The Urim and Thummim were sacred objects used by the High Priest of ancient Israel to determine the will of God in specific matters of national importance. Kept within the “breastpiece of judgment” worn over the heart, these instruments served as a direct means of divine revelation before the era of the major prophets. While their exact physical appearance remains a mystery, their function was clear: they provided a way for the leadership of Israel to inquire of the Lord and receive guidance on binary or judicial decisions.
Quick Facts
- Name: Urim and Thummim (Hebrew: Urim v’Tummim)
- Meaning: “Lights and Perfections” or “Revelation and Truth”
- Custodian: The High Priest of Israel (starting with Aaron)
- Location: Kept inside the Breastpiece of Judgment (Choshen) attached to the Ephod
- Era: Exodus (Wilderness wanderings) through the early Monarchy (Davidic era)
- Function: Cleromancy (casting lots) to determine God’s will
- First Mention: Exodus 28:30
- Last Historical Mention: Ezra 2:63 / Nehemiah 7:65 (noting their absence)
Name Meaning
Urim: Derived from the Hebrew root for “light” (or). It is often translated as “Lights” or “Illumination,” signifying the revelation of hidden matters.
Thummim: Derived from the Hebrew root for “completeness” or “integrity” (tam). It is translated as “Perfections,” “Innocence,” or “Truth.”
Combined: Together, the phrase likely signifies “Perfect Revelation” or “Lights and Perfections,” indicating that God’s counsel is both clear and without error.
Origin / Physical Description
Origin: Commanded by God to Moses on Mount Sinai to be included in the priestly garments.
Material: The Bible does not describe their shape or material. Scholars suggest they were likely gemstones, smooth stones, or inscribed tablets distinct from the twelve tribes’ stones on the outside of the breastpiece.
Mechanism: They were placed inside the double-folded fabric of the breastpiece. When the High Priest needed to inquire of God, he would likely reach in or cast them. Some theories suggest one stone meant “Yes” and the other “No,” while others suggest they lit up supernaturally (though the “casting lots” view is more historically supported).
Biblical Era / Context
Time: Primarily used during the theocratic rule of Israel (Moses to Judges) and the early monarchy (Saul and David).
Setting: The Tabernacle and later the early sanctuaries. They were consulted during times of war, land division, and legal uncertainty.
Cultural Context: In the Ancient Near East, divination was common. However, the Urim and Thummim were distinct because they were not magical; they were strictly authorized tools submitted to Yahweh’s sovereignty, used only by the anointed High Priest.
Major Roles / Identity
Instrument of Divine Counsel: The primary method for kings and leaders to ask, “Shall I go to battle?” or “Is this person guilty?”
Symbol of High Priestly Authority: Their presence signified that the High Priest bore the judgment of the Israelites over his heart before the Lord continually.
Mediator of Judgment: They provided an objective, non-human decision in complex cases where human wisdom failed.
Key Characteristics
Dependence on God: The objects had no power in themselves; they were effective only because God chose to speak through them.
Exclusivity: Could only be used by the High Priest, preventing idolatry or private divination among the people.
Truthfulness: The answers provided were considered absolute and final.
Silence: On rare occasions (as with King Saul), the Urim and Thummim would not yield an answer, signifying God’s displeasure or silence (1 Samuel 28:6).
Main Events / Appearances
The Command to Construct: Moses is instructed to place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of Aaron (Exodus 28:30).
** consecration of Aaron:** They are physically placed upon Aaron during his ordination ceremony (Leviticus 8:8).
Commissioning of Joshua: Joshua is told he must stand before Eleazar the priest, who will inquire for him “by the judgment of the Urim” (Numbers 27:21).
Saul’s Failed Inquiry: Saul attempts to consult God before his final battle, but the Lord does not answer him by dreams, prophets, or Urim (1 Samuel 28:6).
David’s Inquiries: Although the Urim are not explicitly named, David frequently consults the Ephod (held by Abiathar the priest) to ask specific yes/no questions regarding military movements (1 Samuel 23:9–12; 1 Samuel 30:7–8).
Post-Exilic Absence: Upon returning from Babylon, certain priests could not prove their lineage. The governor ruled they could not eat the sacred food until a priest arose with “Urim and Thummim” to settle the matter—implying the objects were lost or inactive (Ezra 2:63).
Major Relationships
Aaron: The first bearer of the Urim and Thummim.
Eleazar: Aaron’s son and successor who used them to guide Joshua.
Joshua: The leader who relied on the priest’s use of the Urim for national decisions.
Abiathar: The priest who brought the Ephod (containing the Urim/Thummim) to David after fleeing Saul’s massacre at Nob.
Notable Passages
Exodus 28:30: “Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD.”
Numbers 27:21: “He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD.”
Deuteronomy 33:8: Moses’ blessing on Levi: “Let your Thummim and your Urim belong to your faithful one…”
1 Samuel 28:6: “He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.”
Legacy & Impact
Transition to Prophecy: As the monarchy established itself, the use of Urim and Thummim faded, replaced by the “living word” through the major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc.).
The Word of God: They represent the believer’s need for guidance. Today, the “Lights and Perfections” are seen as foreshadowing the Holy Spirit and the completed Canon of Scripture, which guide believers into all truth.
Loss and Mystery: Their disappearance after the Babylonian exile marks a shift in Jewish history, awaiting a Messianic restoration of direct communication.
Symbolism / Typology
Christ as the High Priest: Jesus is the ultimate High Priest who bears the names of His people on His heart and provides perfect counsel (Hebrews 4:14–16).
Light and Truth: They typify Jesus, who is the “Light of the World” and the “Truth” (John 14:6).
Guidance: They symbolize the Holy Spirit’s role in guiding the church, replacing physical lots with spiritual discernment.
Extra-Biblical References
Josephus: The Jewish historian claimed the stones shone with brilliant light when God was present or pleased, though they had ceased to shine 200 years before his time.
The Talmud: Rabbinic tradition states that the Urim and Thummim were one of the five things present in the First Temple but missing from the Second Temple.
Dead Sea Scrolls: The Qumran community looked forward to a time when a Messiah would arise with the Urim and Thummim to render perfect judgment.
Leave a Reply