Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Graven Images?

10 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Graven Images in the Bible

Discover 10 powerful Bible verses about graven images. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential life circumstances topic.

10
Total Verses
9
Old Testament
1
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Graven Images

  1. 1
    Genesis 1:26
    And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
    KJV
  2. 2
    Exodus 20:1
    And God spake all these words, saying,
    KJV
  3. 3
    Exodus 20:3
    Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
    KJV
  4. 4
    Exodus 20:4
    Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
    KJV
  5. 5
    Exodus 20:5
    Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
    KJV
  6. 6
    Leviticus 26:1
    Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God. standing: or, pillar image of: or, figured stone: Heb. a stone of picture
    KJV
  7. 7
    Deuteronomy 4:16
    Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
    KJV
  8. 8
    Isaiah 42:8
    I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
    KJV
  9. 9
    Isaiah 44:15
    Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
    KJV
  10. 10
    Acts 17:29
    Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
    KJV

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Graven Images? (9 Verses)

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
And God spake all these words, saying,
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God. standing: or, pillar image of: or, figured stone: Heb. a stone of picture
Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Graven Images? (1 Verses)

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Graven Images

  1. 1

    Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.

  2. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about graven images. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 3

    Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.

  4. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about graven images and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.

Practical Application

Studying what the Bible says about graven images is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:

  • Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on graven images needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about graven images with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.

  • Pray through the key verses about graven images, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.

How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Graven Images?

You have studied 10 verses about graven images. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about graven images?
Discover 10 powerful Bible verses about graven images. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential life circumstances topic. The Bible contains 10 key verses about graven images spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about graven images are there?
There are 10 key Bible verses about graven images compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about graven images?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about graven images is Genesis 1:26 — "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and..."
Where in the Bible does it talk about graven images?
Graven Images is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 10 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

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