teraphim
/ˈtɛrəfɪm
/plural noun [also treated as singular]
Small 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.
Origin
Late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek theraphin, from Hebrew tĕrāp̱īm.