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Glite Dictionary
Urim and Thummim

Urim and Thummim

1 9.9
Objects that priests used in ancient Israel to ask God yes-no questions
  • noun
  • /ˈjuːrɪm ənd ˈθʌmɪm/
  • Literature
: Urim y Tumim
  • In ancient rituals, the Urim and Thummim were used to determine God's will by casting lots.

Examples

  • They have special stones, the Urim and Thummim, which the priests used in order to know what the Lord's answer was.

    Blog text (22)

  • Now, the stones, the Urim and Thummim, were kept in the pouch behind the breastplate.

    The Cutter (2005)

  • The priests consulted the Urim and Thummim to receive divine guidance on the people's decisions.

  • During important ceremonies, the Urim and Thummim were used by the high priest to seek answers from the Lord.

Synonyms

Urim
vsUrim and Thummim
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A sacred object priests used to seek answers from God

is a paired set of objects used together to obtain yes no answers from God

Surface Forms

Urim and Thummim singular
Urim and Thummims plural

Morphology

Urim + and + Thummim

This is a culture- and religion-specific proper-name pair referring to particular ritual objects; the meaning (objects used to cast lots for divine yes/no answers) cannot be compositionally derived from the literal constituents or the conjunction 'and'. Even if a learner knew the individual words, the ritual function and historical reference require background knowledge, so it is not predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Urim and Thummim may come from the Bible and refer to two small objects kept by a priest in a pouch on his chest. Priests used Urim and Thummim to get a clear 'yes' or 'no' answer from God, so the name now recalls a simple, sacred way to seek guidance.