teraphim

American  

[ter-uh-fim] / ˈtɛr ə fɪm /

plural noun

singular

teraph

1. idols or images reverenced by the ancient Hebrews and kindred peoples, apparently as household gods.

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Etymology

Origin of teraphim

1350–1400; < Hebrew tərāphīm; replacing Middle English theraphym < Late Latin theraphim (Vulgate) < Greek theraphín (Septuagint) < Hebrew, as above

Example Sentences

And forgive too,' she breathed, 'that I stole the teraphim.'

From Time Magazine Archive

In cases where a temple stood before the altar it contained an ephod and teraphim, a kind of images before which the lot was cast by the priest.

From Prolegomena by Wellhausen, Julius

The "teraphim," the etymology of which is unknown, were little portable idols which seem to have been the Lares of the ancient Hebrews.

From The Necessity of Atheism by Brooks, David Marshall

When Jacob made tracks after sucking his uncle dry, Rachel carried off the poor old fellow's teraphim, and left him without even a god to worship.

From Flowers of Freethought (First Series) by Foote, G. W. (George William)

Now Jacob, who did not know that Rachel had stolen her father's teraphim in order to turn him aside from his idolatrous ways, was wroth with Laban, and began to chide with him.

From The Legends of the Jews — Volume 1 by Szold, Henrietta