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teraphim


Tair´uh-fim

Statues or figurines representing household gods. They were common in Syria and Palestine, even among Israelites, throughout the preexilic period (to 586 BCE). In (Gen 31:19), Rachel stole her father’s teraphim. Laban’s angry reaction suggests their importance. In (Judg 17:5 and Judg 18:4, Judg 18:17, Judg 18:20), teraphim are cultic objects, mentioned as symbols of a private priesthood. In (1Sam 19:13-16), Michal aided David’s escape from Saul by filling a bed with large teraphim, disguised as David bedridden. Prophets generally inveighed against teraphim as wanton superstition (1Sam 15:23; Zech 10:2), but Hos 3:4) depicts them as integral to Israel’s royal and priestly institutions. Josiah’s reform banned them (2Kgs 23:23).

  • Powell, Mark Allan, ed. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Abridged Edition. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2009.