idolatry

Everyday

1. (Bible, church) Worshipping idols, meaning statues or objects treated as gods, which the Bible forbids. tree →
2. Loving or admiring something or someone far too much, as if it were a god. tree →

In the lessons

In Bible lessons it appears in the story of the golden calf and in the Ten Commandments: «You shall have no other gods before me». Christians believe putting money, fame or anything above God is a kind of idolatry. In everyday talk it means extreme admiration. Phrases: guilty of idolatry, the sin of idolatry.

Examples

• In the Bible, the Israelites fell into idolatry when they worshipped the golden calf. tree →
• The Ten Commandments forbid idolatry. tree →
• Christians believe loving money more than God is a kind of idolatry. tree →
• The prophets warned the people against idolatry. tree →
• Some people's love of football is almost idolatry. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Related: idol (a statue worshipped as a god; also a famous star), idolise/idolize (to admire very much). Pronounced eye-DOL-a-tree.

In Jewish tradition

Idolatry is worship of idols or false gods, which the Torah strictly forbids. Samuel compares stubbornness against God to it.

Interpretation. Avoiding idolatry is one of the most basic commandments, and the rabbis count it among the three sins one must die rather than commit. Samuel teaches that disobeying God is nearly as bad.

Examples

• For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. (Prophets 1SA.15.23, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable. Related: idol (a statue worshipped as a god; also a famous star), idolise/idolize (to admire very much). Pronounced eye-DOL-a-tree.