# \*tarāp-: 'teraphim (household/ancestral gods; divinatory images)'

> Proto-Semitic *tarāp-, 'teraphim (household/ancestral gods; divinatory images)': reflexes in 1 language(s).

A page of the Linear A Lexicon's research wiki, in [Wiki](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/index.md>) › [Kaphtor Semitic Roots](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/index.md>) › [T](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/t/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*tarāp- |
| Meaning | 'teraphim (household/ancestral gods; divinatory images)' |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | tǝrāpîm (Gen 31:19, 31:34-35; Judg 17:5; 1 Sam 19:13; HALOT 1794) | HALOT 1794 | gloss withheld |

A form keeps its source's gloss only when the source is public domain or openly licensed.

## Notes

Plurale tantum, no singular attested. Hebrew term of uncertain etymology, no Semitic cognates. HALOT 1794 lists Hittite-Hurrian tarpiš (CHD T 181: 'substitute figure, spirit of the dead') as the most cited external parallel, an Indo-European word and not a genetic Semitic relation. Other proposals, none established: √r-p-ʔ 'to heal' (healing images), √t-r-p 'nourish'.

## Linked from

- [T](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/t/index.md>)

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/t/2973_teraphim_household_ancestral_gods_divinatory_ima/
Licence: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cite as: di Mino, Tom. 2026. Linear A Lexicon. Plasma AI. https://linear-a.ai/. Data: kaphtor, commit add28e94.