What does this verse mean?

[mikekle]

****“Thou shalt no**t make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” Exodus 20:4
**

I know why God did not want man to make graven images of things in heaven, that is obvious, but why would he specifically mention things beneath the earth, or in the water?

What graven image could we even make of something beneath the earth…I cant think of anything that lives here (besides the obvious animals, but I doubt that is relevant here). Also concerning the water…again, what graven images could we make of things that live in the water…fish, coral, etc? Why does this even have to do with worship and God?

I know God does not want us to make graven images of anything in Hell either, but I doubt that is what he referring to when saying ‘things beneath the earth’, as Hell is not exactly beneath the earth (that we know of anyway), Heaven and Hell are on completely different ‘planes’ of existence, so they are not really above or beneath.

The things in the water statement is really confusing me…is it possible, that since we only know about 5% of what exists in the oceans, that is possible, God was referring to a species currently unknown to mankind…that, if we did happen to discover them, we may idolize them and make graven images of them? I know its a stretch, but…?

 

[TimothyH]

The next verse is part of the same sentence and part of the same commandment.

you shall not bow down to them or serve them;

It’s about making graven images and worshiping them as gods.

There were lots of images of underwater creatures worshiped at the time of the Exodus. For example, the Canaanite’s worshipped Yam, the god of the sea. The Egyptians worshiped Tefnut, the frog goddess of fertility and some kind of crocodile god of the Nile River.

-Tim-

 

[Usagi]

Right, it does mean animals. Remember, the first time Moses came down with these very Commandments the Israelites had already started worshipping a golden calf. Not even a calf-headed humanoid god, just a calf-shaped one.

Usagi

 

[GEddie]

Right, it does mean animals. Remember, the first time Moses came down with these very Commandments the Israelites had already started worshipping a golden calf. Not even a calf-headed humanoid god, just a calf-shaped one.

Usagi

And wasn’t that an idol they had known in Egypt?

Idolatry was something they struggled with throughout Biblical times.

Likewise, under the earth does not per se mean gophers or prairie dogs, or whatever the equivalent is in Israel; but rather, the images of the underworld idols of the neighboring nations. IIUC.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Gorgias]

Likewise, under the earth does not per se mean gophers or prairie dogs, or whatever the equivalent is in Israel; but rather, the images of the underworld idols of the neighboring nations.

Right! Think in terms of “elemental forces” – the Israelites were being told not to make idols of the hidden forces deep within the world, or in the oceans or skies. There were the types of things that people in their day would worship.

 

[mikekle]

The next verse is part of the same sentence and part of the same commandment.

you shall not bow down to them or serve them;

It’s about making graven images and worshiping them as gods.

There were lots of images of underwater creatures worshiped at the time of the Exodus. For example, the Canaanite’s worshipped Yam, the god of the sea. The Egyptians worshiped Tefnut, the frog goddess of fertility and some kind of crocodile god of the Nile River.

-Tim-

Oh, OK, I never knew they worshiped under sea creatures.

This verse makes sense to me now.

Thanks

 

[Charlemagne_III]

Neptune, for example, the Roman god of the sea, had no doubt many statues erected to him.

And the Greeks had the sea god Poseidon.

Hades was the Greek god of the underworld, who also would have had graven statues, along with Zeus the god of Olympus.

 

[TimothyH]

They worshiped anything - the sun, moon and groupings of stars, knots in a piece of wood, the wind, mountains, statues, each other…

…three car garages and Corvettes, American “Idols”, sports teams, S&P 500, physical fitness, breast implants and white teeth… oh, wait… sorry.

-Tim-

 

[GEddie]

They worshiped anything - the sun, moon and groupings of stars, knots in a piece of wood, the wind, mountains, statues, each other…

…three car garages and Corvettes, American “Idols”, sports teams, S&P 500, physical fitness, breast implants and white teeth… oh, wait… sorry.

-Tim-

It’s very easy to confuse obsession with idolatry, but not all that (or not at all) helpful.

Let’s not get too selfrighteous.

ICXC NIKA

 

[TimothyH]

It’s very easy to confuse obsession with idolatry, but not all that (or not at all) helpful.

Let’s not get too selfrighteous.

ICXC NIKA

Maybe I was being self-depricating. Don’t assume things.

-Tim-

 

[GEddie]

Maybe I was being self-depricating. Don’t assume things.

-Tim-

I was not being judgemental; when I do that, I don’t use 's

ICXC NIKA

 

[COPLAND_3]

Actually TimothyH made plenty of sense because many of those things are idols in America. If people were as devoted to God as they are their favorite ball team then Christians would be much more effective. I found it quite ironic some time ago when people were skipping church services to watch an episode of American IDOL.

 

[mikekle]

They worshiped anything - the sun, moon and groupings of stars, knots in a piece of wood, the wind, mountains, statues, each other…

…three car garages and Corvettes, American “Idols”, sports teams, S&P 500, physical fitness, breast implants and white teeth… oh, wait… sorry.

-Tim-

You are absolutely right…those people ARE idolizing these things in todays world, its sad they dont even recognize it though!