Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of biblical teachings, idolatry is the worship of idols or images as divine. The Bible consistently condemns idolatry, emphasizing the worship of the one true God. Among the various practices associated with idolatry, the act of kissing idols or images is noted as a significant custom in ancient cultures, reflecting reverence and devotion to false gods.
The act of kissing as a form of worship is mentioned in several biblical passages. In
1 Kings 19:18, God tells Elijah, "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him." This verse highlights the practice of kissing as an expression of allegiance to Baal, a prominent Canaanite deity. The act of kissing the idol was a physical demonstration of loyalty and worship, contrasting with the faithfulness of those who remained true to Yahweh.
Similarly, in
Hosea 13:2, the prophet Hosea condemns the Israelites for their idolatrous practices: "Now they sin more and more; they make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of them, 'They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calf idols.'" Here, the kissing of calf idols is depicted as part of the broader idolatrous practices that led the Israelites away from God.
The custom of kissing idols was not limited to the Israelites or their immediate neighbors. In the broader ancient Near Eastern context, kissing was a common gesture of homage and veneration. This practice extended to various forms of idolatry, where adherents would kiss statues, altars, or sacred objects as a sign of devotion. Such acts were often integrated into religious rituals and ceremonies, reinforcing the worshiper's connection to the deity represented by the idol.
The Bible's condemnation of idolatry, including the custom of kissing idols, is rooted in the first and second commandments, which emphasize exclusive worship of the Lord and prohibit the making and worshiping of graven images (
Exodus 20:3-5). The act of kissing idols is seen as a violation of these commandments, as it attributes divine honor to created objects rather than to God alone.
In the New Testament, the theme of idolatry continues to be addressed, though the specific practice of kissing idols is not explicitly mentioned. However, the apostle Paul warns against idolatry in various forms, urging believers to flee from it and to worship God in spirit and truth (
1 Corinthians 10:14;
John 4:24).
Throughout Scripture, the practice of kissing idols serves as a poignant reminder of the human tendency to seek tangible representations of the divine, often at the expense of true spiritual worship. The biblical narrative consistently calls God's people to reject such practices and to maintain their devotion to Him alone, recognizing that He is a jealous God who desires exclusive worship and allegiance.
Nave's Topical Index
1 Kings 19:18Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.
Nave's Topical IndexHosea 13:2
And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
Nave's Topical Index
Job 31:27
And my heart has been secretly enticed, or my mouth has kissed my hand:
Nave's Topical Index
Library
Twenty-Seven Articles Respecting the Reformation of the Christian ...
... Rome, not knowing the manners, laws and customs of other ... kept up for less, oppose
each other with unspeakable ... of faith, soon began to set up idolatry and their ...
/.../iii twenty-seven articles respecting the.htm
Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &C.
... And as to the customs of the nations, it is a very ill ... Pythagoras, in his oration,
among other things hath this maxim, as that which ... cap.1. of Idolatry, cap.11 ...
/.../proposition xv concerning salutations and.htm
The First Epistle of St. Peter
... require to be eked out with other aids ... on ver.14), futile' especially for idolatry
(Acts 14 ... Their ancestral customs and national traditions were futile, because ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the first epistle of st.htm
Paul's Departure and Crown;
... are added to explain old words and customs, and, in ... Judah to Bethel, to prophesy
against the idolatry that was ... hast hankerings to do as the other: Beware, and ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/pauls departure and crown.htm
Period I: the Imperial State Church of the Undivided Empire, or ...
... It was mixed up with the customs of the North African church, whereby the ... Aptunga,
the consecrator of Caecilianus, who had been elected by the other party, had ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period i the imperial state.htm
Memoir of John Bunyan
... who prayed quarter, and put divers women to the sword,[35] and other women and ... doe
swear'; that being the mode of taking an oath, instead of kissing the cover ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm
Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... I am not a free-willer, I do abhor it; yet there is not the wickedest man but he
desires, some time or other, to be saved; he will read some time or other, or ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm
Resources
Is religious iconography considered idolatry? What is an icon? | GotQuestions.orgDo Catholics worship idols / practice idolatry? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the difference between fornication and adultery? | GotQuestions.orgIdolatry: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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