noun
- 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.