Does the Bible condemn Christmas trees

Does the Bible condemn Christmas trees ?

Every year, around Christmas time I start seeing the same argument regarding the use of a Christmas tree. It is often claimed that Christmas trees are pagan used in the Old testament and that they have been integrated into the Christmas celebration. This is a favourite argument of many atheists, Muslims and Hebrew Israelites. It is further asserted that they should not be used and in fact God condemned them in the old Testament in the book of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 10:3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe 4 they deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 they are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

It is also claimed that the tree in Jeremiah was worshipped and that anyone with a Christmas tree is participating in pagan worship of a Christmas tree.

At first glance and without any deeper study it does look as though these claims are correct. We certainly see a tree being cut down and decorated.

I will note here, that even if this was correct regarding the pagans and the worship of trees, I am yet to meet anyone that worships their Christmas tree.

However, with a little study we will actually see that what is being described here are idols, graven images that have been carved from those trees and not just the tree itself.

In Jeremiah 10:3 we see the words “the work of the hands of the workman”
This is the Hebrew מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵ֥י־חָרָ֖שׁ ma-‘ă-śêh yə-ḏê- ḥā-rāš

Workman is the Hebrew ḥā-rāš

We find this exact same Hebrew wording in Deuteronomy 27:15 where God warns that anyone who makes graven images is cursed, although if you are reading these verses in the KJV you may not realise as in this verse we see the wording “the work of the hands of the craftsman” 

Deuteronomy 27:15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

Craftsman here is again the Hebrew ḥā-rāš, Workman and craftsman are translated from the same word.

The NIV translated Jeremiah 10:3 as craftsmen

Jeremiah 10:3 For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. NIV

(Notice that the NIV has the word Chisel rather than Axe) The Hebrew maatsad is a tool for cutting but not simply for cutting down a tree but rather for shaping the tree that has been cut down. 

It is used just one other time in the Bible in Isaiah 44:12 translated as Tongs in the KJV, tool in the NIV but cutting tool in the ESV.

Isaiah 44:12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.

Isaiah 44:12 The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint. NIV 

Isaiah 44:12 The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. ESV 

The ESV and NASB also render  ḥā-rāš in Jeremiah 10:3 as craftsmen to name just a couple more

ḥā-rāš, means an engraver or artificer.

We see the Hebrew is the same. The work of the hands of the craftsman
The Hebrew מַעֲשֵׂ֛ה יְדֵ֥י חָרָ֖שׁ ma-‘ă-śêh yə-ḏê ḥā-rāš

So we see the same phrase in relation to graven images.

We see that Jeremiah 10:4 reads “they deck it with silver and with gold; ”

This is exactly what was done with many idols and graven images as we see throughout the Old testament. I shall just give an example.

Isaiah 40:19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

Isaiah 40:20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.

Notice that in verse 20 it is referring to choosing a tree that will not rot for the workman, again ḥā-rāš, to prepare the graven image.

Now also notice that in Isaiah 40:20 it states “he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.“

This is what we see back in Jeremiah 10:4 they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not

Graven images are fashioned but they do not move because they are only graven images, they are idols.

Then in Jeremiah 10:5 we are told that they do not speak

Jeremiah 10:5 they are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

This is what is the message of Habakkuk 2:19, there is no breath in the images at all.

Habakkuk 2:19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

Here yet again we get the information of the image being laid with gold and silver.

Psalm 115 refers to idols of God and Silver that cannot speak, though they have mouths.

Psalm 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

In Isaiah 44 we get a whole passage that refers to graven images being carved by workmen/carpenters that are creating idols in the shape of men from trees and the people were worshipping the idols and praying to them.

Isaiah 44:9They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. 10Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? 11Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. 12The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. 13The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. 14He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. 15Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. 16He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: 17And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

The words smith (blacksmith),  and carpenter here are both translated from  ḥā-raš. 
Workmen is the plural wə-ḥā-rā-šîm

They were not worshipping the trees or using the trees in their worshipping but rather they were using and worshipping the idols that they had created from the trees.

If we read the rest of Jeremiah 10 we will see that idol worship is what is being referenced.

Verses 8 and 9  in the KJV reads as such

Jeremiah 10:8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. 9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

Here it may not seem that idols is what is being referenced but this is exactly what is in reference here.

Lets have a look at those same two verses in the NIV

Jeremiah 10:8 They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols. 9 Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz. What the craftsman and goldsmith have made is then dressed in blue and purple—all made by skilled workers. NIV

ANd in verse 11 we see reference to these gods that were being made who did not make the heavens and the earth.

Jeremiah 10:11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.KJV 

Jeremiah 10:11 “Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.’ ” NIV

And again there is reference to the graven image in verse 14

Jeremiah 10:14 Every man is brutish inhisknowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten imageisfalsehood, andthere isno breath in them. KJV

The passage in Jeremiah must be read in context and understanding. It is a condemnation of those worshipping idols as their gods, carving them from trees that they had cut down in order to use the wood to make the idol itself.

Some will argue that people “bow down” to the Christmas tree when they put gifts under it.

This is nothing more than a straw man argument. Firstly there is a difference between bowing down and worshipping. Bowing down does not necessitate worship. We see many occasions in the Bible where people bow down and are not engaging in worship.

Lot for example bowed to 2 angels, this was not Lot worshipping the angels.

Genesis 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Abraham bowed to the people of the land of Kirjatharba (Hebron), again he was not worshipping the people. 

Genesis 23:7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

Bowing and worship are not the same thing, although bowing is often something that is done while worshipping, it does not automatically mean that someone bowing is also worshipping.

If you are worshipping your Christmas tree as a god….don’t…

Jeremiah 10:3-5 is about graven images being made from trees and then being worshipped, the passage is not about the trees themselves.

Anyone asserting that this is in reference to trees and using this to argue against Christmas trees has not understood this passage of scripture.

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