Urim
אוּרִים
Exodus 28:30
Leviticus 8:8
Numbers 27:21
1 Samuel 28:6
Nehemiah 7:65, Ezra 2:63
What are the Urim and the Thummim? what-are-the-urim-and-thummim-tetzaveh
The Urim and Thummim are simply the transliteration of the Hebrew words for that which the breastpiece of judgment contained: האורים והתומים – HaUrim VeHaTumim. The reason that translators have not provided translation for these words is because it is challenging to know how to translate them.
A literal translation for the word האורים – HaUrim is simply “the lights.”
A literal translation of the word התומים – HaTumim is a bit more challenging but can be translated as “the perfections.”
The Urim and the Thummim can be understood as “the Lights and the Perfections.” Although we can provide a general translation of the words we don’t really know what the Urim and Thummim were.
Despite the lack of information regarding the Urim and the Thummim, we do read in the Scriptures how they were used practically in the life of the Israelites.
- Direction Numbers 27:18-21
- Judgement 1 Samuel 14:40-42
The Urim and Thummim (Heb. אוּרִים וְתֻמִּים) was a priestly device for obtaining oracles. On the high priest's ephod (an apron-like garment) lay a breastpiece (חֹשֶׁן) – a pouch inlaid with 12 precious stones engraved with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel – that held the Urim and Thummim (Ex. 28:15–30; Lev. 8:8). By means of the Urim, the priest inquired of YHWH on behalf of the ruler (Num. 27:21; cf. Yoma 7:5,); they were one of the three legitimate means of obtaining oracles in early Israel (Urim, dreams, prophets; I Sam. 28:6). Owing to the oracular character of the Urim, the breastpiece is called "the breastpiece of decision" (חֹשֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּט). (The concept evokes "the Tablets of Destiny" in Babylonian mythology – the symbol of supreme authority that lay on the breast of the chief god; Pritchard, Texts, 63, 67, 111.) The right to work this oracle was reserved for the levitical priests (Deut. 33:8).