Urim and Thummim
Priestly oracle objects
Urim and Thummim were sacred objects used by ancient Israelite priests for divination—determining God's will on important matters.
The Bible mentions them repeatedly but never describes what they looked like or exactly how they worked, though they seem to have provided yes-or-no answers.
The Hebrew words may mean "lights and perfections" or "curses and perfections." The phrase appears in other religious traditions, notably Mormonism, where Joseph Smith claimed to use Urim and Thummim to translate the Book of Mormon.
Metal torso protection
- AaronOld Testament priest
- LevitesIsraelite religious attendants
- ExodusMass departure from a place
- TorahJudaism's core scripture
Pentateuch · Israelites · Shiloh · sanctuary · Moses · Hebrew · theocracy · priestly garments
Metal torso protection
- Ark of the CovenantGold-plated acacia reliquary
- tabletsFlat portable computing devices
- altarSacred ritual table
- incenseAnger greatly, or aromatic resin
menorah · holy of holies · consecration · anointing · ritual · holiness
Authoritative wisdom source
- prophecyForetelling of future events
- divine willGod's sovereign intention
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- inquiryRequest for information
soothsaying · seer · omens · augury · prognostication · guidance · discernment
Something hard to fathom
lost knowledge · esoteric · arcane · cryptic · inscrutable · forgotten · unknowable · veiled
breastplate
Metal torso protection
Torah · Pentateuch · Israelites · Shiloh · sanctuary · Moses · Hebrew · theocracy · priestly garments · oracle
breastplate
Metal torso protection
- Ark of the CovenantGold-plated acacia reliquary
- tabletsFlat portable computing devices
- altarSacred ritual table
incense · menorah · holy of holies · consecration · anointing · ritual · holiness
oracle
Authoritative wisdom source
- prophecyForetelling of future events
- divine willGod's sovereign intention
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
inquiry · soothsaying · seer · omens · augury · prognostication · guidance · discernment
enigma
Something hard to fathom
lost knowledge · obscure · esoteric · arcane · cryptic · inscrutable · forgotten · unknowable · veiled
- MormonismBook of Mormon, Joseph Smith, Latter-day Saints, priesthood, Latter-day Saint
- Israelite Worshiptabernacle, Ark of the Covenant, high priest, burnt offering, sin offering
- LDS DoctrineD&C, Book of Mormon, revelations, sections, Joseph Smith
- Mormon Doctrineeternal life, exaltation, Book of Mormon, Jehovah, priesthood
- Mormon HistoryJoseph Smith, Brigham Young, Book of Mormon, pioneers, Mormon Trail
- LDS ScriptureBook of Mormon, Bible, quad, scriptures, articles of faith
Urim and Thummimhuman reason
Mental faculty for logic
empirical observation · scientific method · logic · experimentation · deduction
Urim and Thummimprophecy
Foretelling of future events
vision · dream interpretation · Delphic oracle · parable · allegory
Urim and Thummimpopular vote
Total of citizen votes
consensus · public opinion · mob rule · individual conscience