teraphim

English

Etymology

From ecclesiastical Latin theraphim, from Ancient Greek θεραφίν (theraphín), from Hebrew תְּרָפִים (t'rafím, “household gods”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtɛɹəfɪm/

Noun

teraphim (plural teraphims)

1. 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.

Translations

An idol or other image

• French: terafim m
• Spanish: terafim m