the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Teraphim
Morrish Bible Dictionary
or This is a Hebrew word in the plural. It refers to domestic idols, as for instance those Rachel stole from her father; there the word, as elsewhere, is translated 'images' with'teraphim' in the margin. Genesis 31:19,34,35 . Michal the wife of David had one in her house, and laid it in the bed when David escaped. 1 Samuel 19:13,16 . Micah also had them in his house, and regarded them as 'gods.' Judges 17:5; Judges 18:14-20 . They were used in some way for divination, and are included among the images and idols which Josiah cleared from the land. 2 Kings 23:24; Ezekiel 21:21; Zechariah 10:2 . In Hosea 3:4 the Jews are described as having neither king, nor prince, nor sacrifice, nor image, nor ephod, nor teraphim — as they are at this day bereft of their sacrifices, and without even the divination and false gods they once had. But the prophecy speaks also of a coming day when they will seek Jehovah their God, and David their king, and enter into blessing.
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Morrish, George. Entry for 'Teraphim'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/mbd/t/teraphim.html. 1897.
