teraphim
(ˈtɛrəfɪm)
Forms: α. pl. 4 theraphym, -yn, teraphyn, -fyn, 4–6 theraphim, -in, 6– teraphim (7 -in); also const. as sing., whence 7– pl. teraphims. β. 9 sing. teraph, pl. teraphs.
[a. eccl. L. theraphim (Vulg.), Gr. θεραϕίν (LXX), ad. Heb. t{suph}'rāphīm, or Aram. -īn.
A Heb. word of doubtful origin and meaning, plural in form, but often (as a pl. of majesty) sing. in use. Occurs 15 times (on 8 occasions) in O.T., in all of which it is retained in the Revised Version, 1885, but only 6 times (2 occasions) in that of 1611; in other places rendered images5, image2, idols1, idolatry1. The LXX have θεραϕίν6 (τὸ2, τὰ1), εἴδωλα3, κενοτάϕια2, and other renderings; Vulgate theraphim4, idola6, also statuam, simulacrum, -acra, idolatria, figuras idolarum, once each. In Genesis xxxi. 30, Laban the Aramæan calls them eth ĕlōhāi ‘my gods’.]
A kind of idols or images, or an idol or image; app. esp. household gods; an object of reverence and means of divination among the ancient Hebrews and kindred peoples. a. Plural or indefinite.
| 1382 Wyclif Judg. xvii. 5 Mychee..made a coope [1388 ephod], and theraphyn [1388 theraphym, v.r. a theraphym], gloss that is, the prestis clooth, and mawmettis [1388 ydols]. 1382 ― Hos. iii. 4 The sonys of Yrael shuln sitte..with out teraphyn. 1388 Ibid., With out terafyn [gloss that is, ymagis]. 1539 Bible (Great) Judg. xvii. 5 And the man Micah had a temple of goddes, and made an Ephod and Theraphin, (That is to saye, a garment for the prest, and Idolles). [1560 (Geneva) Teraphim.] 1641 Milton Prel. Episc. ad fin., If any shall strive to set up his ephod and teraphim of antiquity against the brightness and perfection of the gospel. 1707 M. Henry Serm. Wks. 1853 II. 596/1 Some think Laban's teraphim were the effigies of his ancestors. 1860 Pusey Min. Proph. 563 The teraphim were used as instruments of divination. 1862 Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. iii. 52 Rachel stole the teraphim, the household gods of her family. |
b. as sing. with a; pl. teraphims.
| 1388 [see a]. 1624 T. Godwin Moses & Aaron ix. (1641) 170 Michal tooke an Image, (a Teraphim) and laid it in the bed. a 1631 Donne Select. (1840) 198 Without an ephod, and without a teraphim. a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. vii. (1642) 382 Commonly they had Teraphims, Altars, Groves in high places. 1845 Ford Handbk. Spain ii. 671/1 The silversmiths..by whom many workmen are employed in making little graven images, teraphims and lares. 1856 Stanley Sinai & Pal. (1875) 396 A teraphim, and a graven image, and a priesthood of irregular creation. |
c. sing. teraph; pl. teraphs.
| 1801 Southey Thalaba ii. ix, Khawla to the Teraph turn'd, ‘Tell me where the Prophet's hand Hides our destined enemy?’ 1850 Kitto Bible Illustr. xxxiii. §6 (1881) 240 Michal has a teraph. 1886 Farrar Hist. Interpr. vii. 366 Scripture was declared to be a sort of oracular teraph. |
d. Comb.
| 1848 Kingsley Saint's Trag. v. ii, My magic teraph-bust, full packed, and labelled. 1905 J. Orr Probl. O. Test. v. 134 Teraphim-worship, human sacrifices and the like were prominent features of the religion. |