teraphim
English edit
Etymology edit
From ecclesiastical Latin theraphim, from Ancient Greek θεραφίν (theraphín), from Hebrew תְּרָפִים (t'rafím, “household gods”).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
teraphim (plural teraphims)
- An idol or other image of reverence and divination among the ancient Hebrews; apparently especially a kind of household god.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Judges 18:20:
- And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people
- 1658, And [...] the Statuæ Isiacæ, Teraphims, and little Idols, found about the Mummies, do make a decussation or Jacobs Crosse with their armes — Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus (Folio Society 2007, p. 191)
- 2000, World English Bible, Genesis 31:19[1]:
- Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep: and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father's.
- 2000, World English Bible, 1 Samuel 19:13
- Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes.