The term "graved" in the context of the Bible typically refers to the act of engraving or carving, often associated with the creation of idols or inscriptions. This term is derived from the Hebrew word "pāsal," which means to carve or hew, and is often used in the context of crafting images or idols. The concept of graving is significant in biblical texts, as it often relates to the prohibition against idolatry and the creation of graven images.

Biblical References:

1. Exodus 20:4 : "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath." This commandment explicitly forbids the creation of graven images, emphasizing the importance of worshiping God alone and not substituting Him with physical representations.

2. Deuteronomy 4:16 : "So that you do not act corruptly and make for yourselves an idol in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female." Here, the warning against graving images is reiterated, highlighting the potential for corruption and deviation from true worship.

3. Isaiah 44:9-10 : "Those who fashion 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. Who fashions a god or casts an idol which can profit him nothing?" This passage critiques the futility of creating graven images, underscoring their inability to provide any real benefit or power.

4. Leviticus 26:1 : "You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or a sacred pillar, or place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God." This verse reinforces the prohibition against graving images, linking it directly to the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty.

Theological Significance:

The prohibition against graving images is deeply rooted in the theological understanding of God's nature and the appropriate way to worship Him. In the biblical worldview, God is spirit (John 4:24) and transcends physical form, making any attempt to represent Him through graven images inherently inadequate and misleading. The creation of such images often leads to idolatry, where the object itself becomes the focus of worship rather than God.

The emphasis on avoiding graven images serves as a safeguard against the human tendency to reduce the divine to tangible, controllable forms. It calls believers to a higher form of worship that is based on faith and spiritual truth rather than physical representations.

Cultural Context:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the creation of graven images was a common practice among surrounding pagan cultures. These images were often used in religious rituals and were believed to house the presence of deities. The Israelites, however, were called to be distinct from these practices, reflecting their unique covenant relationship with Yahweh.

The biblical injunctions against graving images were not only a matter of religious purity but also a means of cultural differentiation. By rejecting the use of idols, the Israelites demonstrated their allegiance to the one true God and their commitment to His commandments.

Conclusion:

The concept of graving in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of worshiping God in spirit and truth. It challenges believers to resist the temptation to confine the divine to physical forms and to remain faithful to the spiritual nature of their relationship with God.1. (imp.) of Grave.

2. (p. p.) of Grave.

Blessed is He Above all in his Birth!
... They graved and set up stones, whereon men should stumble."They set them not on
the highway, for the blind to stumble on:"they called them Gods, that on ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xv blessed is he.htm

Iesu
... And first I found the corner where was I,. After, where ES, and next where
U was graved. When I had got these parcels, instantly. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/lxx iesu.htm

Alexandria and Rome - the Jewish Communities in the Capitals of ...
... the sun rose upon it! At least, so he graved upon the Colossus itself,
for the information of all generations. [290] Such was the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v alexandria and rome.htm

The Lesson of Memory
... same Father, 'with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.' So on every
stone of remembrance, every Ebenezer on which is graved: 'Hitherto hath the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the lesson of memory.htm

Striking Similes
... Her face was dull as lead. Her face was like a light. Her face was passionless,
like those by sculptor graved for niches in a temple. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section viii striking similes.htm

South -- the Image of God in Man
... As if there was more divinity in one end of the stick than in the other; or, as
if he could be graved and painted omnipotent, or the nails and the hammer could ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/south the image of.htm

The Great Stone Face
... he grown old: more than the white hairs on his head were the sage thoughts in his
mind; his wrinkles and furrows were inscriptions that Time had graved, and in ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the great stone face.htm

Church Fabrics and Services.
... Some pious aspiration was still in many cases graved upon the border of the metal;
but often, instead of the old 'funera plango, fulgura frango,' &c., or the ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter x church fabrics and.htm

Graved (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp.) of Grave. 2. (pp) of Grave. Multi-Version
Concordance Graved (5 Occurrences). 1 Kings 6:35 He ...
/g/graved.htm - 8k

Cherubs (52 Occurrences)
... (YLT). 1 Kings 6:35 And he hath carved cherubs, and palms, and openings of flowers,
and overlaid with straightened gold the graved work. (YLT). ...
/c/cherubs.htm - 22k

Chalde'ans (74 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Ezekiel 23:14 And she doth add unto her whoredoms, And she seeth graved
men on the wall, Pictures of Chaldeans, graved with red lead, (See RSV). ...
/c/chalde'ans.htm - 29k

Openings (27 Occurrences)
... (YLT). 1 Kings 6:35 And he hath carved cherubs, and palms, and openings of flowers,
and overlaid with straightened gold the graved work. (YLT). ...
/o/openings.htm - 14k

Ledges (7 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:36 For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof,
he graved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of ...
/l/ledges.htm - 8k

Grave-clothes (1 Occurrence)
Grave-clothes. Graveclothes, Grave-clothes. Graved . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(ASV WBS YLT). Graveclothes, Grave-clothes. Graved . Reference Bible.
/g/grave-clothes.htm - 6k

Graving (7 Occurrences)
... by incision or in intaglio. 4. (n.) That which is graved or carved. 5. (n.) Impression,
as upon the mind or heart. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/g/graving.htm - 10k

Gravediggers (1 Occurrence)

/g/gravediggers.htm - 6k

Edges (28 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:36 For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof,
he graved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of ...
/e/edges.htm - 14k

Doorframes (2 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 3:7 He overlaid also the house, the beams, the thresholds, and the
walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubim on the ...
/d/doorframes.htm - 7k

Graved: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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