Strengthen your faith in God's word

(1.) Heb. aven, “nothingness;” “vanity” (Isa 66:3; Isa 41:29; Deut 32:21; 1 Kgs 16:13; Ps 31:6; Jer 8:19, etc.).

(2.) ‘Elil, “a thing of naught” (Ps 97:7; Isa 19:3); a word of contempt, used of the gods of Noph (Ezek 30:13).

(3.) ‘Emah, “terror,” in allusion to the hideous form of idols (Jer 50:38).

(4.) Miphletzeth, “a fright;” “horror” (1 Kgs 15:13; 2 Chr 15:16).

(5.) Bosheth, “shame;” “shameful thing” (Jer 11:13; Hos 9:10); as characterizing the obscenity of the worship of Baal.

(6.) Gillulim, also a word of contempt, “dung;” “refuse” (Ezek 16:36; Ezek 20:8; Deut 29:17, marg.).

(7.) Shikkuts, “filth;” “impurity” (Ezek 37:23; Nah 3:6).

(8.) Semel, “likeness;” “a carved image” (Deut 4:16).

(9.) Tselem, “a shadow” (Dan 3:1; 1 Sam 6:5), as distinguished from the “likeness,” or the exact counterpart.

(10.) Temunah, “similitude” (Deut 4:12–19). Here Moses forbids the several forms of Gentile idolatry.

(11.) ‘Atsab, “a figure;” from the root “to fashion,” “to labour;” denoting that idols are the result of man’s labour (Isa 48:5; Ps 139:24, “wicked way;” literally, as some translate, “way of an idol”).

(12.) Tsir, “a form;” “shape” (Isa 45:16).

(13.) Matztzebah, a “statue” set up (Jer 43:13); a memorial stone like that erected by Jacob (Gen 28:18; Gen 31:45; Gen 35:14, Gen 35:20), by Joshua (Josh 4:9), and by Samuel (1 Sam 7:12). It is the name given to the statues of Baal (2 Kgs 3:2; 2 Kgs 10:27).

(14.) Hammanim, “sun-images.” Hamman is a synonym of Baal, the sun-god of the Phoenicians (2 Chr 34:4, 2 Chr 34:7; 2 Chr 14:3, 2 Chr 14:5; Isa 17:8).

(15.) Maskith, “device” (Lev 26:1; Num 33:52). In Lev 26:1, the words “image of stone” (A.V.) denote “a stone or cippus with the image of an idol, as Baal, Astarte, etc.” In Ezek 8:12, “chambers of imagery” (maskith), are “chambers of which the walls are painted with the figures of idols;” comp. ver. 10, 11.

(16.) Pesel, “a graven” or “carved image” (Isa 44:10–20). It denotes also a figure cast in metal (Deut 7:25; Deut 27:15; Isa 40:19; Isa 44:10).

(17.) Massekah, “a molten image” (Deut 9:12; Judg 17:3, Judg 17:4).

(18.) Teraphim, pl., “images,” family gods (penates) worshipped by Abram’s kindred (Josh 24:14). Put by Michal in David’s bed (Judg 17:5; Judg 18:14, Judg 18:17, Judg 18:18, Judg 18:20; 1 Sam 19:13).

“Nothing can be more instructive and significant than this multiplicity and variety of words designating the instruments and inventions of idolatry.”