plural noun
also treated as singularSmall images or cult objects used as domestic deities or oracles by ancient Semitic peoples.
‘Rachel stole the teraphim, the household gods of her family’- ‘The existence of the teraphim, or cult objects (Rachel, Michal) is an indication of family worship that is indirectly shown by the discovery of hundreds of figurines (mostly female).’
- ‘There followed a confrontation between them, in which Laban accused Jacob of stealing his teraphim (household images, or ‘gods’, used for divination and supposed to ‘protect’ a home from evil forces).’
- ‘Made in many sizes, but always in human form, the teraphim was thought to be the giver of a prosperous existence.’
- ‘Her theft of the teraphim was, thus, a preventive measure designed to protect her family.’
Origin
Late Middle English via late Latin from Greek theraphin, from Hebrew tĕrāp̱īm.
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