idol
noun (an idol, idols)
Everyday
- An idol is a person who is greatly admired and loved by many people, such as a pop star or sports star. tree →
- (religion, Bible) An idol is a statue or picture that is worshipped as a god; the Bible forbids worshipping idols. tree →
- Anything treated as more important than it should be: «Money became his idol». tree →
In the lessons
In everyday life children have idols such as footballers and singers; TV shows pick «pop idols». In religious education, the Ten Commandments say not to make or worship idols, and the golden calf story shows the Israelites worshipping one. Phrases: «a pop idol», «my childhood idol», «worship idols», «a golden idol».
Examples
- My idol is a famous footballer. tree →
- The singer was the idol of millions of fans. tree →
- The Israelites made a golden calf as an idol. tree →
- The Ten Commandments forbid worshipping idols. tree →
- The explorer found a stone idol in the jungle temple. tree →
- Don't make money your idol. tree →
- She met her idol and got an autograph. tree →
- The long, colored tapestry, on which she and her maidens had worked pictures of their idols, Odin, Thor, and Friga, was hung up. tree →
Note
Countable; «an idol». Homophone: «idle» (lazy, not working) sounds the same. Related: idolise (to admire greatly), idolatry (worship of idols).
In Jewish tradition
An idol is an image worshipped as a god, which the Torah forbids. It is a main sin that the Israelites are warned against.
Interpretation. Judaism treats idol worship as one of the gravest sins. Tradition teaches that God is one and cannot be shown in any image.
Examples
- Turn ye not unto the idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God. (Torah LEV.19.4, JPS 1917) tree →
- and ye have seen their detestable things, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were with them — (Torah DEU.29.17, JPS 1917) tree →
- And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your sun-pillars, and cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you. (Torah LEV.26.30, JPS 1917) tree →
- And the idols shall utterly pass away. (Prophets ISA.2.18, JPS 1917) tree →
- Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone. (Prophets HOS.4.17, JPS 1917) tree →
- And they served their idols, which became a snare unto them; (Writings PSA.106.36, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Countable; «an idol». Homophone: «idle» (lazy, not working) sounds the same. Related: idolise (to admire greatly), idolatry (worship of idols).
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «idol» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «idol» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «idol» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «idol» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/idol/