Teraphim

Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia

(Judg. 17:5)—household cult images used in divination and domestic worship. Micah possessed an ephod and teraphim, which the Danites later carried away with his priest (Judg. 17–18). Rachel stole her father Laban’s teraphim (Gen. 31:19, 34), and Michal placed a teraphim in David’s bed to deceive Saul’s messengers (1 Sam. 19:13, 16), showing that at least some could resemble a human figure. Ezekiel depicts the king of Babylon consulting teraphim before a campaign (Ezek. 21:21), and Hosea names them among the institutions Israel would temporarily lack (Hos. 3:4). Their forms and precise functions varied; they should not simply be equated with Roman household gods.

Scripture cited

Judges 17:5 Genesis 31:19 1 Kingdoms 19:13 Jezekiel 21:21 Osee 3:4

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