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תְּרָפִים

𐤕𐤓𐤐𐤉𐤌

tᵉrâphîym

H8655 noun

SILEX Entry

Root תרף uncertain; possibly relates to healing or protective power, but usage does not support direct meaning of 'to heal'

Definition

Household idols or cultic objects, generally plural in usage, associated with family or domestic religious practice; sometimes functioning as oracular devices for divination, household protection, or ensuring prosperity. The term primarily refers to portable objects representing deities or ancestral spirits, used in private or household-level worship, and not synonymous with general terms for idols or images.

Semantic Range

household idols, family gods, domestic cultic objects, objects used for divination, symbol of ancestral protection or prosperity, non-sanctioned religious images

Root / Etymology

Root/Rapha (רפא; 'to heal') is etymologically uncertain in connection with תְּרָפִים. While some older lexicons suggested a link to healing, this is not directly attested in the use of the word. Most modern scholarship regards the etymology as uncertain; the plural form תְּרָפִים does not derive straightforwardly from רפא and likely reflects a loanword or archaic non-Hebrew origin, perhaps connected to Mesopotamian cultic terms (e.g., teraphu/terapim).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical contexts, תְּרָפִים are typically household or familial cultic objects. They appear in the narratives of the patriarchs (Genesis 31; Rachel stealing Laban's teraphim), in stories involving the monarchy (1 Samuel 19:13-16; Michal uses teraphim for subterfuge), and are prohibited or denounced by the Israelite prophets (Ezekiel 21:21 [Hebrew 21:26], Hosea 3:4, Zechariah 10:2). Their precise form and function are unclear; archaeological comparisons suggest small figurines (clay or metal), but some contexts suggest non-anthropomorphic objects. While later translations (e.g., the Septuagint and English tradition) sometimes render the word as 'idols' or as a proper name ('Teraphim'), the objects carried distinct, often domestic or familial significance distinct from standard sanctuary 'idols' or images. The term is always used in the plural, but sometimes may correspond to a singular object or set. The association with divination and household protection separates teraphim from other sacred images in Israel and the broader ancient Near East. In post-biblical usage, the word was largely abandoned, but influenced later concepts of forbidden household religious paraphernalia.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

plural from רָפָא; a healer; Teraphim (singular or plural) a family idol; idols(-atry), images, teraphim.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

תרף (t-r-p̄) — household cult objects, domestic protective figures, oracular idols

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8655-02 הַ/תְּרָפִ֖ים haterafim HTd/Ncmpa the teraphim the household cult-objects 10
H8655-03 וּ/תְרָפִ֔ים uterafim HC/Ncmpa and teraphim household cult-objects 4
H8655-01 בַּ/תְּרָפִ֔ים baterafim HRd/Ncmpa of the teraphim in the household idols 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8655-02 Genesis 31:19 הַ/תְּרָפִ֖ים haterafim HTd/Ncmpa the household gods the household cult-objects
H8655-02 Genesis 31:34 הַ/תְּרָפִ֗ים haterafim HTd/Ncmpa the household gods the household cult-objects
H8655-02 Genesis 31:35 הַ/תְּרָפִֽים haterafim HTd/Ncmpa household idols the household cult-objects
H8655-03 Judges 17:5 וּ/תְרָפִ֔ים uterafim HC/Ncmpa and teraphim household cult-objects
H8655-03 Judges 18:14 וּ/תְרָפִ֔ים uterafim HC/Ncmpa and household gods household cult-objects
H8655-02 Judges 18:17 הַ/תְּרָפִ֖ים haterafim HTd/Ncmpa teraphim the household cult-objects
H8655-02 Judges 18:18 הַ/תְּרָפִ֖ים haterafim HTd/Ncmpa the teraphim the household cult-objects
H8655-02 Judges 18:20 הַ/תְּרָפִ֖ים haterafim HTd/Ncmpa household idols the household cult-objects
H8655-03 1 Samuel 15:23 וּ/תְרָפִ֖ים uterafim HC/Ncmpa and teraphim household cult-objects
H8655-02 1 Samuel 19:13 הַ/תְּרָפִ֗ים haterafim HTd/Ncmpa the teraphim the household cult-objects
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