Strong's g1496

Pronunciation Guide: eye-doh-lol-AT-race

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1496: Εἰδωλολάτρης (eidōlolatrēs) refers to an idolater or a worshipper of false gods. It describes a person who offers service, worship, or adoration to images, statues, or representations of deity other than the one true God. In a broader theological sense, it encompasses anyone who places anything in their life above יהוה (Yahweh), making that thing or person their functional deity.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Noun (Masculine)
• Compound Word: Formed from εἴδωλον (eidōlon, “idol/image”) + λάτρης (latrēs, “servant/worshipper”)
• Language Origin: Koine Greek
• Primary Usage: Found in epistolary literature, particularly in Paul’s letters regarding ethical instruction and warnings about pagan practices
• Frequency: Appears 7 times in the New Testament

Εἰδωλολάτρης Morphology:

• εἰδωλολάτρης (nominative singular) – an idolater
• εἰδωλολάτρου (genitive singular) – of an idolater
• εἰδωλολάτρῃ (dative singular) – to/for an idolater
• εἰδωλολάτρην (accusative singular) – an idolater (direct object)
• εἰδωλολάτραι (nominative plural) – idolaters
• εἰδωλολατρῶν (genitive plural) – of idolaters
• εἰδωλολάτραις (dative plural) – to/for idolaters
• εἰδωλολάτρας (accusative plural) – idolaters (direct object)

Origin & History

The term εἰδωλολάτρης appears to be a distinctly biblical and early Christian compound word. While the components εἴδωλον and forms of λατρεύω existed in classical Greek literature, their combination into this specific term seems to have originated within the Hellenistic Jewish and early Christian communities. The compound construction reflects Jewish and early Christian concerns about pagan worship practices.

In classical Greek literature, εἴδωλον (idol) originally meant “phantom” or “image” without necessarily carrying religious connotations. Herodotus and Plato used it to refer to images or likenesses. The religious meaning became more pronounced in the Septuagint translation, where it was used to translate Hebrew terms for idols (such as פֶּסֶל, pesel). The term λάτρης comes from λατρεύω, meaning “to serve” or “to worship,” often in a religious context, found in writers such as Sophocles and Euripides. The compound form εἰδωλολάτρης represents a specifically Jewish and Christian theological concept that became important in distinguishing monotheistic worship from pagan practices in the Greco-Roman world.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Religious Idolater: One who participates in formal religious ceremonies dedicated to pagan deities, offering sacrifices or prayers to statues or representations of gods
• Covetous Person: In an extended theological sense, one who places such value on material possessions or earthly relationships that they functionally displace God (as in Colossians 3:5, where covetousness is called idolatry)
• Spiritual Compromiser: One who attempts to serve both יהוה and other gods, dividing their ultimate allegiance
• Practitioner of Pagan Rituals: One who engages in ritual behaviors associated with idol worship, including sacrificial meals and ceremonial practices

Εἰδωλολάτρης Translation Options:

• Idol worshipper: Emphasizes the active devotional aspect, highlighting the deliberate choice to venerate something other than God
• Idolater: The most common traditional translation, focusing on the general practice of honoring false gods
• Idol servant: Highlights the λάτρης component, emphasizing the servitude aspect of idolatry
• Image worshipper: Emphasizes the εἴδωλον component, focusing on the concrete physical representation being venerated
• One enslaved to false gods: Captures the spiritual bondage dimension implied in the word’s usage in Pauline theology

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, εἰδωλολάτρης first appears in 1 Corinthians 5:10, where Paul clarifies that believers cannot completely avoid contact with “the idolaters [εἰδωλολάτραις]” of this world, though they should not identify as believers those who practice idolatry. The term is deliberately used to identify a category of people whose behavior stands in opposition to faithful covenant relationship with יהוה.

Paul lists εἰδωλολάτρης among serious moral failings that exclude one from the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9, Ephesians 5:5), demonstrating the severity with which early Messianic communities viewed this transgression. This reflects the First Commandment’s prohibition against having other gods and making graven images. The emphasis throughout Scripture suggests that idolatry is not merely an incorrect theological position but a fundamental betrayal of covenant relationship with the one true God.

• “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people; not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters [εἰδωλολάτραις]…” 1 Corinthians 5:10
• “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters [εἰδωλολάτραι]…” 1 Corinthians 6:9
• “For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater [εἰδωλολάτρης], has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and God.” Ephesians 5:5
• “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry… You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:14,21 (contextually related)
• “And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols…” Revelation 9:20 (contextually related)
• “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters [εἰδωλολάτραις] and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
• “Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters [εἰδωλολάτραι], and everyone who loves and practices lying.” Revelation 22:15

Cultural Insights

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, idol worship was not merely a religious activity but a social and cultural one as well. Temples to various deities functioned as social centers, marketplaces, and venues for civic gatherings. Refusing to participate in idol worship could make early believers appear antisocial or even seditious. This context helps explain why Paul’s guidance about meat sacrificed to idols in 1 Corinthians 8-10 was so practical and nuanced—believers faced daily decisions about how to navigate a world saturated with idolatrous practices.

The term εἰδωλολάτρης would have evoked for Jewish readers the painful history of Israel’s struggle with idolatry. The golden calf incident (Exodus 32), the repeated cycles of apostasy in Judges, the divided kingdom, and ultimately the Babylonian exile were all tied to Israel’s failure to worship יהוה exclusively. For Jewish believers in the Messiah, using this term would recall the warnings of the prophets and highlight the seriousness of maintaining exclusive devotion to the God of Israel, now revealed in the person of Yeshua the Messiah.

Theological Significance

Εἰδωλολάτρης represents a fundamental theological category in biblical thought: those who direct their ultimate allegiance to something other than the Creator. The prohibition against idolatry is grounded in יהוה’s nature as the only true God (Isaiah 45:5-6), His role as Creator (Jeremiah 10:11-16), and His exclusive covenant relationship with Israel (Exodus 20:2-6). Idolatry is not merely a mistake but a fundamental distortion of reality—worshipping the created thing rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).

The New Testament expands this understanding by recognizing that idolatry can take forms beyond literal image-worship. Covetousness is identified as idolatry (Colossians 3:5), suggesting that anything that captures our ultimate loyalty or becomes the functional center of our life can become an idol. This reveals God’s desire for wholehearted devotion from His people. It’s not merely about correct worship practices but about rightly ordered loves and ultimate allegiance. The severity with which Scripture treats εἰδωλολάτρης reflects God’s jealous love for His people—He desires their full devotion because He knows that only in relationship with Him will they find true fulfillment and purpose.

Personal Application

Examining our lives for modern forms of idolatry requires honest self-reflection. While few of us bow before statues, many of us struggle with functional idolatry—placing career, wealth, relationships, comfort, technology, or even ministry success in a position that only God should occupy. When we find our identity, security, or sense of worth in anything other than our relationship with God through the Messiah, we risk becoming modern εἰδωλολάτραι. The invitation is to continually realign our hearts, letting God examine our deepest attachments and priorities.

The antidote to idolatry is not merely avoiding false worship but actively cultivating true worship. As we behold the glory of God in the face of Yeshua the Messiah (2 Corinthians 4:6), we are transformed. When we experience the living God’s presence and love, lesser gods lose their appeal. Each day presents us with the choice that Joshua laid before Israel: “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). By God’s grace, may we respond, “As for me and my house, we will serve יהוה.”

Related Words

• εἴδωλον (eidōlon) [EYE-doh-lon] – An idol or image representing a deity; the physical object of worship. Where εἰδωλολάτρης focuses on the person doing the worshipping, εἴδωλον refers to the object being worshipped. See G1497
• εἰδωλολατρία (eidōlolatria) [eye-doh-loh-lah-TREE-ah] – Idolatry or idol worship as a practice or concept; the abstract noun form related to εἰδωλολάτρης. This term refers to the act or system of idol worship rather than the individual who practices it. See G1495
• εἰδωλεῖον (eidōleion) [eye-doh-LAY-on] – A temple dedicated to idols. This term specifically refers to the physical location where idol worship took place, providing important context for understanding the social dynamics early believers navigated. See G1493
• εἰδωλόθυτος (eidōlothytos) [eye-doh-LOH-thoo-toss] – Food sacrificed to idols; meat that had been offered in pagan religious ceremonies. This term was particularly relevant for practical ethical questions faced by early believers. See G1494
• λατρεύω (latreuō) [lah-TREW-oh] – To serve, particularly in a religious sense; to worship or render religious service. This verb forms part of the compound εἰδωλολάτρης and emphasizes the active service aspect of worship. See G3000

Did you Know?

• In ancient Corinth, where Paul addressed issues of idolatry extensively, the temple of Aphrodite reportedly employed over 1,000 temple prostitutes, creating a direct connection between idolatry and sexual immorality. This helps explain why these two sins are frequently mentioned together in Paul’s vice lists, including those that use the term εἰδωλολάτρης. The worship of false gods often involved immoral practices that violated both the first and seventh commandments simultaneously.
• The early Christians’ refusal to participate in emperor worship—considering it εἰδωλολατρία—was one of the primary reasons they faced persecution in the Roman Empire. When Christians refused to burn incense to the emperor or recognize him as divine, they were viewed as threats to social harmony and imperial unity. What seemed to Romans like a simple ceremonial gesture was, for believers, a fundamental act of εἰδωλολατρία that would compromise their exclusive allegiance to Yeshua as Lord.
• The concept of εἰδωλολάτρης influenced English through the Latin transliteration “idololatra,” which eventually became our word “idolater.” This Greek theological term has become embedded in our language, continuing to shape how we think about misplaced devotion and worship even in modern secular contexts. When we describe someone as “idolizing” a celebrity or being “idol-minded” about success, we’re drawing on this ancient theological concept.

Remember This

True worship belongs exclusively to יהוה alone—anything or anyone that displaces Him in your heart has become an idol, making you an εἰδωλολάτρης; recognize these competitors for your devotion, tear them down, and give God His rightful throne in your life.