WG: Graven Image — OT Idol Vocabulary
Overview
Five Hebrew words form the core vocabulary for prohibited images and idols in the OT. Together they cover the physical fabrication methods (carving, casting), the theological judgment on such objects (worthless, vain), and the associated visual concept (likeness, similitude) that the second commandment prohibits.
Word Group Members
| Strong's |
Word |
Transliteration |
POS |
Occurrences |
Role in Concept |
Library Entry |
| H6459 |
פֶּסֶל |
pecel |
masc. noun |
30 |
The carved/hewn idol — the specific object prohibited in the Decalogue |
H6459-pecel.md |
| H4541 |
מַסֵּכָה |
massekah |
fem. noun |
28 |
The cast/molten image — metal idol produced by pouring |
H4541-maccekah.md |
| H6456 |
פְּסִיל |
peciyl |
masc. noun |
24 |
Sibling of pecel — carved image (+ "quarry" in Jdg 3) |
H6456-pciyl.md |
| H457 |
אֱלִיל |
eliyl |
masc. adj. |
18 |
The worthless/vain idol — emphasizes the idol's nothingness |
H457-eliyl.md |
| H8544 |
תְּמוּנָה |
temunah |
fem. noun |
10 |
Likeness/similitude/form — the visual representation itself |
TODO(need H8544 study) |
Relationships
Shared Roots
- pecel (H6459) and peciyl (H6456) — both from root פסל (pacal, H6458, "to carve/hew")
- massekah (H4541) — from נסך (nacak, H5258, "to pour out"); the casting/pouring method
- eliyl (H457) — from אל (al, H408, "not/nothing"); etymologically = "good for nothing"
- temunah (H8544) — from מין (miyn, H4327, "to portion out/form"); a shaped likeness
Co-occurrence (shared distinct verses)
| Word A |
Word B |
Shared Verses |
Typical Context |
| pecel (H6459) |
massekah (H4541) |
8x |
"graven image and molten image" — the standard carved+cast pair (Deu 27:15; Jdg 17-18; Isa 42:17; Nah 1:14; Hab 2:18) |
| pecel (H6459) |
temunah (H8544) |
5x |
"graven image, the similitude of any figure" — commandment texts (Exo 20:4; Deu 4:16, 23, 25; 5:8) |
| massekah (H4541) |
peciyl (H6456) |
4x |
Co-occur in Judges 17-18 shrine narrative |
| pecel (H6459) |
eliyl (H457) |
3x |
Lev 26:1; Isa 10:10 area; Hab 2:18 |
| massekah (H4541) |
eliyl (H457) |
2x |
Lev 19:4 — "Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods" |
Conceptual Gradient
| Emphasis |
Word |
Gloss |
Key Verse |
| Carved/hewn object |
pecel (H6459) |
graven image |
Exo 20:4 — "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image" |
| Cast/poured object |
massekah (H4541) |
molten image |
Exo 34:17 — "Thou shalt make thee no molten gods" |
| Carved idol (sibling) |
peciyl (H6456) |
graven image |
Deu 7:5 — "burn their graven images with fire" |
| Worthless non-entity |
eliyl (H457) |
idol/nothing |
Isa 2:8 — "their land also is full of idols" |
| Visual form/likeness |
temunah (H8544) |
likeness |
Deu 4:12 — "ye heard the voice... but saw no similitude" |
LXX Overlaps
| Hebrew Words |
Shared Greek |
Notes |
| pecel + massekah + eliyl |
εἴδωλον (eidolon, G1497) |
LXX uses eidolon as catch-all for multiple Hebrew idol terms |
| pecel + temunah |
ὁμοίωμα (homoioma, G3667) |
Both rendered as "likeness" in commandment texts |
| pecel + eliyl |
εἰκών (eikon, G1504) |
"Image" — broader Greek term covering both carved objects and abstract representation |
Roles in the Concept
- Prohibited object (carved): pecel (H6459) — the specific word in the 2nd commandment; a wood or stone idol shaped by chiseling
- Prohibited object (cast): massekah (H4541) — the molten/poured metal image; paired with pecel to cover both fabrication methods
- Near-synonym (carved): peciyl (H6456) — same root as pecel, overlapping usage; predominates in Deuteronomy 7, Micah, Hosea
- Theological verdict: eliyl (H457) — the idol judged as worthless/vain; emphasizes its ontological emptiness
- Visual form prohibited: temunah (H8544) — the "likeness" or "similitude"; names not the object but the visual resemblance it attempts to capture
Key Passages Where Multiple Group Words Appear
- Exo 20:4 — pecel + temunah: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing"
- Deu 27:15 — pecel + massekah: "Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image"
- Lev 26:1 — eliyl + pecel: "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image"
- Hab 2:18 — pecel + massekah + eliyl: "What profiteth the graven image... the molten image, and a teacher of lies"
- Jdg 18:17-18 — pecel + massekah + peciyl: the Danites take Micah's carved image, ephod, teraphim, and molten image
Generated from: gather_word_group_data.py, gather_word_data.py
Last updated: 2026-04-15