Jump to: Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia In biblical terms, the concept of "image" holds significant theological and symbolic meaning, appearing in various contexts throughout Scripture. The term is often associated with representation, likeness, and idolatry, and it plays a crucial role in understanding humanity's relationship with God and the nature of worship.Creation and the Imago Dei The foundational biblical reference to "image" is found in the creation narrative. Genesis 1:26-27 states, "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This passage introduces the concept of the Imago Dei, the belief that humans are created in the image and likeness of God. This endows humanity with inherent dignity, value, and purpose, distinguishing humans from the rest of creation and establishing a unique relationship with the Creator. Idolatry and False Images The Bible frequently warns against the creation and worship of images as idols. The second commandment explicitly prohibits idolatry: "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath" (Exodus 20:4). Idolatry is seen as a distortion of true worship, as it replaces the worship of the invisible, living God with the veneration of tangible, man-made objects. The prophets often condemned Israel for turning to idols, emphasizing that these images are powerless and lifeless (Isaiah 44:9-20). Christ as the Image of God In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is described as the perfect image of God. Colossians 1:15 declares, "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." This affirms the belief that Jesus embodies the fullness of God in human form, revealing God's character and nature to humanity. Through Christ, believers are called to be conformed to His image, reflecting His character and virtues (Romans 8:29). Transformation and Renewal The concept of image also relates to the spiritual transformation of believers. 2 Corinthians 3:18 states, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." This transformation is a process of sanctification, where believers grow to reflect more of Christ's image through the work of the Holy Spirit. Eschatological Hope The ultimate hope for believers is to fully bear the image of Christ in the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:49 promises, "And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man." This eschatological vision assures believers of their future glorification and complete restoration to the image of God, as originally intended in creation. In summary, the biblical concept of "image" encompasses the divine imprint on humanity, the dangers of idolatry, the revelation of God in Christ, and the transformative journey of believers toward reflecting God's glory. Smith's Bible Dictionary Image[IDOL] ATS Bible Dictionary ImageAn exact and complete copy or counterpart of any thing. Christ is called "the image of God," 2 1 Corinthians 4:4 Colossians 1:15 Hebrews 1:3, as being the same in nature and attributes. The image of God in which man was created, Genesis 1:27 was in his spiritual, intellectual, and moral nature, in righteousness and true holiness. The posterity of Adam were born in his fallen, sinful likeness, Genesis 5:3; and as we have borne the image of sinful Adam, so we should be molded into the moral image of the heavenly man Christ, 1 1 Corinthians 15:47-49 2 1 Corinthians 3:18. "An image," Job 4:16, was that which seemed to the dreamer a reality. The word sometimes appears to include, with the image, the idea of the real object, Psalm 73:20 Hebrews 10:1. It is usually applied in the Bible to representations of false gods, painted, graven, etc., Daniel 3:1-30. All use of images in religious worship was clearly and peremptorily prohibited, Exodus 20:4,5 De 16:22 Acts 17:16 Romans 1:23. Their introduction into Christian churches, near the close of the fourth century, was at first strenuously resisted. Now, however, they are universally used by Papists: by most in a gross breach of the second commandment, and by the best in opposition to both the letter and the spirit of the Bible, Exodus 20:4,5 32:4,5 De 4:15 Isaiah 40:18-31 John 4:23,24 Revelation 22:8,9. The "chambers of imagery," in Ezekiel 8:7-12, had their walls covered with idolatrous paintings, such as are found on the still more ancient stone walls of Egyptian temples, and such as modern researches have disclosed in Assyrian ruins. See NINEVEH. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) An imitation, representation, or similitude of any person, thing, or act, sculptured, drawn, painted, or otherwise made perceptible to the sight; a visible presentation; a copy; a likeness; an effigy; a picture; a semblance.2. (n.) Hence: The likeness of anything to which worship is paid; an idol. 3. (n.) Show; appearance; cast. 4. (n.) A representation of anything to the mind; a picture drawn by the fancy; a conception; an idea. 5. (n.) A picture, example, or illustration, often taken from sensible objects, and used to illustrate a subject; usually, an extended metaphor. 6. (n.) The figure or picture of any object formed at the focus of a lens or mirror, by rays of light from the several points of the object symmetrically refracted or reflected to corresponding points in such focus; this may be received on a screen, a photographic plate, or the retina of the eye, and viewed directly by the eye, or with an eyeglass, as in the telescope and microscope; the likeness of an object formed by reflection; as, to see one's image in a mirror. 7. (v. t.) To represent or form an image of; as, the still lake imaged the shore; the mirror imaged her figure. 8. (v. t.) To represent to the mental vision; to form a likeness of by the fancy or recollection; to imagine. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia GOD, IMAGE OFIn Genesis 1:26, 27, the truth is declared that God created man in His own "image" (tselem), after His "likeness" (demuth). The two ideas denote the same thing-resemblance to God. The like conception of man, tacit or avowed, underlies all revelation. It is given in Genesis 9:6 as the ground of the prohibition of the shedding of man's blood; is echoed in Psalm 8; is reiterated frequently in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 11:7 Ephesians 4:24 Colossians 3:10 Isaiah 3:9). The nature of this image of God in man is discussed in other articles-see especially ANTHROPOLOGY. It lies in the nature of the case that the "image" does not consist in bodily form; it can only reside in spiritual qualities, in man's mental and moral attributes as a self-conscious, rational, personal agent, capable of self-determination and obedience to moral law. This gives man his position of lordship in creation, and invests his being with the sanctity of personality. The image of God, defaced, but not entirely lost through sin, is restored in yet more perfect form in the redemption of Christ. See the full discussion in the writer's work, God's Image in Man and Its Defacement; see also Dr. J. Laidlaw, The Bible Doctrine of Man. IMAGE im'-aj (tselem; eikon): Its usage falls under 3 main heads. CALF IMAGE See IMAGES. IMAGE OF GOD See GOD, IMAGE OF. JEALOUSY, IMAGE OF See IMAGES. MOLTEN, IMAGE mol'-t'-n. WORSHIP, IMAGE See IMAGES. Greek 1504. eikon -- an image, ie lit. statue, fig. representation ... 1503, 1504. eikon. 1505 . an image, ie lit. statue, fig. representation. ... 21). Word Origin from eiko Definition an image, ie lit. statue, fig. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1504.htm - 7k 1495. eidololatria -- image worship 1496. eidololatres -- an image worshiper 3447. moschopoieo -- to make a calf (as an image) 1497. eidolon -- an image (ie for worship), by impl. a false god 1494. eidolothutos -- sacrificed to idols 1493. eidoleion -- an idol's temple 5481. charakter -- a tool for engraving 644. aposkiasma -- a shadow 5364. philanthropos -- humanely, kindly Strong's Hebrew 6459. pesel -- an idol, image... 6458, 6459. pesel. 6460 . an idol, image. Transliteration: pesel Phonetic Spelling: (peh'-sel) Short Definition: image. Word Origin ... /hebrew/6459.htm - 6k 6755. tselem -- an image 6754. tselem -- an image 4541a. massekah -- a libation, molten metal or image 6456. pasil -- an idol, image 4541. maccekah -- a libation, molten metal or image 5566. semel -- an image, statue 6736. tsir -- an image 5262b. nesek -- molten image 842. Asherah -- a Phoenician goddess, also an image of the same Library Whether the Image of God is to be Found in Irrational Creatures? The Image of God. The Image and the Stone The Image of God is to be Sought in the Immortality of the ... Whether the Image of God is in Man? Image and Likeness. The Image of Self. Whether the Name of Image is Proper to the Son? How Man is the Image of God. Whether the Woman is not Also the ... The Image of the Beast. Thesaurus Image (126 Occurrences)... directly by the eye, or with an eyeglass, as in the telescope and microscope; the likeness of an object formed by reflection; as, to see one's image in a mirror ... /i/image.htm - 60k Image's (1 Occurrence) Image-worship (1 Occurrence) Pictured (26 Occurrences) Teraphim (14 Occurrences) Carved (36 Occurrences) Statue (15 Occurrences) Refiner (10 Occurrences) Molten (41 Occurrences) Founder (5 Occurrences) Resources What is the image of the beast? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that humanity is made in the image of God (imago dei)? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about self-image? | GotQuestions.org Image: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Image (126 Occurrences)Matthew 22:20 Mark 12:16 Luke 20:24 Acts 7:41 Acts 14:13 Acts 17:29 Acts 19:35 Romans 1:23 Romans 8:3 Romans 8:29 Romans 11:4 1 Corinthians 8:4 1 Corinthians 8:7 1 Corinthians 8:10 1 Corinthians 10:19 1 Corinthians 11:7 1 Corinthians 15:49 2 Corinthians 3:18 2 Corinthians 4:4 Galatians 4:25 Philippians 3:21 Colossians 1:15 Colossians 2:17 Colossians 3:10 Hebrews 1:3 Hebrews 8:5 Hebrews 9:9 Hebrews 10:1 James 3:9 1 Peter 3:21 Revelation 13:14 Revelation 13:15 Revelation 14:9 Revelation 14:11 Revelation 15:2 Revelation 16:2 Revelation 19:20 Revelation 20:4 Genesis 1:26 Genesis 1:27 Genesis 5:1 Genesis 5:3 Genesis 9:6 Exodus 20:4 Exodus 32:4 Exodus 32:19 Exodus 32:24 Leviticus 26:1 Numbers 21:8 Deuteronomy 4:16 Deuteronomy 4:23 Deuteronomy 4:25 Deuteronomy 5:8 Deuteronomy 9:12 Deuteronomy 9:16 Deuteronomy 9:21 Deuteronomy 16:22 Deuteronomy 27:15 Judges 17:2 Judges 17:3 Judges 17:4 Judges 18:14 Judges 18:17 Judges 18:18 Judges 18:20 Judges 18:30 Judges 18:31 1 Samuel 19:13 1 Samuel 19:16 1 Kings 15:13 1 Kings 16:33 2 Kings 3:2 2 Kings 10:26 2 Kings 10:27 2 Kings 13:6 2 Kings 17:16 2 Kings 21:7 2 Chronicles 3:10 2 Chronicles 15:16 2 Chronicles 33:7 2 Chronicles 33:15 Nehemiah 9:18 Job 4:16 Psalms 39:6 Psalms 73:20 Psalms 97:7 Psalms 106:19 Psalms 106:20 Isaiah 30:22 Isaiah 40:18 Isaiah 40:19 Isaiah 40:20 Isaiah 42:17 Isaiah 44:9 Isaiah 44:10 Isaiah 44:15 Isaiah 44:17 Isaiah 45:20 Isaiah 48:5 Isaiah 66:3 Subtopics Related Terms |