Teraphim: Difference between revisions
Created page with "300px|thumb|Teraphim excavated from the ancient Canaan '''Teraphim''' (Hebrew: תְּרָפִים) were household idols or small statues worshiped in the ancient Mesopotamian region. They are frequently mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, appearing from the time of the patriarchs through the post-Babylonian exile period. Depending on the context,..." |
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[[File:Ancient Canaanite Teraphim. Figurines of fertility goddess. Wellcome M0008439.jpg|300px|thumb|Teraphim excavated from the ancient Canaan]] | <!-- interlanguage:start -->[[ko:드라빔]]<!-- interlanguage:end -->[[File:Ancient Canaanite Teraphim. Figurines of fertility goddess. Wellcome M0008439.jpg|300px|thumb|Teraphim excavated from the ancient Canaan]]'''Teraphim''' (Hebrew: תְּרָפִים) were household [[Idol|idols]] or small statues worshiped in the ancient Mesopotamian region. They are frequently mentioned in the Hebrew [[Bible]], appearing from the time of the patriarchs through the post-[[Babylonian Captivity|Babylonian exile]] period. Depending on the context, the term is translated as “household gods,” “idols,” or “images.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bskorea.or.kr/bible/korbibReadpage.php?version=SAENEW&book=gen&chap=31&sec=1&cVersion=&fontSize=15px&fontWeight=normal | ||
'''Teraphim''' (Hebrew: תְּרָפִים) were household [[Idol|idols]] or small statues worshiped in the ancient Mesopotamian region. They are frequently mentioned in the Hebrew [[Bible]], appearing from the time of the patriarchs through the post-[[Babylonian Captivity|Babylonian exile]] period. Depending on the context, the term is translated as “household gods,” “idols,” or “images.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bskorea.or.kr/bible/korbibReadpage.php?version=SAENEW&book=gen&chap=31&sec=1&cVersion=&fontSize=15px&fontWeight=normal | |title=Genesis 31:19|quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2021%3A21%20&version=NIV|title=Ezekiel 21:21 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> While interpretations vary, the most widely accepted view is that teraphim functioned as guardian deities within ancient households. | ||
|title=Genesis 31:19 | |||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
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[[File:Samuel reproving Saul.jpg |thumb|250px | ''Samuel Rebukes Saul'', John Singleton Copley, 1798]][[file:Saphan Reading the Book of the Law to Josiah 1569 print by Maarten van Heemskerck, S.I 55716, Prints Department, Royal Library of Belgium.jpg |thumb|250px |''Shaphan Reads the Book of the Covenant to Josiah,'' Maarten van Heemskerck & Philip Galle, 1569]] | [[File:Samuel reproving Saul.jpg |thumb|250px | ''Samuel Rebukes Saul'', John Singleton Copley, 1798]][[file:Saphan Reading the Book of the Law to Josiah 1569 print by Maarten van Heemskerck, S.I 55716, Prints Department, Royal Library of Belgium.jpg |thumb|250px |''Shaphan Reads the Book of the Covenant to Josiah,'' Maarten van Heemskerck & Philip Galle, 1569]] | ||
* Rachel and Laban: When [[Jacob]] departed from the household of his father-in-law Laban, Rachel secretly stole her father’s teraphim,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+31%3A19-20&version=NIV |title=Genesis 31:19–20 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bskorea.or.kr/bible/korbibReadpage.php?version=COG&book=gen&chap=31&sec=30&cVersion=&fontSize=15px&fontWeight=normal#focus|title=Genesis 31:30 | * Rachel and Laban: When [[Jacob]] departed from the household of his father-in-law Laban, Rachel secretly stole her father’s teraphim,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+31%3A19-20&version=NIV |title=Genesis 31:19–20 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bskorea.or.kr/bible/korbibReadpage.php?version=COG&book=gen&chap=31&sec=30&cVersion=&fontSize=15px&fontWeight=normal#focus|title=Genesis 31:30 |quote= }}</ref> which he revered as household gods. Laban pursued Jacob to recover them, but Rachel hid the idols under a camel saddle and sat on them to avoid detection.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2031%3A34-35%20&version=NIV|title=Genesis 31:34-35 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> According to Mesopotamian clay tablets that record aspects of daily life, possession of teraphim was associated with inheritance rights.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2031&version=WEB Genesis 31], ''Bible Gateway''</ref> | ||
* Micah’s Household Shrine: During the period of the [[Judge|Judges]], Israel experienced religious confusion, and individuals frequently established private shrines and offered sacrifices apart from the central sanctuary. A man named Micah, living in the territory of Ephraim,<ref>This person is a figure from the period of the Judges and is different from the prophet Micah, who recorded the Book of Micah.</ref> made an ephod and teraphim for his household sanctuary and offered sacrifices there.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+17%3A1-5&version=NIV |title=Judges 17:1–5|publisher= |quote= }}</ref> In this context, teraphim are thought to have been used in ancestral or domestic rituals.<ref>Joseph Jacobs, [https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1488-ancestor-worship ANCESTOR WORSHIP], ''Jewish Encyclopedia''</ref> | * Micah’s Household Shrine: During the period of the [[Judge|Judges]], Israel experienced religious confusion, and individuals frequently established private shrines and offered sacrifices apart from the central sanctuary. A man named Micah, living in the territory of Ephraim,<ref>This person is a figure from the period of the Judges and is different from the prophet Micah, who recorded the Book of Micah.</ref> made an ephod and teraphim for his household sanctuary and offered sacrifices there.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+17%3A1-5&version=NIV |title=Judges 17:1–5|publisher= |quote= }}</ref> In this context, teraphim are thought to have been used in ancestral or domestic rituals.<ref>Joseph Jacobs, [https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1488-ancestor-worship ANCESTOR WORSHIP], ''Jewish Encyclopedia''</ref> | ||
* [[Saul]] and Michal: When King Saul disobeyed [[God]], the prophet [[Samuel]] rebuked him, saying, “Rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry (teraphim).”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+15%3A17-23&version=NIV |title=1 Samuel 15:17–23|publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Later, when Saul sought to kill [[David]], his daughter Michal helped David escape and disguised a teraphim in his bed to make it appear as though he were ill.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+19%3A13-16&version=NIV |title=1 Samuel 19:13–16 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> | * [[Saul]] and Michal: When King Saul disobeyed [[God]], the prophet [[Samuel]] rebuked him, saying, “Rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry (teraphim).”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+15%3A17-23&version=NIV |title=1 Samuel 15:17–23|publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Later, when Saul sought to kill [[David]], his daughter Michal helped David escape and disguised a teraphim in his bed to make it appear as though he were ill.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+19%3A13-16&version=NIV |title=1 Samuel 19:13–16 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> | ||
* Divination Practices: In ancient Mesopotamia, teraphim were used in divination rituals. The prophet [[Zechariah]] denounced diviners who consulted teraphim, saying they “utter nonsense.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%2010%3A2&version=NIV|title=Zechariah 10:2|publisher= |quote= }}</ref> In a vision, [[Ezekiel]] described the [[Babylon|Babylonian]] king [[Nebuchadnezzar]] using teraphim for divination to determine his route when attacking [[Jerusalem]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+21%3A21-22&version=NIV |title=Ezekiel 21:21–22 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> | * Divination Practices: In ancient Mesopotamia, teraphim were used in divination rituals. The prophet [[Zechariah]] denounced diviners who consulted teraphim, saying they “utter nonsense.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%2010%3A2&version=NIV|title=Zechariah 10:2|publisher= |quote= }}</ref> In a vision, [[Ezekiel]] described the [[Babylon|Babylonian]] king [[Nebuchadnezzar]] using teraphim for divination to determine his route when attacking [[Jerusalem]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+21%3A21-22&version=NIV |title=Ezekiel 21:21–22 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> | ||
* [[Josiah]], the 16th king of the [[Southern Kingdom of Judah|southern kingdom of Judah]], launched a national reformation movement to destroy idols and practice the commandment and covenant written in the Book of the Law. He demolished altars and images of foreign gods such as Asherah, Ashtoreth, Molech, and the Teraphim, and removed the priests who served those gods. | * [[Josiah]], the 16th king of the [[Southern Kingdom of Judah|southern kingdom of Judah]], launched a national reformation movement to destroy idols and practice the commandment and covenant written in the Book of the Law. He demolished altars and images of foreign gods such as Asherah, Ashtoreth, Molech, and the Teraphim, and removed the priests who served those gods. | ||
* Josiah’s Reformation: During the reign of Josiah, the 16th king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, widespread religious reforms were carried out to abolish idol worship and restore adherence to the [[The Commandments of God| | * Josiah’s Reformation: During the reign of Josiah, the 16th king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, widespread religious reforms were carried out to abolish idol worship and restore adherence to the [[The Commandments of God|commandments]] and [[God’s Covenant|covenant]] written in the Book of the Law. Josiah destroyed altars and images of foreign gods such as [[Baal and Asherah|Asherah]], Ashtoreth, Molech, and the teraphim, and removed the priests who served them.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+23%3A1-24&version=NIV |title=2 Kings 23:1–24|publisher= |quote= }}</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
