1. small household idols or images used in ancient Hebrew and other Semitic religions
Usage: biblical; historical

Examples

• Rachel stole her father’s teraphim when she fled with Jacob.
• The teraphim were consulted for divination in ancient times.
• Archaeological excavations have uncovered teraphim from various ancient sites.
• The prophet condemned the worship of teraphim as idolatry.
• These small teraphim were often kept in homes for protection.
• The teraphim mentioned in the Old Testament were likely figurines of gods.