Idolatry in Judaism

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Idolatry in Judaism (Hebrew: עבודה זרה) is prohibited.^[1] Judaism holds that idolatry is not limited to the worship of an idol itself, but also worship involving any artistic representations of God.^[1] The prohibition is epitomized by the first two "words" of the decalogue: I am the Lord thy God, Thou shalt have no other gods before me, and Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any image in the sky, on earth or in the sea. These prohibitions are re-emphasized repeatedly by the later prophets, suggesting the ongoing appeal of Canaanite religion and syncretic assimilation to the ancient Israelites.

In addition, it is forbidden to derive benefit (hana'ah) from anything dedicated to idolatry.