40 Bible Verses About Idolatry

Idolatry is a topic that has been addressed throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament to the New Testament. It is a sin that has plagued humanity for centuries, and the Bible provides clear guidance on how to avoid it.

In this blog post, we will explore 40 Bible verses about idolatry, divided into Old Testament and New Testament sections, and delve into what the Bible says about this critical issue. Whether you are looking for spiritual guidance or simply want to understand the biblical perspective on idolatry, this post will provide you with valuable insights.

What Does the Bible Say About Idolatry?

Before going into the Bible verses about idolatry, it’s essential to understand what the Bible teaches about this sin. Idolatry is not just the worship of physical idols or false gods; it also includes placing anything above God in our lives. This could be money, power, relationships, or even our own desires. The Bible consistently warns against idolatry, emphasizing that God alone is worthy of worship and devotion.

In Exodus 20:3-5, the first of the Ten Commandments explicitly forbids idolatry: “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them.” This commandment sets the foundation for understanding the seriousness of idolatry in God’s eyes.

The New Testament also addresses idolatry, often linking it to greed and immorality. Colossians 3:5 warns, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.” This verse highlights that idolatry is not limited to physical idols but extends to anything that takes precedence over God in our hearts.

Now that we’ve established what the Bible says about idolatry, let’s explore 40 Bible verses about idolatry, divided into Old Testament and New Testament sections.

Old Testament Bible Verses About Idolatry

The Old Testament contains numerous warnings and teachings about idolatry. Here are 20 Old Testament Bible verses about idolatry:

1. Exodus 20:3-5 – “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them.”
2. Deuteronomy 4:15-19 – “You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore, watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol.”
3. Leviticus 19:4 – “Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.”
4. Deuteronomy 7:25 – “The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the Lord your God.”
5. 1 Samuel 12:21 – “Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.”
6. 2 Kings 17:12 – “They worshiped idols, though the Lord had said, ‘You shall not do this.'”
7. Psalm 115:4-8 – “Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.”
8. Psalm 135:15-18 – “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.”
9. Isaiah 2:8 – “Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.”
10. Isaiah 40:18-20 – “With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him? As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it.”
11. Isaiah 42:8 – “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”
12. Isaiah 44:9-10 – “All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.”
13. Jeremiah 10:14 – “Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. The images he makes are a fraud; they have no breath in them.”
14. Ezekiel 14:3 – “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?”
15. Hosea 13:2 – “Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen.”
16. Micah 5:13 – “I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.”
17. Habakkuk 2:18 – “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.”
18. Zechariah 10:2 – “The idols speak deceitfully, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.”
19. Exodus 34:17 – “Do not make any idols.”
20. Deuteronomy 27:15 – “Cursed is anyone who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.”

New Testament Bible Verses About Idolatry

The New Testament continues to address idolatry, often linking it to spiritual and moral issues. Here are 20 New Testament Bible verses about idolatry:

1. 1 Corinthians 10:14 – “Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.”
2. Colossians 3:5 – “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.”
3. 1 John 5:21 – “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”
4. Revelation 21:8 – “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”
5. Acts 15:20 – “Instead, we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.”
6. Romans 1:25 – “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”
7. 1 Corinthians 8:4 – “So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that ‘An idol is nothing at all in the world’ and that ‘There is no God but one.'”
8. 2 Corinthians 6:16 – “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.”
9. Galatians 5:19-21 – “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions.”
10. Ephesians 5:5 – “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
11. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 – “For they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.”
12. Revelation 9:20 – “The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.”
13. Acts 17:16 – “While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.”
14. 1 Corinthians 10:7 – “Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”
15. 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 – “Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.”
16. 1 Peter 4:3 – “For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.”
17. Revelation 2:14 – “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.”
18. Revelation 2:20 – “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.”
19. Revelation 22:15 – “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
20. Acts 21:25 – “As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”

How to Avoid Idolatry in Modern Times

While the Bible verses about idolatry primarily address the worship of physical idols, the principles apply to modern life as well. Today, idolatry can manifest in various forms, such as an obsession with wealth, career, social media, or even relationships. To avoid idolatry, we must prioritize our relationship with God and ensure that nothing takes His place in our hearts.

Here are a few practical steps to avoid idolatry:

• Regularly Examine Your Heart: Ask yourself if there’s anything you value more than God.
• Spend Time in Prayer and Scripture: Strengthen your relationship with God through daily devotion.
• Practice Gratitude: Focus on God’s blessings rather than worldly desires.
• Seek Accountability: Surround yourself with fellow believers who can encourage and challenge you.

Conclusion

Idolatry is a serious sin that can easily creep into our lives if we’re not vigilant. By studying these 40 Bible verses about idolatry, divided into Old Testament and New Testament sections, we gain a deeper understanding of what the Bible says about this issue and how to guard against it. Let us strive to keep God at the center of our lives, ensuring that nothing takes His place. As 1 John 5:21 reminds us, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”

By turning to scripture and remaining faithful, we can overcome the temptations of idolatry and live a life that glorifies God.

Do you struggle with idolatry in any form? How has God helped you overcome it? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Read also: 30 Best Bible Verses about the Fruit of the Spirit