Answers about
carving in the Bible

The arts of carving and engraving were much practiced among the Jews. Both wood, stone, and ivory were carved for various purposes.

One noted use is in connection with the construction of the holy tabernacle and the temple.

And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

“See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in discernment, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, in order for him to work in all kinds of craftsmanship. —Exodus 31:1-5 LSB

And there was cedar on the house within, carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, there was no stone seen. …And he carved on it cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold evenly applied on the engraved work. —1 Kings 6:18, 35

…he carved cherubim on the walls. —2 Chronicles 3:7 excerpt

Archaeology

Archaeological excavations in Israel have uncovered several examples of ancient wooden carvings, though they are rare due to the perishable nature of wood. These artifacts span from very early times to the early Christian era, often preserved in arid or anaerobic conditions like desert caves or graves.

Shiphrah Stele Context (Megiddo): A 3,300-year-old Egyptian stele from Tel Megiddo depicts an official named Shiphrah overseeing woodcutting and transport of cedar logs for temple construction. While no carvings from these logs survive, the stele implies advanced woodworking, including potential decorative carving for royal or religious structures, aligning with descriptions in the Bible (e.g., Solomon's Temple furnishings).

The Roman-Byzantine Period (1st–7th Centuries AD) yields the most surviving examples, often linked to trade and burial practices.

Halutza (Negev Desert Graves): In 2024–2025 excavations, archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) discovered two small wooden figurines (about 1,500 years old) in Christian-era tombs at the ancient city of Halutza (near modern Netivot). These carved heads depict African-style facial features, likely representing protective amulets or memorials for individuals of Nubian or East African origin. Accompanied by bone figurines, glassware, and bronze items, they highlight trade networks between Africa and the Byzantine Levant. The dry desert environment preserved the wood, which is unusual for carvings of this age.

Qumran Caves (Dead Sea Region): Among the Dead Sea Scrolls (circa 3rd century BC–1st century AD), several wooden artifacts were found, including a carved comb and a possible figurine fragment from Cave 11. These date to the Second Temple period and show simple incised designs, possibly for personal or ritual use by the Essene community.

Why so few wooden examples?

Wood decomposes quickly in humid or oxygenated environments, so most survivals come from hyper-arid sites like the Negev or Dead Sea. Stone and ivory carvings (e.g., Samaria ivories) dominate the carving record.

Carvings by idolaters

Ancient Hebrew sources mention wood-carving for items like teraphim (household idols).

The prophet Isaiah gives a description of the foolish process of carving wooden idols.

Another crafts wood, he extends a measuring line; he outlines it with a stylus. He makes it with planes and outlines it with a compass and makes it like the form of a man, like the glory of man, so that it may sit in a house.

In order to cut cedars for himself, he takes a cypress or an oak and raises it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow. Then it becomes something for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also kindles a fire to bake bread. He also works to produce a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image and falls down before it.

Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm; I have seen the fire.”

But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god.” —Isaiah 44:13-17 NASB

God commanded the Israelites to banish such carvings from the Promised Land.

then you shall dispossess all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their carved stones and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places —Numbers 33:52

‘You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves a graven image or a sacred pillar, nor shall you place a carved stone in your land to bow down to it; for I am Yahweh your God. —Leviticus 26:1 LSB