Idol, Image
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Ex 20:3-4, Deut 4:16, Rom 2:22, 1 Cor 8:4, 1 John 5:21)—the likeness of any creature of heaven, or of earth, or of the waters, which is worshiped and served in the place of God. The second commandment forbids the worship of idols, whether as imagined deities or as images of false gods. The names for idols in the Hebrew language are various, the most commonly used being the following: Elilim, or vanity, worthlessness. Idols were so called because the true worshipers of God regarded them as a thing of no significance whatever.
Elil (Isa 57:5?)—false gods. Gillulim (Lev 26:30 and elsewhere)—blocks, stumps, logs. Gevel, or Aven (Deut 32:21 and elsewhere)—emptiness, vanity. Hammanim (2 Chr 34:7)—perhaps an image of Baal-hamon, the sun god. Miphletzeth (1 Kings 15:13)—an object of dread, of horror, a fright-idol. Shikkuts (2 Chr 15:8[?])—a pagan abomination. Semel (2 Chr 33:7, 15)—an image, symbol, likeness. Teraphim (Zech 10:2)—images of household gods, similar to the penates of the Romans. They were regarded as the authors of domestic good fortune and were consulted as oracles (Judg 17:5, Ezek 21:21 and elsewhere).