or סֵמֶל; from an unused root meaning to resemble; a likeness; figure, idol, image.
Transliteration:çemel
Pronunciation:seh'-mel
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word çemel (`{{H5566}}`) originates from an unused root signifying "to resemble" or "to be like." At its most basic, it denotes a "likeness," "figure," or "representation." However, its semantic range within the biblical text is almost exclusively narrowed to a negative connotation, specifically referring to an "idol" or "image" crafted for illicit worship. It implies a physical, tangible form intended to represent something, but in practice, always refers to a cultic object that draws worship away from the one true God. Thus, while it carries the core idea of resemblance, its biblical usage is heavily weighted towards the concept of an idolatrous representation, often a statue or cultic pillar.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of çemel (`{{H5566}}`) in the Hebrew Bible consistently appear in contexts condemning idolatry, highlighting its role as an object of false worship.
* **[[Deuteronomy 4:16]]**: This verse is part of Moses's exhortation to Israel to remain faithful to the covenant and avoid idolatry. The text warns against making a "graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female." Here, çemel is used in parallel with pesel (`{{H6459}}`, "graven image") and temunah (`{{H8544}}`, "likeness"), emphasizing the visual and representational aspect of the forbidden objects. The context is a clear prohibition against creating any physical representation of the divine or anything in creation for worship.
* **[[2 Chronicles 33:7]], [[2 Chronicles 33:15]]**: These verses describe the profound spiritual apostasy of King Manasseh, who "set a carved image of the idol, which he had made, in the house of God." The çemel here refers to a specific, offensive idol placed within the sacred precincts of the Temple itself, a direct desecration. Later, after his repentance, Manasseh removes this çemel along with other foreign altars, underscoring its nature as a symbol of spiritual rebellion and defilement.
* **[[Ezekiel 8:3]], [[Ezekiel 8:5]]**: In a visionary journey, Ezekiel is brought to Jerusalem and shown the "image of jealousy" (çemel haqqin'ah) standing at the entrance to the inner court of the Temple. This çemel is identified as a primary "abomination" that provokes God's wrath and jealousy. The location of this idol within the Temple precincts signifies the depth of Israel's spiritual corruption and the direct affront to God's holiness and exclusive right to worship. The term "jealousy" directly links the idol to God's passionate demand for singular devotion.
Across these occurrences, çemel is consistently associated with objects of pagan worship, often set up in defiance of God's commands, and always evoking divine displeasure and judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The word çemel (`{{H5566}}`) is often found in close association with, or in conceptual proximity to, other terms related to idolatry and divine representation:
* **`{{H6459}}` Pesel (פסל)**: "Graven image." This term frequently appears alongside çemel, as seen in [[Deuteronomy 4:16]] and [[2 Chronicles 33:7]]. While pesel emphasizes the *carved* nature of the idol, çemel highlights its character as a *likeness* or *figure* used for cultic purposes.
* **`{{H8544}}` Temunah (תמונה)**: "Likeness," "similitude," "form." A broader term for any visual representation, but used in [[Deuteronomy 4:16]] to reinforce the prohibition against making any çemel that is a likeness of anything.
* **`{{H4572}}` Massekah (מסכה)**: "Molten image," "cast image." Another common type of idol, often made by casting metal. While çemel can be a massekah or pesel, it focuses on the *function* as an idolatrous likeness.
* **Idolatry**: çemel is a concrete manifestation of the sin of idolatry, which is the worship of anything other than the one true God. This includes the worship of created things or man-made representations.
* **The Second Commandment**: The prohibition against making "any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" ([[Exodus 20:4]]; [[Deuteronomy 5:8]]). The very existence and use of a çemel is a direct violation of this foundational command.
* **Divine Jealousy**: As seen in Ezekiel's "image of jealousy," the use of çemel directly provokes God's holy jealousy, emphasizing His exclusive claim to worship and His intolerance for rivals.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of çemel (`{{H5566}}`) is profound, touching upon core tenets of biblical faith:
* **God's Transcendence and Immateriality**: The consistent condemnation of çemel underscores the biblical understanding that God is Spirit, utterly transcendent, and cannot be adequately represented by any physical image or likeness. Any attempt to confine or portray God in a çemel diminishes His infinite nature and leads to a false understanding of the Divine.
* **The Exclusivity of Worship**: The presence of çemel signifies a direct challenge to the first commandment, which demands exclusive worship of Yahweh. The "image of jealousy" in Ezekiel powerfully illustrates God's passionate and righteous anger against any rival for the devotion of His people.
* **Covenant Fidelity and Apostasy**: The making or worshipping of a çemel is a grave act of covenant infidelity, a turning away from the God who delivered Israel. It represents spiritual prostitution and a forfeiture of the blessings promised in the covenant, leading instead to judgment and exile.
* **The Futility of Idols**: Implicit in the biblical condemnation is the theological truth that these çemel are "nothing" ([[1 Corinthians 8:4]]). They are lifeless, powerless human constructs, unable to hear, speak, or save, in stark contrast to the living, active, and sovereign God of Israel.
* **Spiritual Corruption**: The prevalence of çemel within Israel's history, particularly in periods of moral decay, indicates a deep-seated spiritual corruption. Idolatry is not merely an external act but a symptom of a heart that has strayed from God and embraced false realities.
### Summary
The Hebrew word çemel (`{{H5566}}`) denotes a "likeness," "figure," "idol," or "image," derived from a root meaning "to resemble." Its usage in the Hebrew Bible is exclusively pejorative, referring to a physical representation crafted for illicit worship. Prominently featured in texts such as [[Deuteronomy 4:16]], [[2 Chronicles 33:7]], and [[Ezekiel 8:3]], çemel consistently appears in contexts condemning idolatry, often alongside terms like pesel (`{{H6459}}`, "graven image"). The "image of jealousy" in Ezekiel particularly highlights God's intense displeasure and righteous anger toward such objects. Theologically, çemel signifies a profound violation of the covenant, an affront to God's transcendent and immaterial nature, and a manifestation of spiritual apostasy. Its condemnation underscores the exclusive claim of the living God to worship and the inherent futility and spiritual danger of seeking to represent or worship the divine through human constructs.
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