The Ten Commandments and US Law: 2nd Commandment

2^nd Commandment

Quote from the Bible

4. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me,

6. but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation* of those who love me and keep my commandments. [or “to thousands”]

My interpretation what it means

This seems fairly straight forward.  Don’t make idols to worship, neither of things in Heaven (presumably God or Angels, but also the stars and planets, clouds or whatever) nor of things of the earth (like people plants, animals, mountains, cars or homes) nor even things in the water (like fish, or sharks, or coral reefs or whatever).  I’m going to guess that we shouldn’t make idols of things from the underworld either.

 
Just to show he means it, he notes that he will punish your kids and their kids and even their kids, if you don’t follow these commandments.  And in case you do follow them, he’ll show his love even more so, unless they don’t follow the commandments.  Then it’s back to punishment.

How it relates to US Law

It doesn’t.  We have no laws about graven images of idols and the worship of such things.  The same sections of the Constitution that apply to the first Commandment apply to the second.

Commentary

If your religion does require you to create an idol and worship it, that’s just fine under US Law (and in the Constitution).  This commandment has nothing to do with US Law.  That’s Two down!