What do u suppose "make no graven image or likeness of any thing in heaven..." means?

Question

or beneath the earth or that is in the water under the earth? What do u think it means? It's very vague....Thoughtful answer please...

Answer 1

I would avoid images not suggested by the Bible and which in the end make God smaller, more limited or of a different nature than he really is... the Bible does have to drawn on analogies from this world to speak to us and often does..how else would it speak to us? as Southern Apostle says particularly for worship and I add anything form the imagination of man that distorts the character or nature of God... would you like to be portrayed as a godlen calf? moooooooooo

you have to realize that the laws of Moses allows some depictions in the future temple and on the ark.
There are two angels fashioned on the cover and facing each other possibly heads bent in worship on top of the ark
There were two large cherubim in the holy of holies in the temple possible depicted pulling the ark as if a chariot?
There are images of plants in the temple

There are verbal images of God being like a mother bird in the psalms. In Ezekiel one 'like a man' is sitting on the throne

In the New Testament, it is difficult to read the Gospels or Revelation without some images coming to mind

so I think it is mainly wise to avoid images from the imagination of man, but some images depicting God images depicting Jesus such as a good Shepperd or lamb or lion are all right if Biblical suggested, but depictions distorting His character making him like a santa in the sky or an Oprah in the sky or an unmerciful and cruel or other distortions should be avoided

Answer 2

A 'graven image' seems to refer to sculpture, although it could be taken today to refer to the printing process as well. A 'likeness' would seem to be a drawing or painting.

'Any thing in heaven or beneath the earth or that is in the water under the earth' means everything.

Not at all vague, so far as I am concerned.

Answer 3

it means don't put the cart before the horse. Here's what I mean:

"I can't stand your religious meetings.
I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.
That's what I want. That's all I want. Amos 5:21-24 (The Message)

Answer 4

You are right. It is vague. So vague that it actually prohibits the worship of Jesus Christ, who is most certainly the flesh image of a heavenly "thing".

Answer 5

We are not to have statues of angels, images of the crucifix, no images at all of any animal in the church house. They become idols that people will pray to. As in the Catholic churches and Orthodox churches.

Answer 6

It means don't make an idol or statue and worship it.

Also includes pictures, paintings, jewelry, or anything that is not God.

Answer 7

it maens all those little statues of jesus on a stick, crosses, statues of saints and the medallions to go with them are all bad things to have in god's eyes, and he's sick of smiting people who are too stupid to learn

Answer 8

Idols. God seems to be very much against idolatry.

Answer 9

I'm with Southern Apostol...He's got it right.