What are teraphim?

Answer

The term “teraphim” originates from the Hebrew word “hatterapim,” which in the Bible commonly denotes household idols or family gods. The first mention of this term is in Genesis 31:19, where Rachel took her father’s household idols as she fled with her husband and family to Jacob’s homeland. Throughout the Bible, “teraphim” is associated with idolatry and pagan worship.

Judges 17 provides another instance of the use of “teraphim” during the period when “there was no king in Israel, and every man did what was right in his own eyes” (verse 6). A man named Micah took silver from his mother, had it crafted into an idol, hired a Levite as his personal priest, and claimed that the Lord must approve of his self-fashioned religion (verse 13).

Although at times the Israelites used “teraphim” to symbolize the Lord God, these objects were still considered idols. Prior to the construction of the temple and following its destruction, Israel frequently brought “teraphim” into their homes, falsely believing that these idols represented God. In their self-deception, they desired to maintain a semblance of godliness, “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”, (2 Timothy 3:5), while disregarding the Lord’s commandments prohibiting the creation of graven images (Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 5:8). A contemporary form of “teraphim” worship is observed in modern culture when individuals idolize objects, photographs, or statues as if possessing inherent supernatural powers. The object of reverence or veneration may be a crucifix or a painting of Jesus, yet venerating physical representations of the Lord as if they were God Himself constitutes idol worship, “but hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee oth…”.

Er gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: », (see 1 Kings 14:9 and Isaiah 37:19).

Since ancient times, humanity has desired a tangible god that could be touched and seen. The mythological gods and goddesses of the past are indications of this physical craving. The presence of teraphim in the Scriptures demonstrates that even those who have encountered Yahweh can be led astray by a sinful yearning for a god-object they can own. Idols that can be grasped in our hands seem more controllable to us. We believe we can comprehend and manage a god that we can physically hold. However, teraphim are powerless, even if they are meant to symbolize the Lord «For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. », (Zechariah 10:2). God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth «God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. », (John 4:24). Any other form of worship is idolatry.