Teraphim

How Nave’s arranged it

• (Household idols)
• Used by Laban, stolen by Rachael (equivalent to a deed to all of Laban' s property, according to the Nuzi tablets)Genesis 31:19Genesis 31:30–35
• Used by Micah, stolen by the DanitesJudges 17:5Judges 18:14Judges 18:17–20
• Condemned and disposed of by Jacob with 31:35-39Genesis 35:2–4
• Destroyed by Josiah
• See Idols

The passages, in Bible order (6)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 6 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 31:19

   Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 31:192 voices

   “Laban went to shear his sheep - Laban had gone; and this was a favorable time not only to take his images, but to return to Canaan without being perceived. Rachel had stolen the images - תרפים teraphim. What the teraphim were is utterly unknown.

   “(Verse 19) And Rachel stole her father's idols. Where we now read idols, it is written in Hebrew Theraphim, which Aquila interprets as μορφώματα, that is, figures or images. This is done so that we may understand what the word Theraphim means in the Book of Judges (17:5).

   Everything gathered on Genesis 31:19→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 31:30–35

   Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 31:30–352 voices

   “Considering the past conduct of Laban, his complaint on this ground was hypocritical cant. But his second charge was a grave one--the carrying off his gods--Hebrew, "teraphim," small images of human figures, used not as idols or objects of worship, but as talismans, for superstitious purposes.

   “And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone,....

   Everything gathered on Genesis 31:30–35→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Genesis 35:2–4

   So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 35:2–42 voices

   “These bodily purifications were purely figurative; and as sacrifices were offered before the law, so also were external purifications, as appears from the words of Jacob; hence it would seem that types and symbols were used from the fall of man, representing and teaching the two great doctrines of revealed truth--namely, the atonement of Christ and the sanctification of our nature.

   “After he was called by God, Jacob ascends to Bethel, that is, to the house of God (this is how the name Bethel is interpreted), offers sacrifices to God and is declared chief and master of the holy rites. He teaches his successors and descendants how they must enter the house of God. He orders the foreign gods to be rejected like dung and filth and to change the garments. It is fitting for us to do likewise when we are called before God, or enter the divine temple, especially in the time of the holy baptism.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 35:2–4→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Judges 17:5

   Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household idols, and ordained one of his sons as his priest.

   ›Commentary on Judges 17:52 voices

   “Of gods - That is, an house consecrated for the service of God in this manner. Teraphim - A sort of images so called. One of his sons - Because the Levites in that corrupt estate of the church, neglected the exercise of their office, and therefore they were neglected by the people, and others put into their employment.

   “And the man Micah had an house of gods,.... Having two images in it, besides teraphim, which were a sort of idols; and the Targum is, an house of images, or idols; though it may be rendered "an house of God"; a temple, a place for religious worship: and made an ephod; a priestly garment, a linen one very probably, not so rich an one with a breastplate to it as the high priest had, which was very costly.

   Everything gathered on Judges 17:5→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Judges 18:14

   Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish said to their brothers, “Did you know that one of these houses has an ephod, household gods, a graven image, and a molten idol? Now think about what you should do.”

   ›Commentary on Judges 18:142 voices

   “Answered - That is, spake, the word answering being often used in scripture of the first speaker. These houses - That is, in one of these houses. What to do - Whether it be not expedient to take them for your farther use.

   “Their journey led them through the territory of Judah, and their first halting place was "behind," that is, on the west of Kirjath-jearim, on a spot called afterwards "the camp of Dan." Prosecuting the northern route, they skirted the base of the Ephraimite hills.

   Everything gathered on Judges 18:14→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Judges 18:17–20

   And the five men who had gone to spy out the land went inside and took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten idol, while the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred armed men.

   ›Commentary on Judges 18:17–202 voices

   “The five went back to Micah’s chapel (Micah’s house, Jdg 18:18) and took the ephod, teraphim, etc., and brought them to the gate where the priest was talking to the 600 men.

   “Their journey led them through the territory of Judah, and their first halting place was "behind," that is, on the west of Kirjath-jearim, on a spot called afterwards "the camp of Dan." Prosecuting the northern route, they skirted the base of the Ephraimite hills.

   Everything gathered on Judges 18:17–20→

   Verse page →Original language →