Eidolon denotes an object treated in contrast to God, including objects worshiped or associated with offerings.

The occurrences refer to objects set in contrast to God: people turn from them, are warned to guard themselves from them, or are said to worship them; the same term also appears in discussions of sacrifices and food associated with such objects.

1. Objects opposed to devotion to God · dominant

   The noun identifies the objects from which people turn in 1 Thessalonians 1:9 and against which believers are told to guard themselves in 1 John 5:21. In 1 Corinthians 8:4, the nominative singular is the object of the assertion that it is nothing in the world; in Revelation 9:20, the accusative plural stands among the things people do not cease to worship. The term also occurs in clauses concerning sacrifice or food associated with such objects in Acts 15:20 and 1 Corinthians 8:7.

   1 Thessalonians 1:91 John 5:211 Corinthians 8:4Revelation 9:20Acts 15:201 Corinthians 8:7

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB usually presents the term as “idol” or “idols,” including in clauses about turning from them, guarding against them, and worshiping them. In passages concerning offerings or food, the translation also uses compounds such as “idol-offering” and “idol-offered”; Those compounds should not be treated as a separate lexical meaning.