Question 97

Are images then not at all to be made?

God neither can, nor may be represented by any means,^a but as to creatures, though they may be represented, yet God forbids to make, or have any resemblance of them, either in order to worship them, or to serve God by them.^b

1. a. Deuteronomy 4:15–16; Isaiah 46:5; Romans 1:23

   Deuteronomy 4:15–16

   ^4:15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: ^4:16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

   ^4:15 So since you saw no form of any kind on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, be careful ^4:16 that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female,

   Isaiah 46:5

   ^46:5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

   ^46:5 To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?

   Romans 1:23

   ^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.

   ^1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

2. b. Exodus 23:24; 34:13–14; Numbers 33:52; Deuteronomy 7:5

   Exodus 23:24

   ^23:24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

   ^23:24 You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces.

   Exodus 34:13–14

   ^34:13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: ^34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

   ^34:13 Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles. ^34:14 For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

   Numbers 33:52

   ^33:52 Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:

   ^33:52 you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places.

   Deuteronomy 7:5

   ^7:5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

   ^7:5 Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible