By Pastor K. Bruce Oyen
This article is a study of the second commandment. All Biblical quotations are from the English Standard Version, unless otherwise noted.
The second commandment is found in Exodus 20:4 - 6 and in Deuteronomy 5:8 - 10. It says: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
It is obvious that this command is directly linked to the previous one, which says: “you shall have no other gods before me.” The first one prohibits idolatry. The second one prohibits making physical representations of false gods or other objects to be used in idolatry.
Perhaps listing this command by its separate parts will help us gain an over-all view of its contents.
1) “You shall not make for yourself a carved image,”
2) “or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”
3) “You shall not bow down to them or serve them;”
4) “for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
What we see in this command is a progression of thought:
1) First, God prohibits idolatry.
2) Second, God gives some details of idolatry.
3) Third, God states the consequences of idolatry.
4) Fourth, God states the blessings of loving obedience to him.
Now, let us do a study of some of the parts of this command. The first part says: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." This is not a prohibition of artistic carvings of images or likeness of animals or humans. Rather it is a prohibition of making such things for purposes of worship.
We know that God approves of the artistic making of creatures because they were used in the tabernacle and in Solomon’s temple. Exodus 37 and 38 tell us about the construction of the tabernacle furniture and other items. Exodus 35:30 - 36:1 says these items were made by Bezalel and his helpers with the direction and help of God.
Exodus 37:7 - 9 tells us; “And he (Bezalel) made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered work on the two ends of the mercy seat, one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.”
The initial directions from God about making these winged creatures are found in Ex. 25, in which God told Moses: “There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.”
We also see creatures used with God’s approval in Solomon’s temple. The construction of this temple is recorded in 1 Kings 6. In verses 23 - 37 we read of some of its contents. These included cherubim, we are told inverses 23 - 28. Verse 29 tells us: “All around the walls of the house he carved engraved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, in the inner and outer rooms.” 1 Kings 7 tells us about more handmade creatures used in Solomon’s temple, including 12 oxen, lions, and palm trees. 1 Kings 8 tells us that when it was completed, Solomon dedicated this temple to the worship of God. His dedication included a heart-felt prayer that is inspiring to read and contemplate. 1 Kings 9 tells us of God’s response to Solomon’s temple and to his prayer of dedication. Verse 3 says: “And the LORD said to him, ‘I have heard your prayer, and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.' ” God said more to Solomon, but it does not include one word of disapproval of the handmade creatures used in the temple. Therefore, we must conclude that the second commandment does not prohibit handmade creatures, but it does prohibit their use as objects of worship. In other words, it prohibits bowing down to them and serving them, just as the commands says.
Consider some examples of handmade items that were used as objects of worship:
1) Aaron’s golden calf, referred to in Ex. 34.
2) King Nebuchadnezzar’s image, referred to in Daniel 3.
3) The two golden calves, referred to in 2 Kings 17.
4) The statue of the goddess Diana of the Ephesians, referred to in Acts 19.
Adam Clarke,the Wesleyan Bible scholar of the 1800's who was famous for his set of commentaries on the Bible, said the following about the second commandment:
"As the word lsp pasal signifies to hew, carve, grave, &c., lsp pesel may here signify any kind of image, either of wood, stone, or metal, on which the axe, the chisel, or the graving tool has been employed. This commandment includes in its prohibitions every species of idolatry known to have been practiced among the Egyptians. The reader will see this the more plainly by consulting the notes on the ten plagues, particularly those on chap. 12.
"Or any likeness, &c." - To know the full spirit and extent of this commandment, this place must be collated with Deuteronomy iv. 15, &c.: Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves-lest ye corrupt yourselves-and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of MALE or FEMALE. All who have even the slightest acquaintance with the ancient history of Egypt, know that Osiris and his wife Isis were supreme divinities among that people.
The likeness of any beast.
- hmhb behemah, such as the ox and the heifer. Among the Egyptians the ox was not only sacred but adored, because they supposed that in one of these animals Osiris took up his residence: hence they always had a living ox, which they supposed to be the habitation of this deity; and they imagined that on the death of one he entered into the body of another, and so on successively. This famous ox-god they called Apis and Mnevis.
The likeness of any winged fowl.
- The ibis, or stork, or crane, and hawk, may be here intended, for all these were objects of Egyptian idolatry.
The likeness of any thing that CREEPETH. The crocodile, serpents, the scarabeus or beetle, were all objects of their adoration; and Mr. Bryant has rendered it very probable that even the frog itself was a sacred animal, as from its inflation it was emblematic of the prophetic influence, for they supposed that the god inflated or distended the body of the person by whom he gave oracular answers.
The likeness of any FISH.
- All fish were esteemed sacred animals among the Egyptians. One called Oxurunchus had, according to Strabo, lib. xvii., a temple, and divine honours paid to it. Another fish, called Phagrus, was worshipped at Syene, according to Clemens Alexandrinus in his Cohortatio. And the Lepidotus and eel were objects of their adoration, as we find from Herodotus, lib. ii., cap. 72. In short, oxen, heifers, sheep, goats, lions, dogs, monkeys, and cats; the ibis, the crane, and the hawk; the crocodile, serpents, frogs, flies, and the scarabeus or beetle; the Nile and its fish; the sun, moon, planets, and stars; fire, light, air, darkness, and night, were all objects of Egyptian idolatry, and all included in this very circumstantial prohibition as detailed in Deuteronomy, and very forcibly in the general terms of the text: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in the HEAVENS above, or that is in the EARTH beneath, or that is in the WATER under the earth. And the reason of this becomes self- evident, when the various objects of Egyptian idolatry are considered.
To countenance its image worship, the Roman Catholic Church has left the whole of this second commandment out of the decalogue, and thus lost one whole commandment out of the ten; but to keep up the number they have divided the tenth into two. This is totally contrary to the faith of God's elect and to the acknowledgment of that truth which is according to godliness. The verse is found in every MS. of the Hebrew Pentateuch that has ever yet been discovered. It is in all the ancient versions, Samaritan, Chaldee, Syriac, Septuagint, Vulgate, Coptic, and Arabic; also in the Persian, and in all modern versions. There is not one word of the whole verse wanting in the many hundreds of MSS. collected by Kennicott and Deuteronomy Rossi. This corruption of the word of God by the Roman Catholic Church stamps it, as a false and heretical Church, with the deepest brand of ever-during infamy! This commandment also prohibits every species of external idolatry, as the first does all idolatry that may be called internal or mental. All false worship may be considered of this kind, together with all image worship, and all other superstitious rites and ceremonies. See the note on Exodus xx. 23." (End of quote from Adam Clarke. The quote was taken from his commentary as found on this website: www.godrules.net. )
The final point I want to make about the second commandment is that God takes idolatry as such an affront to himself that he told the people of Israel that those who practice it would face serious consequences for doing so, and that he would bless those who avoid it. One reason God so opposes idolatry is that he is a jealous God. He has a right to be jealous, for he alone is worthy of our love, devotion, and worship. Take note once again, of what it says: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
Adam Clarke,the Wesleyan Bible scholar of the 1800's who was famous for his set of commentaries on the Bible, said the following about the second commandment:
"As the word lsp pasal signifies to hew, carve, grave, &c., lsp pesel may here signify any kind of image, either of wood, stone, or metal, on which the axe, the chisel, or the graving tool has been employed. This commandment includes in its prohibitions every species of idolatry known to have been practiced among the Egyptians. The reader will see this the more plainly by consulting the notes on the ten plagues, particularly those on chap. 12.
"Or any likeness, &c." - To know the full spirit and extent of this commandment, this place must be collated with Deuteronomy iv. 15, &c.: Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves-lest ye corrupt yourselves-and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of MALE or FEMALE. All who have even the slightest acquaintance with the ancient history of Egypt, know that Osiris and his wife Isis were supreme divinities among that people.
The likeness of any beast.
- hmhb behemah, such as the ox and the heifer. Among the Egyptians the ox was not only sacred but adored, because they supposed that in one of these animals Osiris took up his residence: hence they always had a living ox, which they supposed to be the habitation of this deity; and they imagined that on the death of one he entered into the body of another, and so on successively. This famous ox-god they called Apis and Mnevis.
The likeness of any winged fowl.
- The ibis, or stork, or crane, and hawk, may be here intended, for all these were objects of Egyptian idolatry.
The likeness of any thing that CREEPETH. The crocodile, serpents, the scarabeus or beetle, were all objects of their adoration; and Mr. Bryant has rendered it very probable that even the frog itself was a sacred animal, as from its inflation it was emblematic of the prophetic influence, for they supposed that the god inflated or distended the body of the person by whom he gave oracular answers.
The likeness of any FISH.
- All fish were esteemed sacred animals among the Egyptians. One called Oxurunchus had, according to Strabo, lib. xvii., a temple, and divine honours paid to it. Another fish, called Phagrus, was worshipped at Syene, according to Clemens Alexandrinus in his Cohortatio. And the Lepidotus and eel were objects of their adoration, as we find from Herodotus, lib. ii., cap. 72. In short, oxen, heifers, sheep, goats, lions, dogs, monkeys, and cats; the ibis, the crane, and the hawk; the crocodile, serpents, frogs, flies, and the scarabeus or beetle; the Nile and its fish; the sun, moon, planets, and stars; fire, light, air, darkness, and night, were all objects of Egyptian idolatry, and all included in this very circumstantial prohibition as detailed in Deuteronomy, and very forcibly in the general terms of the text: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in the HEAVENS above, or that is in the EARTH beneath, or that is in the WATER under the earth. And the reason of this becomes self- evident, when the various objects of Egyptian idolatry are considered.
To countenance its image worship, the Roman Catholic Church has left the whole of this second commandment out of the decalogue, and thus lost one whole commandment out of the ten; but to keep up the number they have divided the tenth into two. This is totally contrary to the faith of God's elect and to the acknowledgment of that truth which is according to godliness. The verse is found in every MS. of the Hebrew Pentateuch that has ever yet been discovered. It is in all the ancient versions, Samaritan, Chaldee, Syriac, Septuagint, Vulgate, Coptic, and Arabic; also in the Persian, and in all modern versions. There is not one word of the whole verse wanting in the many hundreds of MSS. collected by Kennicott and Deuteronomy Rossi. This corruption of the word of God by the Roman Catholic Church stamps it, as a false and heretical Church, with the deepest brand of ever-during infamy! This commandment also prohibits every species of external idolatry, as the first does all idolatry that may be called internal or mental. All false worship may be considered of this kind, together with all image worship, and all other superstitious rites and ceremonies. See the note on Exodus xx. 23." (End of quote from Adam Clarke. The quote was taken from his commentary as found on this website: www.godrules.net. )
The final point I want to make about the second commandment is that God takes idolatry as such an affront to himself that he told the people of Israel that those who practice it would face serious consequences for doing so, and that he would bless those who avoid it. One reason God so opposes idolatry is that he is a jealous God. He has a right to be jealous, for he alone is worthy of our love, devotion, and worship. Take note once again, of what it says: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
Although God will judge idolaters, he extends his hand of mercy toward any idolater who admits the seriousness of this sin. Proverbs 28:13 has an important message: “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” Acts 16:31 has an important message: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved….” (New King James Version) Romans 10:9 and 10 has an important message: “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Romans 10:13 has an important message: “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” If you have not already done so, admit your need for Jesus Christ and receive him as your Savior.
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