εἰδωλεῖον (eidōleion)
eidōleion
idol's temple
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun eidōleion refers specifically to a building dedicated to an idol, rather than the statue itself. In the New Testament, this term appears only once, in 1 Corinthians 8:10, where Paul describes a scenario involving a believer with a sensitive conscience eating food sacrificed to idols within such a structure.
Its meaning is concrete and architectural. Lexical sources define it as an idol’s temple or a sanctuary containing an image. This distinction matters because the surrounding discussion in Corinthians focuses on the social and spiritual implications of entering pagan religious spaces, not merely the consumption of meat.
The word derives from eidōlon, meaning "image" or "phantom." By adding the suffix for place, it creates a specific term for the physical location where these images were housed. This rare usage highlights the tangible reality of idolatry in the first-century Mediterranean world, where religious practice was often centered in visible shrines.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word eidōleion points to a physical place of worship for false gods, not just the statue inside it. In first-century Corinth, these temples were social hubs where meals were shared. Paul uses this specific term in 1 Corinthians 8:10 to show how deeply embedded idolatry was in daily life. It reminds us that our choices are never made in a vacuum; they happen in real spaces with real people watching.
When we consider how our actions affect others, we must look beyond our own freedom. Entering such a place might seem harmless to someone strong in faith, but it can confuse or harm a brother or sister with a tender conscience. This word invites us to be mindful of the environments we enter and the example we set. It calls for a love that prioritizes another’s spiritual well-being over our personal rights.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- an idol’s temple1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- εἰδωλείῳ1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 8:10
For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
Paul uses this rare architectural term to highlight the specific social setting where a weaker believer might be led into sin by observing a stronger one.