דברים פרק ד' אליכם בחרב מתוך האש 'ונשמרתם מאד לנפשתיכם כי לא ראיתם כל תמונה ביום דבר ה(פסוק טו) פסל תמונת כל סמל תבנית זכר או נקבה פן תשחתון ועשיתם לכם (טז) (יז) תבנית כל רמש באדמה תבנית כל דגה אשר במים מתחת לארץ (יח) תבנית כל רמש באדמה תבנית כל דגה אשר במים מתחת לארץ (יט) ופן תשא עיניך השמימה וראית את השמש ואת הירח ואת הכוכבים כל צבא השמים ונדחת והשתחוית להם ועבדתם אשר חלק ה' אלקיך אתם לכל העמים תחת כל השמים
When discussing idol worship, there are certain activities that are considered to be objectively an act of worship and will be forbidden, while other activities may be specific and limited to a certain type of idol. Following are the general facts:
- Prohibition of idol worship when serve the unique form of worship of that idol.
- Prohibition against idol worship includes commonly used methods of veneration including: sacrificing, burning incense, offering a libation or bowing down.
- Prohibition to accept idol by even simply saying "you are my god."
- Other types of obsequiousness, such as hugging and kissing the idol, washing or cleaning it and so on would be forbidden, but would not serve as true idol worship.
- Prohibition to swear or make a neder or any other verbal establishment in the name of an idol.
- Prohibition includes even disgraceful acts if that is the unique service to that idol.
- One who accepts (even in thought without action) that another deity exists, has violated the prohibition of idol worship.
- Prohibition includes not only complete denial in faith in HaShem, but also believing in another entity (G-d forbid) in addition to HaShem.
Many verses in the Torah are dedicated to the prohibition of Avodah Zarah. This emphasizes the severity of this prohibition that it is considered equivalent to all the mitzvos of Torah. The Gemara Makkos (23b) further says this is prohibition was one of two said directly by HaShem to the Jews (not through Moshe).
