Commentary for Sanhedrin 7:6

הָעוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, אֶחָד הָעוֹבֵד, וְאֶחָד הַזּוֹבֵחַ, וְאֶחָד הַמְקַטֵּר, וְאֶחָד הַמְנַסֵּךְ, וְאֶחָד הַמִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶה, וְאֶחָד הַמְקַבְּלוֹ עָלָיו לֶאֱלוֹהַּ, וְהָאוֹמֵר לוֹ אֵלִי אָתָּה. אֲבָל הַמְגַפֵּף וְהַמְנַשֵּׁק וְהַמְכַבֵּד וְהַמְּרַבֵּץ וְהַמַּרְחִיץ, הַסָּךְ, הַמַּלְבִּישׁ וְהַמַּנְעִיל, עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה. הַנּוֹדֵר בִּשְׁמוֹ וְהַמְקַיֵּם בִּשְׁמוֹ, עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה. הַפּוֹעֵר עַצְמוֹ לְבַעַל פְּעוֹר, זוֹ הִיא עֲבוֹדָתוֹ. הַזּוֹרֵק אֶבֶן לְמַרְקוּלִיס, זוֹ הִיא עֲבוֹדָתוֹ:

One who serves idolatry (is executed by stoning), whether he serves it [in its usual manner] or by slaughtering to it, smoking incense to it, or pouring libations to it, bowing down to it [(Though one of these four is not its usual mode of worship, he is nonetheless liable (to stoning). And with all other modes, he is not liable unless it be the usual one.)], taking it upon oneself as a god, [even by speech alone, this being likened to slaughtering, viz. (Exodus 32:8): "And they slaughtered to it and said: 'This is your god, etc.'"], and saying to it: "You are my god" [before it. This "sheds light" on what precedes. For if we learned the former alone, we would think that one were liable (for worship) only before it, but not otherwise. We, therefore, learn the latter — "before it" — implying that the former (speaks of worship) not before it, in spite of which he is liable.] But if one embraces it, kisses it, sweeps before it, sprinkles before it, washes it, anoints it, clothes it, or shods it, he transgresses a negative commandment, [there being a superfluous "and you shall not serve them" (to this end.)] If one vows in its name [e.g., "I forbid to myself all the fruits in the world in the name of that idolatry"], or if one swears in its name, he transgresses a negative commandment, [viz. (Exodus 23:13): "And the names of other gods you shall not mention." If one defecates before Ba'al Peor, this is its conventional mode of worship, [so that even if his intent were to shame it, he is liable for a sin-offering.] If one casts a stone at Markulis, this is its conventional mode of worship. [And one who removes a stone from before it is also liable, it being served in this fashion, too. ("Markolis" = "reverse of praise." "mar" = exchange, as in "bamar dishchuta," "bamar dikanta." "kolis" = praise.) And even if his intent were to stone it, he is liable for a sin-offering.]

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