Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

TERAPHIM

(Heb. tĕrāpîm)

A technical term usually translated “household gods,” “gods,” “idol,” or transliterated. At 1 Sam. 15:23 the term is generalized to encompass all idolatry. The etymology of the Hebrew term is uncertain. Some scholars connect it with Hittite tarpiš, denoting a spirit that can be either protective or malevolent. Others connect it with Heb. rāpâ, meaning “to sink down” as the heavenly bodies sink into the underworld, or as a pejorative term meaning “to be weak.” By comparing Nuzi texts with Rachel’s theft (Gen. 31:34), some scholars suggest that teraphim are connected with inheritance rights, perhaps representing ancestors. Most likely, teraphim served as a link (a channel) with a deity and represented a deity’s presence.

Teraphim are usually small. Rachel hid Laban’s teraphim in saddlebags (Gen. 31:34); however, Michal dressed up a large teraphim to resemble David sick in bed (1 Sam. 19:13). As objects of worship, teraphim are found in both shrines and homes. Laban called his teraphim “gods” (Gen. 31:30). Teraphim may be associated with Yahweh. Micah set up a house shrine dedicated to Yahweh containing teraphim, a graven image, a molten image, an ephod, and a Levite priest, which the Danites later carried off and set up in the city of Dan (Judg. 17–18). Hosea relates teraphim with the ephod, pillar, and sacrifice, suggesting a legitimate use in Yahweh worship (Hos. 3:4). Along with idols, Josiah removed teraphim from Jerusalem during his reform (2 Kgs. 23:24). Ezekiel says the king of Babylon consulted teraphim before marching on Jerusalem (Ezek. 21:21[MT 26]).

Teraphim may be among the small terra-cotta figurines so abundantly found at Near Eastern sites, especially from the time of the Divided Monarchy through the Persian period.

Terry W. Eddinger

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

TERAPHIM

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)