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]] | [[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 | |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. | ||
==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> | ||
