Quick Definition
εἴδωλον, ου, τό n.n. an idol, false god
Strong's Definition
from 1491; an image (i.e. for worship); by implication, a heathen god, or (plural) the worship of such
KJV Usage: idol
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | -ου | εἶδος
6.97 · Artifacts · Images and Idols
idol, (image) an object which resembles a person, animal, god, etc. and which is an object of worship The technical distinction between an image and an idol is that an image may merely represent a supernatural being, while an idol not only represents such a being but is believed to possess certain inherent supernatural powers. Images often become idols when they are assumed to possess such powers in and of themselves rather than being mere representations of some supernatural entity. If, for example, various images of a particular supernatural being are supposed to have different healing powers, then what began merely as images or representations of a supernatural power have become idols, in that the different images themselves have acquired special efficacy.
Though the existence of idols and corresponding terms for them are widespread, idols are by no means universal, and therefore it may be necessary in some languages to employ some type of descriptive equivalent, for example, ‘objects that are made to look like gods’ or ‘carved statues that are considered to be gods.’
ACT 7:41 · ROM 2:22 · 1CO 8:4 · 1CO 8:7 · 1CO 10:19 · 1CO 12:2 · 2CO 6:16 · 1TH 1:9 · REV 9:20
12.23 · Supernatural Beings and Powers · Supernatural Beings
false god (a figurative extension of meaning of εἴδωλον[a] ‘idol,’ 6.97) an unreal supernatural being A ‘false god’ may be rendered as ‘that which seems to be a god.’ In 1JN 5:21 one may speak of ‘those that seem to be gods but really are not.’
It is also possible, however, to interpret εἴδωλον in 1JN 5:21 as being simply an idol.
1 In the NT εἴδωλον[a] is restricted in meaning to idol in contrast with image, as noted in the discussion of 6.97.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
εἴδωλον, -ov, τό, (εἶδος [cf. W. 96 (91); Etym. Magn. 296, 97), in Grk. writ. fr. Hom. down, an image, likeness, i. e. whatever represents the form of an object, either real or imaginary; used of the shades of the departed (in Hom.), of apparitions, spectres, phantoms of the mind, ete.; in bibl. writ. [an idol, i. e.] 1. the image of a heathen god: Acts νἱϊ. 41; 1 Co. xii. 2; Rey. ix. 20, (Is. xxx. 22; 2 Chr. xxiii. 17, ete.; θεῶν ἢ δαιμόνων εἴδωλα, Polyb. 31, 3, 13); 2. a false god: Acts xv. 20 (on which see ἀλίσγημα) ; Ro. ii. 22; 1 Co. viii. 4, 7 ; x. 19; 2 Co. vi. 16; 1 Th.i. 9, (often in Sept.) ; φυλάσσειν ἑαυτὸν ἀπὸ τ. εἰδώλων, to guard one’s self from all manner of fellowship with heathen worship, 1 Jn. v. 21.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
εἴδωλον eidōlon 11x
pr. a form, shape, figure; image or statue; hence, an idol, image of a god, Acts 7:41; a heathen god, 1 Cor. 8:4, 7; for εἰδωλόθυτον, the flesh of victims sacrificed to idols, Acts 15:20; Rom. 2:22; 1 Cor. 10:19; 12:12; 2 Cor. 6:16; 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 Jn. 5:21; Rev. 9:20*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
εἴδωλον, -ου, τό
(< εἶδος), [in LXX for אֱלֹוהָּ, גְּלוּלִים, etc. ;]
in cl. a phantom, image, likeness;
an image in the mind, an idea, fancy.
In LXX and NT, an image of a god, an idol (cf. Polyb., xxxi, 3, 13): Ac 7:41, I Co 12:2, Re 9:20;
the false god or idol worshipped in an image (ICC, on I Th, l.c.): Ac 15:20, Ro 2:22, I Co 8:4, 7 10:19 II Co 6:18, I Th 1:9, I Jo 5:21.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
εἴδωλον. In P Leid W**- (ii/iii a.p.) εἴδωλα 8 are the ‘nine constellations,” but in the astrological P Ryl II. 63% (iti/a.p.) the word is used in the more general sense of ‘‘ image,” **phenomenon,’’ when Plato asks an Egyptian, τίς δὲ ἡ αἰτία τούτων [τ]ῶ[ν εἰἸδώλων ; “ what is the cause of these phenomena?’’ (Edd.), and receives a reply connecting various parts of the body with the sun, moon, etc. Cf. also the horoscope, P Lond 130185 (i/ii a.p.) (=I. p. 137) ἀστέρα τὸν ἐν τῆι χλαμύδι καλούμενον Γανυμήδην ὁμωνύμως τῶι ὅλωι εἰδώλωι, and 7. 122° (iv/a.p.) (=I. p. 117) ἐγὼ yap εἶμι τὸ εἴδωλόν σον. The word is used of the images of heathen gods in the vi/A.p. Silco inscr., OG/ZS 2018 ἐποίησα εἰρήνην pet αὐτῶν καὶ ὥμοσάν μοι τὰ εἴδωλα αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπίστευσα τὸν ὅρκον αὐτῶν. Vett. Val. pp. 67° ὑπὸ δαιμονίων καὶ φαντασίας εἰδώλων χρηματισθήσονται, 1137 τοῦ δὲ Κρόνου ἐν τῷ ὑπογείῳ εὑρεθέντος θεῶν καὶ γεκρῶν εἴδωλα ἐφαντάσθη.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
εἴδωλον (eidōlon) — idol. εἴδωλον, τό, (εἶδος) phantom, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; βροτῶν εἴδωλα καμόντων, of ghosts, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
2. any unsubstantial form, εἴδωλον σκιᾶς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἴ. ἄλλως a mere form, [Refs]; αἰῶνος εἴ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
3. image reflected in a mirror or in water, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
4. in the system of Epicurus, film given off by any object and conveying an impression to the eye, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II. image in the mind, idea, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; phantom of the mind, fancy, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. image, likeness, γυναικὸς εἴ. χρύσεον [Refs 5th c.BC+]
IV. later, image of a god, idol, [LXX+NT+6th c.AD+]
V. εἴ. οὐράνια constellations, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]