Thou Shalt Not Make Unto Thee Any Graven Image
The second commandment forbids creating and worshipping idols or images as representations of God, calling believers to worship Him in spirit and truth.
The second commandment forbids creating and worshipping idols or images as representations of God, calling believers to worship Him in spirit and truth.
"Thou shalt not 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 (KJV)
"Thou shalt not 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 — Read in Context
What Does the 2nd Commandment Mean?
While the first commandment addresses who we worship, the second commandment addresses how we worship. God is spirit (John 4:24), and no created image can capture His nature or glory. In the ancient world, surrounding nations crafted statues of their gods and bowed before them. God forbade Israel from doing the same because any physical representation diminishes His infinite, transcendent nature. The golden calf incident in Exodus 32 powerfully illustrates the danger of violating this commandment. The Israelites, impatient for Moses to return from Mount Sinai, fashioned an idol and attributed their deliverance to it. This commandment also warns that the consequences of idolatry extend across generations, while God's mercy extends to thousands of generations for those who love Him.
Historical Context
Idol-making was the dominant form of worship throughout the ancient Near East. Egyptian temples housed elaborate statues of deities; Mesopotamian ziggurats contained cult images believed to house the god's spirit. Canaanite religion featured carved Asherah poles and Baal statues at 'high places.' The Israelites had witnessed Egyptian idol worship daily for centuries. The golden calf (Exodus 32) was likely modeled on the Egyptian bull-god Apis. God's prohibition was absolute and unique—no other ancient religion banned images of their deity. This set Israel apart as worshippers of an invisible, transcendent God who could not be contained in any form.
Original Language
'Pesel' specifically means a carved or hewn image—an idol sculpted from wood, stone, or metal. Combined with 'temunah' (likeness/form), the commandment covers all physical representations intended for worship, whether carved, molded, or cast.
Common Misconceptions
Myth
This commandment forbids all art, photography, and visual representations.
Truth
God Himself commanded artistic representations in the tabernacle, including carved cherubim (Exodus 25:18-20). The prohibition is against images made for worship—using created objects to represent or replace the Creator. Art that glorifies God is encouraged throughout Scripture.
Myth
This is essentially the same as the first commandment.
Truth
The first commandment addresses who we worship (God alone); the second addresses how we worship (not through images). You can worship the right God in the wrong way—the golden calf was intended to represent Yahweh, not a foreign deity, yet it still violated God's command.
Applying This Commandment Today
Today, graven images may not be golden statues, but anything we use to 'define' or 'contain' God apart from His revealed Word can become an idol. This commandment reminds us to worship God as He has revealed Himself in Scripture, not according to our own imagination or cultural preferences.
Related Scripture References
Exodus 32:4
"And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."Read in context
John 4:24
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."Read in context
Acts 17:29
"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device."Read in context
Romans 1:23
"And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."Read in context
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a graven image in the Bible?
A graven image is a carved or molded object made to represent a deity for the purpose of worship. The second commandment forbids creating any physical representation of God or worshipping any crafted image.
Does the second commandment forbid all art and imagery?
The commandment specifically forbids images made for worship. God Himself later instructed the creation of the tabernacle decorations including cherubim (Exodus 25:18), indicating that artistic expression itself is not condemned—only the worship of created images.
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