Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
θεραφείν
- Transliteration
- theraphein
- Part of speech
- N:N
- Indexed occurrences
- 0
Glosses
teraphim
Lexicon definition
teraphim
SUBJECT · Complete Bible Study
Teraphim
It is said, Gen. xxxi, 19, that Rachel had stolen the images (_teraphim_) of her father. Teraphim is rendered in the installed Bible Names resource as “images; idols.” This unified study connects 6 installed resource categories without replacing their source records.
View overview sources
- Historical Reference: Nave’s Topical Bible — Public domain
- Historical Reference: Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary (1869)
- Historical Reference: Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
- Historical Reference: A Biblical and Theological Dictionary
- Historical Reference: STEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith)
- Historical Reference: Installed reference work
STANDARD STUDY · Resource Coverage 62/100
Follow the evidence
Move from the subject to its key Scripture, original-language evidence, and connected studies. The trail organizes research without deciding a theological conclusion.
1. Examine the Text2. Check the Context3. Test the Tradition4. Follow the Evidence5. Reach the Verdict
Study overview
Study at a glance
- Subject type
- Subject
- Strong’s
- G7655, H8655
- Hebrew
- תְּרָפִים · tᵉrâphîym
- Greek
- θεραφείν · theraphein
- Name meaning
- images; idols According to Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Strong’s and original-language information
G7655
Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon
תְּרָפִים
- Transliteration
- tᵉrâphîym
- Pronunciation
- ter-aw-feme'
- Language
- Hebrew
- Indexed occurrences
- 15
Glosses
idols(-atry), images, teraphim.
Lexicon definition
Teraphim (singular or plural) a family idol
Complete dictionary entries
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Teraphim
images; idols
Source: Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary · View data sources
A Biblical and Theological Dictionary
TERAPHIM
It is said, Gen. xxxi, 19, that Rachel had stolen the images (_teraphim_) of her father. What then were these _teraphim_? The Septuagint translate this word by “oracle,” and sometimes by “vain figures.” Aquila generally translates it by “figures.” It appears, indeed, from all the passages in which this word is used, that they were idols or superstitious figures. Some Jewish writers tell us the _teraphim_ were human heads placed in niches, and consulted by way of oracles. Others think they were talismans or figures of metal cast and engraven under certain aspects of the planets, to which they ascribed extraordinary effects. All the eastern people are much addicted to this superstition, and the Persians still call them _telefin_, a name nearly approaching to teraphim. M. Jurieu supposes them to have been a sort of _dii penates_, or household gods; and this appears to be, perhaps, the most probable opinion.
Source: A Biblical and Theological Dictionary · View data sources
Topical Bible
Nave's Topical Bible
TERAPHIM
Entry:
Nave’s Topical Bible references for TERAPHIM.
Indexed references: 3
Scripture references:
Source: Nave's Topical Bible · View data sources
Bible Names
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Teraphim
Meaning:
images; idols
Source: Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary · View data sources
Sources
- Historical Reference: Nave’s Topical Bible — Public domain
- Historical Reference: Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary (1869)
- Historical Reference: Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
- Historical Reference: A Biblical and Theological Dictionary
- Historical Reference: STEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith)
- Historical Reference: Installed reference work
Related UNLEARN Content4 items
Topic
TERAPHIM
Nave’s Topical Bible references for TERAPHIM.
Open content →Dictionary
Divination
Of false prophets (Deut. 18:10, 14; Micah 3:6, 7, 11), of necromancers (1 Sam. 28:8), of the Philistine priests and diviners (1 Sam. 6:2), of Balaam (Josh. 13:22). Three kinds of divination are mentioned in Ezek. 21:21, by arrows, consulting with images (the teraphim), and by examining the entrails of animals sacrificed. The practice of this art seems to have been encouraged in ancient Egypt. Diviners also abounded among the aborigines of Canaan and the Philistines (Isa. 2:6; 1 Sam. 28). At a later period multitudes of magicians poured from Chaldea and Arabia into the land of Israel, and pursued their occupations (Isa. 8:19; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chr. 33:6). This superstition widely spread, and in the time of the apostles there were "vagabond Jews, exorcists" (Acts 19:13), and men like Simon Magus (Acts 8:9), Bar-jesus (13:6, 8), and other jugglers and impostors (19:19; 2 Tim. 3:13). Every species and degree of this superstition was strictly forbidden by the law of Moses (Ex. 22:18; Lev. 19:26, 31; 20:27; Deut. 18:10, 11). But beyond these various forms of superstition, there are instances of divination on record in the Scriptures by which God was pleased to make known his will. (1.) There was divination by lot, by which, when resorted to in matters of moment, and with solemnity, God intimated his will (Josh. 7:13). The land of Canaan was divided by lot (Num. 26:55, 56); Achan's guilt was detected (Josh. 7:16-19), Saul was elected king (1 Sam. 10:20, 21), and Matthias chosen to the apostleship, by the solem lot (Acts 1:26). It was thus also that the scape-goat was determined (Lev. 16:8-10). (2.) There was divination by dreams (Gen. 20:6; Deut. 13:1, 3; Judg. 7:13, 15; Matt. 1:20; 2:12, 13, 19, 22). This is illustrated in the history of Joseph (Gen. 41:25-32) and of Daniel (2:27; 4:19-28). (3.) By divine appointment there was also divination by the Urim and Thummim (Num. 27:21), and by the ephod. (4.) God was pleased sometimes to vouch-safe direct vocal communications to men (Deut. 34:10; Ex. 3:4; 4:3; Deut. 4:14, 15; 1 Kings 19:12). He also communed with men from above the mercy-seat (Ex. 25:22), and at the door of the tabernacle (Ex. 29:42, 43). (5.) Through his prophets God revealed himself, and gave intimations of his will (2 Kings 13:17; Jer. 51:63, 64).
Open content →Dictionary
Magic
The Jews seem early to have consulted the teraphim (q.v.) for oracular answers (Judg. 18:5, 6; Zech. 10:2). There is a remarkable illustration of this divining by teraphim in Ezek. 21:19-22. We read also of the divining cup of Joseph (Gen. 44:5). The magicians of Egypt are frequently referred to in the history of the Exodus. Magic was an inherent part of the ancient Egyptian religion, and entered largely into their daily life. All magical arts were distinctly prohibited under penalty of death in the Mosaic law. The Jews were commanded not to learn the "abomination" of the people of the Promised Land (Lev. 19:31; Deut. 18:9-14). The history of Saul's consulting the witch of Endor (1 Sam. 28:3-20) gives no warrant for attributing supernatural power to magicians. From the first the witch is here only a bystander. The practice of magic lingered among the people till after the Captivity, when they gradually abandoned it. It is not much referred to in the New Testament. The Magi mentioned in Matt. 2:1-12 were not magicians in the ordinary sense of the word. They belonged to a religious caste, the followers of Zoroaster, the astrologers of the East. Simon, a magician, was found by Philip at Samaria (Acts 8:9-24); and Paul and Barnabas encountered Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer, at Paphos (13:6-12). At Ephesus there was a great destruction of magical books (Acts 19:18, 19).
Open content →Dictionary
Teraphim
images; idols
Open content →All Scripture references11 references
Genesis 2
Judges 1
1 Kings 1
2 Kings 2
Micah 1
Acts 4
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