God commands, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image" (Exodus 20:4), and John ends his letter, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:21). Idols can live in the heart (Ezekiel 14:3), and Paul calls covetousness idolatry (Colossians 3:5). The answer is to turn "to God from idols to serve the living and true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:9).
An idol is anything we trust, love or serve in God's place. In the Bible that often meant statues of wood, stone or gold, but Scripture also exposes idols of the heart: money, approval, pleasure, success, even good things like family. These twelve King James verses gather God's command against idols, the hidden idols of the heart, and the call to turn back to the living God. They suit a new-year reset and the weeks before Lent. For the positive side, see putting God first.
No other gods, no graven images
1. Exodus 20:4-5
"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;"
The second commandment forbids making images to worship. God calls Himself jealous, not with petty envy but with a husband's rightful love that will not share His people with false gods.
2. 1 John 5:21
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."
John's letter ends abruptly with this warning, right after teaching that Jesus is the true God (1 John 5:20). Anything that replaces Him, even an idea of God we invent, is an idol.
3. Psalms 115:4-8
"Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them."
The psalm mocks idols that cannot speak, see or hear, then warns that we become like what we worship. Worship of the living God makes us more alive.
4. 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."
God will not share His glory with images. Idolatry is not only foolish; it robs God of the praise that belongs to Him alone. See also the glory of God.
Idols of the heart
5. Ezekiel 14:3
"Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?"
The elders who came to Ezekiel had no statues in their hands, but they had idols in their hearts. Idolatry starts inside long before it shows outside.
6. Colossians 3:5
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"
Paul names covetousness as idolatry because greed makes something other than God our source of security and joy. See also money.
7. Romans 1:25
"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."
Idolatry exchanges the Creator for created things. Nature, people and pleasures are good gifts, but they become idols when we serve them more than the Giver.
8. Jonah 2:8
"They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy."
Jonah prayed this from inside the great fish. Lying vanities, empty idols, cannot save, and clinging to them means walking away from God's mercy.
Turning from idols to the living God
9. 1 Thessalonians 1:9
"For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;"
The Thessalonians did not only give up idols; they turned to God to serve Him. Removing an idol leaves an empty space, and worship of the living God fills it.
10. 1 Corinthians 10:14
"Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry."
Paul's counsel is to flee, not negotiate. Some idols, like gambling, pornography or a substance, are best handled with distance and accountability. See addiction.
11. Joshua 24:15
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua's people still kept old family gods. He called for a clear choice: whom will you serve? Choose you this day is a strong verse for a new-year decision.
12. 1 Samuel 7:3
"And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
Samuel told Israel to put away their idols and prepare their hearts for God. Repentance clears the space; preparing the heart keeps it clear.
A short prayer
Lord, You alone are God. Search my heart and show me what I trust, love or serve more than You. Help me put away every idol, big or small, and turn to serve the living and true God. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
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Frequently asked questions
What is an idol in the Bible?
An idol is any person, thing or desire that takes God's place in our trust, love or obedience. In Bible times idols were usually statues of false gods (Psalm 115:4), but Scripture also speaks of idols in the heart (Ezekiel 14:3) and calls greed idolatry (Colossians 3:5).
What are examples of modern idols?
Common modern idols include money, career, success, approval and social media, comfort, romance, appearance, politics, sports and even family or ministry. A good test: what do I think about most, fear losing most or turn to for comfort before God? Good gifts become idols when they become ultimate. See success and distraction.
Is a Christmas tree an idol?
Some point to Jeremiah 10:3-4, which describes cutting a tree and decking it with silver and gold. In context, Jeremiah is describing a carved wooden idol that people feared and served (Jeremiah 10:5, 8-9). Most Christians see a Christmas tree as decoration, not worship, and Romans 14:5-6 leaves room for conscience. See trees.
How do I get rid of idols in my life?
Name them honestly in prayer (Psalm 139:23-24), confess and turn back (1 Samuel 7:3), and remove what feeds them where you can. Then fill the space with worship, Scripture and generosity, as the Thessalonians turned to serve the living God. Ask a trusted friend or pastor to walk with you. See repentance.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about putting God first · Bible verses about worship · Bible verses about money · Bible verses about addiction · Bible verses about Lent · Bible verses about repentance · Bible verses about distraction
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