זוהר, ויצא מ״בZohar, Vayetzei 42

Segment 1א׳

(בראשית ל״א:י״ט) וְלָבָן הָלַךְ לִגְזֹז אֶת צֹאנוֹ וְגו'. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי מַאן תְּרָפִים, אֶלָּא עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הֲווּ, וְאַמַּאי אִקְרֵי תְּרָפִים, לִגְנַאי הֲוָה, כְּמָה דְתָנִינָן בְּמָקוֹם הַתּוֹרֶף. וּמְנָלָן דְּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הֲווּ, דִּכְתִיב, (שם) לָמָּה גָנַבְתָּ אֶת אֱלֹהָי. וּכְתִיב, (שם) עִם אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא אֶת אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְגו'. וְלָבָן חָרָשָׁא דְּכָל חֳרָשִׁין דְּעַלְמָא הֲוָה, וּבְהַאי הֲוָה יָדַע בְּכָל מַאן דְּבָעֵי לְמִנְדַע.

NOW LABAN WAS GONE TO SHEAR HIS SHEEP, ETC. R. Jose said: ‘The teraphim were idols, so called out of contempt, the name being akin to the word toreph (obscenity). The proof that they were idols is found in Laban’s question: “Wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?” as well as in Jacob’s words: “With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, etc.” For Laban was a great sorcerer who practised all kinds of magical arts, and it was by such means that he learnt all that he wished to know.’

Segment 2ב׳

אָמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא, בְּקֶסֶם אִתְעֲבִיד. רִבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, בְּנַחַשׁ. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, לָא אִתְעֲבִידוּ אֶלָּא בְּשַׁעְתֵּי יְדִיעָן. וְאַמַּאי אִקְרֵי תְּרָפִים. בְּגִין דְּבַטְשֵׁי הַאי שַׁעְתָּא, וְהַאי שַׁעְתָּא אַרְפֵּי יְדָא, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, (שמואל ב כ״ד:ט״ז) רַב עַתָּה הֶרֶף יָדֶךָ.

R. Hiya said that the powers of the idol were derived from wizardry; R. Jose, from divination. R. Judah said: ‘They were derived from a close observance of the times and moments for striking and for holding off. At one moment the craftsman would use his hand to beat it into shape, and another he would relax. Hence the term teraphim, akin to hereph (relax) (II Sam. 24, 16).

Segment 3ג׳

אוּמָנָא כַּד עָבִיד לֵיהּ, הַהוּא דְיָדַע רִגְעֵי וְשַׁעְתֵּי קָאִים עֲלֵיהּ, וְאָמַר, הַשְׁתָּא אַרְפֵּי, וְהַשְׁתָּא עָבִיד. וְלָא תִשְׁכַּח עֲבִידְתָּא דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ דְּיִרְפּוּן מִינָהּ אֶלָּא הַאי. וְאִיהוּ מַלִּיל תָּדִיר, וְיָהִיב עֵיטִין בִּישִׁין לְאַבְאָשָׁא לְנַפְשֵׁיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ.

For when the craftsman was making it, the man who knew the proper seconds and hours stood over him, saying now “strike”, and now “stay”. There is no other work which requires to be timed in this way. Now, this magic idol was continually uttering evil counsel, and prompting to mischief.