Sculpture, as an art form, involves the carving, modeling, or assembling of materials into three-dimensional representations. In the context of the Bible, sculpture is often associated with religious and cultural artifacts, both in the worship of the true God and in idolatry.

Biblical References and Context

1. Idolatry and Prohibition: The most prominent mention of sculpture in the Bible is in the context of idolatry. The Second Commandment explicitly forbids the creation of graven images for worship: "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath" (Exodus 20:4). This commandment underscores the danger of sculpted images leading to idolatry, a recurring issue for the Israelites.

2. The Golden Calf: One of the most notable instances of sculpture leading to idolatry is the creation of the golden calf by the Israelites at Mount Sinai. In Exodus 32, Aaron fashioned a calf from gold, and the people worshiped it, inciting God's wrath. This event highlights the potential for sculpture to become an object of false worship.

3. Artistic Craftsmanship in the Tabernacle and Temple: While the Bible warns against idolatrous sculptures, it also acknowledges the use of skilled craftsmanship in the service of God. The construction of the Tabernacle involved artistic work, including the crafting of cherubim: "And make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat" (Exodus 25:18). These sculptures were not objects of worship but served a symbolic purpose in the Holy of Holies.

4. Solomon's Temple: Solomon's Temple also featured intricate carvings and sculptures. In 1 Kings 6:23-28, Solomon commissioned the creation of two large cherubim of olive wood overlaid with gold for the inner sanctuary. These sculptures were part of the temple's decor, emphasizing the beauty and majesty of God's dwelling place.

5. Prophetic Denunciations: The prophets frequently denounced the creation and worship of idols, often highlighting the futility of sculpted images. Isaiah 44:9-20 ridicules the practice of crafting idols, emphasizing their lifelessness and inability to save. Such passages reflect the biblical view that while sculpture can be an expression of human creativity, it must not become an object of worship.

Cultural and Historical Insights

In the ancient Near East, sculpture was a common form of artistic expression, often used in religious contexts. Neighboring cultures, such as the Egyptians, Canaanites, and Babylonians, frequently created statues and idols representing their deities. The Israelites, living amidst these cultures, were repeatedly tempted to adopt similar practices, leading to God's stern warnings against idolatry.

Theological Implications

The biblical perspective on sculpture underscores the importance of worshiping God in spirit and truth, without reliance on physical representations. While the Bible acknowledges the role of art and craftsmanship in religious settings, it consistently warns against the elevation of created objects to divine status. This distinction is crucial in maintaining the purity of worship and the acknowledgment of God's transcendence.

In summary, sculpture in the Bible is a multifaceted topic, encompassing both the dangers of idolatry and the legitimate use of artistic expression in the worship of God. The biblical narrative provides a framework for understanding the appropriate role of sculpture within the context of faith and devotion.1. (n.) The art of carving, cutting, or hewing wood, stone, metal, etc., into statues, ornaments, etc., or into figures, as of men, or other things; hence, the art of producing figures and groups, whether in plastic or hard materials.

2. (n.) Carved work modeled of, or cut upon, wood, stone, metal, etc.

3. (v. t.) To form with the chisel on, in, or from, wood, stone, or metal; to carve; to engrave.

5480. charagma -- a stamp, impress
... a stamp, impress. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: charagma Phonetic
Spelling: (khar'-ag-mah) Short Definition: sculpture, a stamp, sign Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5480.htm - 7k6816. tsaatsuim -- things formed, images
... image work. From an unused root meaning to bestrew with carvings; sculpture -- image
(work). 6815, 6816. tsaatsuim. 6817 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6816.htm - 6k

4734. miqlaath -- carving
... carved figure, carving, graving. From qala'; a sculpture (probably in bas-relief) --
carved (figure), carving, graving. see HEBREW qala'. 4733, 4734. ...
/hebrew/4734.htm - 6k

6603. pittuach -- an engraving
... Or pittuach {pit-too'-akh; passive participle of pathach; sculpture (in low or high
relief or even intaglio) -- carved (work) (are, en-)grave(-ing, -n). ...
/hebrew/6603.htm - 6k

Under Ban of the Ritual
... In the years of his youth, side by side with the great Rameses, he had planned and
brought to perfection the mightiest monument to Egyptian sculpture, the rock ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter ii under ban of.htm

The Names of the Gods and their Images are but of Recent Date.
... functions, and described their forms." Representations of the gods, again, were
not in use at all, so long as statuary, and painting, and sculpture were unknown ...
/.../athenagoras/a plea for the christians/chapter xvii the names of the.htm

The Division Between East and West
... There had been from very early times an extensive though not universal feeling in
the Church, against the use of painting or sculpture in {96} Divine Worship. ...
/.../a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter ix the division between.htm

Travel. A Personal Experience.
... If you want to know the origin of the art of building, the art of painting, the
art of sculpture, as you find them to-day in contemporary America, you must ...
/.../ix travel a personal experience.htm

Early Christian Literature and Art.
... In "a list of the symbols most frequently represented in painting or sculpture by
the Church of the first seven centuries" Susanna is included (DCA art. ...
/.../the three additions to daniel a study/early christian literature and art 2.htm

The Era of Persecution
... were dead. The well-known piece of ancient sculpture known as the Farnese Bull
is the original tragedy pictured in stone. An inscription ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/iii the era of persecution.htm

The Margin of the Nile
... ban and in fear. Till what time Mizraim sets this law of sculpture aside she
may not boast her wisdom flawless. It is past understanding ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xiv the margin of.htm

The Stage as it was Once.
... music and metre, which must have surely been as noble as their poetry, their sculpture,
their architecture, possessed by the same exquisite sense of form and ...
/.../kingsley/lectures delivered in america in 1874/lecture ii the stage as.htm

History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7
... The empire after the wars of Assur-nazir-pal -- Building of the palace at Calah:
Assyrian architecture and sculpture in the IXth century -- The tunnel of Negub ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 7/title page.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... Persepolis, and Susa; Persian architecture and sculpture; court life, the king and
his harem"Revolutions in the palace"Xerxes I., Sekudianos, Darius II ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of.htm

Sculpture (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (vt) To form with the chisel on, in, or from, wood, stone, or metal; to carve;
to engrave. Multi-Version Concordance Sculpture (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/sculpture.htm - 7k

Calah (2 Occurrences)
... while the sides of the right-hand entrance were decorated with slabs showing the
expulsion of the evil spirit from the temple-a spirited sculpture now in the ...
/c/calah.htm - 14k

Babylonia (17 Occurrences)
... 11. Art: The sculpture of the Sumerians, although in most instances the hardest
of materials was used, is one of the great achievements of their civilization. ...
/b/babylonia.htm - 75k

Assyria (124 Occurrences)
... be traced. Under Assur-nazir-pal the sculpture is bold and vigorous, but
the work is immature and the perspective faulty. From the ...
/a/assyria.htm - 101k

Shinar (8 Occurrences)
... known Cities 10. Shinar and Its Climate 11. Sculpture in Shinar 12. The
First Nation to Use Writing in Western Asia 13. The System ...
/s/shinar.htm - 27k

Knee (12 Occurrences)
... Thus also we have to understand the numerous representations in Egyptian sculpture,
showing the king as an infant on the knees or the lap of a goddess. ...
/k/knee.htm - 12k

Kneel (10 Occurrences)
... Thus also we have to understand the numerous representations in Egyptian sculpture,
showing the king as an infant on the knees or the lap of a goddess. ...
/k/kneel.htm - 11k

Neck (97 Occurrences)
... This custom, frequently represented in sculpture on many an Egyptian temple wall,
is referred to in Joshua 10:24; Baruch 4:25 and probably in Romans 16:20 and ...
/n/neck.htm - 45k

Grave (128 Occurrences)
... substance; to engrave. 9. (n.) To carve out or give shape to, by cutting with
a chisel; to sculpture; as, to grave an image. 10. (n.) To ...
/g/grave.htm - 37k

Ground (538 Occurrences)
... Bowers on a white ground. 8. (n.) In sculpture, a flat surface upon which
figures are raised in relief. 9. (n.) In point lace, the ...
/g/ground.htm - 43k

Is worship of saints / Mary biblical? | GotQuestions.org

Should Christians care about physical appearance? | GotQuestions.org

Why does Moses have horns in some ancient statues / sculptures? | GotQuestions.org

Sculpture: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus