

The Form of Concord. AD 1577.
... he can accept. God converts a man as the potter moulds the clay, as the sculptor
carves a statue of wood or stone. They also advocated ...
/.../creeds of christendom with a history and critical notes/ 45 the form of.htm

Carves (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Carves (2 Occurrences). Deuteronomy ... Ecclesiastes
10:9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever ...
/c/carves.htm - 7k

Carving (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Carve. 2. (n.) The act or art of one who carves. 3. (n.)
A piece of decorative work cut in stone, wood, or other material. ...
/c/carving.htm - 10k

Carved (36 Occurrences)

/c/carved.htm - 17k

Injured (28 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Ecclesiastes 10:9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them.
Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby. (WEB NIV). ...
/i/injured.htm - 15k

Endangered (3 Occurrences)
... also. (WEY). Ecclesiastes 10:9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by
them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby. (WEB ...
/e/endangered.htm - 7k

Splits (3 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS). Ecclesiastes 10:9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever
splits wood may be endangered thereby. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/splits.htm - 7k

Thereby (42 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY). Ecclesiastes 10:9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by
them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY). ...
/t/thereby.htm - 18k

Danger (118 Occurrences)
... owner. (BBE). Ecclesiastes 10:9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured
by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby. ...
/d/danger.htm - 38k

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