Teraphim were household idols that existed in ancient Israel and surrounding lands. The exact nature and purpose of teraphim is uncertain, but they seemed to function as household gods or personal gods that provided protection, guidance, and divination.
Etymology
The word “teraphim” comes from the Hebrew word תרפים, which may derive from a root meaning “to inquire” or “to consult.” This suggests the teraphim had a divinatory function. Some scholars link “teraphim” to the Akkadian term seru, meaning protective spirit.
Appearances in the Bible
Teraphim are mentioned several times in the Old Testament, though details are scarce. Here are some key biblical references:
Genesis 31:19
When Jacob flees from Laban, Rachel steals her father’s household gods or teraphim.
Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods.
(Genesis 31:19)
This implies the teraphim were portable household idols, small enough to hide in a saddlebag.
Judges 17-18
Micah sets up an unauthorized shrine with an ephod, carved image, cast idol, and household gods or teraphim. The Danites later steal Micah’s idols.
Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods and installed one of his sons as his priest.
(Judges 17:5)
This links teraphim to improper worship and idolatry.
1 Samuel 19:13-16
When Saul seeks David to kill him, Michal puts a household idol or teraphim in the bed to trick Saul’s men.
Then Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head and covered it with the clothes. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”
(1 Samuel 19:13-14)
Again, the teraphim was small enough to mimic a human in bed.
2 Kings 23:24
When Josiah reforms worship in Judah, he removes the teraphim along with other idolatrous objects.
Moreover, Josiah put away the mediums and the necromancers and the household gods and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord.
(2 Kings 23:24)
The passage equates teraphim with mediums, necromancers, idols, and abominations.
Zechariah 10:2
The people consult teraphim, which give false comfort.
For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation.
(Zechariah 10:2)
This suggests teraphim were used for divination and gave deceitful prophecies.
Hosea 3:4
God promises Israel will be without teraphim for a period.
For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods.
(Hosea 3:4)
The lack of teraphim signifies a lack of guidance and false religion.
Characteristics of Teraphim
Based on these biblical references, we can ascertain some key characteristics about teraphim:
- Teraphim were household idols kept in the home.
- They were portable and small enough to hide or use for deception.
- They likely depicted human-like figures.
- They were connected to divination and necromancy.
- People consulted teraphim for guidance, prophecies, and protection.
- Possessing teraphim was associated with idolatry and improper worship.
- The prophets condemned the use of teraphim.
Teraphim in Archaeology
Very few teraphim artifacts have survived from ancient Israel. However, teraphim have been found at archaeological sites elsewhere in the ancient Near East, giving us clues about their physical form.
At the ancient city of Nuzi, teraphim figurines made of wood and wax were discovered buried under floors. At the site of Tell el-Far’ah excavators uncovered teraphim figurines with swappable heads.
Some scholars theorize teraphim originated in ancestor worship, as figurines that depicted ancestors. Over time, they became associated with general household gods and idols.
Theories on the Function of Teraphim
There is much debate over the exact purpose and function of teraphim in the ancient world. Here are some of the main theories:
Ancestor Worship
As mentioned, some link teraphim to ancestor veneration. The figures may have depicted dead ancestors who were consulted for guidance and blessings on the household.
Household Gods
Teraphim may have acted as protective deities over an individual household and family. People likely made offerings to teraphim and asked for their favor and protection.
Cult of the Dead
Some propose teraphim were associated with necromancy and commune with spirits of the dead. Their use was linked to forbidden occult practices.
Fertility
Since teraphim were associated with the household and family, some think they had a connection to fertility, childbirth, and protecting mothers and infants.
Possession of Birthright
Some theorize the possession of teraphim gave the owner the right of family inheritance and position as head of the household. This fits with Rachel stealing Laban’s teraphim.
Divination
Clearly teraphim had a strong association with guidance and prophecy in the ancient Near East. How exactly they were used for divination is uncertain.
Old Testament References to Teraphim
To gain a fuller understanding of teraphim and their context, let’s look at some of the key Old Testament passages mentioning them:
Genesis 31:19
Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods.
This occurs when Jacob flees from Laban with his family and flocks. Rachel steals her father Laban’s household idols without Jacob’s knowledge. This may have been to secure inheritance rights from Laban, or simply to prevent the idols from being used for divination to locate them.
Genesis 31:34-35
Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them. And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household gods.
When Laban confronts Jacob and searches for the idols, Rachel hides them and sits on them, lying that she cannot rise due to her period. This adds evidence they were small, portable figurines.
Judges 17:5
Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained one of his sons as his priest.
This occurs in the account of Micah’s idolatry. He unlawfully sets up a shrine with an ephod, carved image, molten idol, and teraphim. He appoints his own son as priest, establishing false worship.
Judges 18:14-20
Then the five men who had gone to scout out the country of Laish said to their brothers, “Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image? Now therefore consider what you will do.” And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and asked him about his welfare. Now the 600 men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate. And the five men who had gone to scout out the land went up and entered and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war. And when these went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” And they said to him, “Keep quiet; put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?” And the priest’s heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people.
Later the Danites steal the same idols from Micah’s house to set up idolatrous worship in Laish. The teraphim are again linked to the ephod and carved images as improper objects of worship.
2 Kings 23:24
Moreover, Josiah put away the mediums and the necromancers and the household gods and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.
Josiah’s religious reforms get rid of mediums, necromancers, teraphim, and idols, showing teraphim as forbidden objects associated with the occult.
Hosea 3:4
For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods.
Hosea prophecies Israel would lose their false religious practices including the use of teraphim. Lack of teraphim signifies lack of guidance from false gods.
Zechariah 10:2
For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation.
This verse in Zechariah condemns teraphim as sources of lying prophecies and false comfort.
Implications and Context
What do these Old Testament references indicate in their religious and historical context? Here are some key implications:
- Teraphim were common household gods in the ancient Near East, not just Israel.
- They were strongly linked to idolatry, divination, the occult, and improper worship according to Israelite law.
- The prophets and biblical authors considered teraphim dangerous spiritual rivals to the true God.
- Teraphim practices violated the first and often second commandments against other gods and idols.
- The Bible strongly opposed the use of teraphim in obedience to God.
- Despite laws prohibiting them, teraphim use persisted in Israel, indicating the ongoing problem of syncretism.
- The Bible highlights tension between teraphim worship and exclusive loyalty to Yahweh.
In their ancient Near Eastern context, teraphim posed a constant religious threat to pure worship of God. But the biblical authors opposed improper worship of teraphim idols in obedience to divine commands against idolatry, divination, and false gods. The prophets condemned their use as rebellion against Yahweh.
Conclusion
In summary, teraphim were household idols used for guidance, divination, and protection in ancient Israel and surrounding lands. The Old Testament considers teraphim dangerous spiritual rivals to the worship of the true God Yahweh. Biblical authors prohibited the use of teraphim, strongly linking them to idolatry, the occult, and syncretism. While details about teraphim remain uncertain, the biblical context reveals they represented false religion in opposition to loyalty and obedience to Yahweh alone.
