Urim and Thummim

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U·rim and Thum·mim

(yo͝or′ĭm ən thŭm′ĭm, o͝or′ĭm; to͝om′ĭm)

pl.n.

Sacred objects carried inside the breastplate of the high priest of ancient Israel and used as oracular media to divine the will of God.

[Partial translation of Hebrew 'ûrîm wə-tummîm : 'ûrîm, perhaps pl. of 'ûr, flame, light (from 'ôr, to be light; see ʔwr in Semitic roots) + wə-, and + tummîm, pl. of tōm, completion, integrity (from tam, to be complete; see tmm in Semitic roots).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Urim and Thummim

(ˈjʊərɪm; ˈθʌmɪm)

(Bible) Old Testament two objects probably used as oracles and carried in the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:30)

[C16: from Hebrew]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

U•rim and Thum•mim

(ˈyʊər ɪm, ˈʊər-; ˈθʌm ɪm, ˈtʊm-)
n.pl.

objects worn in the breastplate of the Jewish high priest and used, perhaps like lots, to determine God's will. Ex. 28:30.

[1530–40; partial translation of Hebrew ūrīm wəthummīm]

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Noun

Urim and Thummim - lots thrown to determine God's answers to yes-no questions

answer - the speech act of replying to a question

Translations

Urim y Tumim

References in classic literature ?

Should kings and nations from thy mouth consult, Thy counsel would be as the oracle Urim and Thummim, those oraculous gems On Aaron's breast, or tongue of Seers old Infallible; or, wert thou sought to deeds That might require the array of war, thy skill Of conduct would be such that all the world Could not sustain thy prowess, or subsist In battle, though against thy few in arms.

View in context

Addressing some priests returning from the Babylonian exile whose genealogy had not been ascertained, the Tirshatha [Persian governor] ordered them not to eat of the most holy things until a priest with Urim and Thummim should appear.

THE MYSTERY OF THE URIM VE-TUMMIM

Ever since he correctly called all 35 Senate races and 49 out of the 50 states in the presidential race of 2008, Silver, who began his career analyzing baseball, has become the urim and thummim of American statistics.