Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, the worship of reptiles and other creatures is explicitly condemned as a form of idolatry, which is strictly prohibited by the commandments given to the Israelites. The worship of any created being, including reptiles, is seen as a deviation from the worship of the one true God, Yahweh, who delivered the Israelites from Egypt and established a covenant with them.The prohibition against idolatry is rooted in the Ten Commandments, where God commands, "You shall have no other gods before Me. 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 20:3-4). This commandment underscores the exclusivity of worship that is due to God alone and prohibits the veneration of any created form, including reptiles. The prophet Ezekiel provides a vivid depiction of the idolatrous practices that had infiltrated the temple in Jerusalem. In Ezekiel 8:10, the prophet is shown a vision of the abominations being committed: "So I went in and looked, and I saw all kinds of crawling creatures and detestable beasts and all the idols of the house of Israel portrayed all around the walls" . This imagery highlights the extent to which the Israelites had adopted pagan practices, including the worship of reptiles, which were considered detestable in the sight of God. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, also addresses the issue of idolatry, linking it to the worship of created things rather than the Creator. He writes, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen" (Romans 1:25). This exchange of truth for a lie is seen as a fundamental error that leads to moral and spiritual decay. The worship of reptiles and other creatures is thus portrayed as a significant departure from the faithfulness required by God. It reflects a broader pattern of idolatry that plagued the Israelites throughout their history, leading to divine judgment and calls for repentance from the prophets. The biblical narrative consistently calls the people of God to reject idolatry in all its forms and to return to the exclusive worship of Yahweh, the Creator of all things. Torrey's Topical Textbook Ezekiel 8:10So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed on the wall round about. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library part ii Resources What caused the extinction of the dinosaurs? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about dragons? | GotQuestions.org Does the pineal gland have any spiritual significance? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Reptiles: Cockatrice or Basilisk Reptiles: Flying Fiery Serpent Reptiles: Jews Condemned for Worshipping Reptiles: Made for Praise and Glory of God Reptiles: No Image of Similitude of, to be Made for Worshipping Reptiles: Placed Under the Dominion of Man Reptiles: Solomon Wrote a History of Reptiles: Unclean and not Eaten Reptiles: Worshipped by Gentiles Related Terms |