Lexical Summary pasil: Idol, graven image Original Word: פְסִיל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance carved graven image, quarry From pacal; an idol -- carved (graven) image, quarry. see HEBREW pacal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pasal Definition an idol, image NASB Translation carved images (6), engraved images (1), graven images (7), idols (8), images (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מָּסִיל]23 noun masculineDeuteronomy 7:25 id.; — plural (מֶּ֫סֶל serving as singular) מְּסִילִים Judges 3:19 +; מְּסִלִים Hosea 11:2 +; construct מְּסִילֵי Jeremiah 51:47 +; suffix מְּסִילֶיךָ Micah 5:12, etc.; — idols, Hosea 11:2; Isaiah 10:10 10t., + (of wood, with שָׂרַף) Deuteronomy 7:5,25, so (with גִּדַּע) Deuteronomy 12:3; of stone Isaiah 21:9 (with שִׁבַּר ), Judges 3:19,26 (compare GFM), stone or metal Micah 1:7; 2Chronicles 34:7 (כִּתַּת), compare 2 Chronicles 34:3; 2 Chronicles 34:4; (sheathed with) silver Isaiah 30:22. I. פסס (√ of following; perhaps compare פשׂת spread; compare Phoenician (Punic) פס tablet; Aramaic פַסָּא, Topical Lexicon Overviewפְסִיל (pesil) designates a carved image fashioned for religious devotion. Every occurrence ties the term to idolatry, never to legitimate worship. Scripture therefore presents each pesil as a concrete violation of the first and second commandments and as a stark rival to the glory of the living God. Geographic and Historical Setting The word surfaces in contexts that range from the conquest period (Deuteronomy) to the post-exilic prophetic age (Jeremiah, Micah). Israel encountered a world saturated with manufactured deities—Canaanite fertility symbols, Aramean household gods, Assyrian and Babylonian imperial icons. The pesil thus became the physical emblem of cultural pressure to syncretize. Reoccurring calls to destroy these images underscore the perpetual tension between covenant fidelity and surrounding pagan practice. Distribution in Scripture 1. Deuteronomic legislation (Deuteronomy 7:5; 7:25; 12:3) lays down the foundational ban: Israel must “break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and burn their idols” (Deuteronomy 12:3). Theological Themes Exclusive worship Pesil encapsulates man’s attempt to confine transcendence within wood or stone. By outlawing carved images, the covenant insists that Yahweh cannot be manipulated, domesticated, or visualized (compare Exodus 20:4). Jealous divine love Idols provoke “jealousy” (Psalm 78:58), a relational term signalling covenant betrayal. The imagery of marriage (Hosea 11:2) and vengeance (Jeremiah 51:47-52) reveals God’s personal investment in His people’s purity. Judgment and liberation Prophets announce cosmic reversal: “Babylon has fallen… all the images of its gods are shattered on the ground!” (Isaiah 21:9). Breaking the pesil becomes the first step toward national renewal (Isaiah 30:22). Ministry Significance 1. Preaching against modern idolatry While Western culture rarely bows to literal statues, the heart still fabricates substitutes—wealth, pleasure, power. The biblical assault on pesil exposes all such rivals. 2. Discipleship and repentance Josiah’s reforms illustrate that idols must be removed decisively, not managed. Discipleship therefore involves rigorous identification and destruction of any allegiance competing with Christ. 3. Missions and cultural engagement Missionaries enter societies where carved images still dominate. The Old Testament offers both a model of uncompromising monotheism and a pastoral caution: confront idols without dismissing the people ensnared by them. 4. Worship practice The pesil prohibition safeguards the principle that faith comes by hearing, not by sight. A Word-centered liturgy remains the safest guard against substituting sensory appeal for spiritual truth. Christological Fulfillment The incarnate Son is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Ironically, the very prohibition that protected divine transcendence prepares the way for the true, God-given image. In Him the longing for tangible presence is satisfied without idolatry. Eschatological Outlook Micah’s vision culminates in a world cleansed of pesilim: “I will destroy your carved images” (Micah 5:13). Revelation echoes the theme, portraying final judgment on all idolaters and universal worship of the Lamb. Thus the trajectory that begins with Deuteronomy’s call to smash carved images ends in the new creation’s undivided devotion. Forms and Transliterations בִּפְסִלֵיהֶ֖ם בפסליהם הַפְּסִילִ֔ים הַפְּסִילִ֗ים הַפְּסִילִים֙ הַפֶּ֙סֶל֙ הפסילים הפסל וְהַפְּסִלִ֔ים וְהַפְּסִלִ֖ים וְהַפְּסִלִ֤ים וְהַפְּסִלִים֙ וְלַפְּסִלִ֖ים וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם וּפְסִ֣ילֵיהֶ֔ם וּפְסִילֵ֥י וּפְסִילֵיהֶ֖ם ובפסיליהם והפסלים ולפסלים ופסילי ופסיליהם לַפְּסִילִֽים׃ לפסילים׃ פְּסִֽילֵיהֶ֖ם פְּסִילֵ֣י פְּסִילֵ֥י פְּסִילֶ֑יהָ פְּסִילֶ֣יהָ פְּסִלִים֙ פְסִילֶ֛יךָ פסילי פסיליה פסיליהם פסיליך פסלים bifsileiHem bip̄·si·lê·hem bip̄silêhem fesiLeicha hap·pe·sel hap·pə·sî·lîm happesel happesiLim happəsîlîm lap·pə·sî·lîm lappesiLim lappəsîlîm pə·sî·lê pə·sî·le·hā pə·sî·lê·hem p̄ə·sî·le·ḵā pə·si·lîm pəsîlê pəsîlehā pəsîlêhem pesiLei pesiLeiha pesileiHem p̄əsîleḵā pesiLim pəsilîm ū·ḇip̄·sî·lê·hem ū·p̄ə·sî·lê ū·p̄ə·sî·lê·hem ūḇip̄sîlêhem ufesiLei ufesileiHem ūp̄əsîlê ūp̄əsîlêhem uvifsileiHem vehappesiLim velappesiLim wə·hap·pə·si·lîm wə·lap·pə·si·lîm wəhappəsilîm wəlappəsilîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 7:5 HEB: וַאֲשֵֽׁירֵהֶם֙ תְּגַדֵּע֔וּן וּפְסִילֵיהֶ֖ם תִּשְׂרְפ֥וּן בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ NAS: and burn their graven images with fire. KJV: and burn their graven images with fire. INT: their Asherim and hew their graven and burn fire Deuteronomy 7:25 Deuteronomy 12:3 Judges 3:19 Judges 3:26 Judges 18:17 2 Kings 17:41 2 Chronicles 33:19 2 Chronicles 33:22 2 Chronicles 34:3 2 Chronicles 34:4 2 Chronicles 34:7 Psalm 78:58 Isaiah 10:10 Isaiah 21:9 Isaiah 30:22 Isaiah 42:8 Jeremiah 8:19 Jeremiah 50:38 Jeremiah 51:47 Jeremiah 51:52 Hosea 11:2 Micah 1:7 Micah 5:13 24 Occurrences |
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, =Biblical Hebrew).