Urim

Urim refers to a pair of biblical objects or devices, Urim and Thummim, described in the Hebrew Bible as a means for the High Priest to obtain or convey divine answers from God. The term Urim is typically paired with Thummim, often translated as “lights” and “perfections” or “truth,” though the exact sense of the terms is uncertain. The best-known biblical description places them as part of the breastplate of the High Priest, to be used when seeking guidance on important matters for Israel. The text does not explain their exact mechanism, leaving open whether they were physical objects, symbolic signs, or a ritual process.

Scholars have offered a range of interpretations. Some propose that the Urim and Thummim were physical stones or inscriptions that revealed a yes/no answer during inquiry to God. Others suggest they were divinatory tools or a ritual method by which God provided guidance, while still others view the terms as metaphorical references to divine revelation rather than to specific objects. Because the biblical account is brief and no artifacts have survived, the precise nature and use of the Urim and Thummim remain uncertain.

In later Jewish and Christian traditions, the Urim and Thummim became symbols of divine guidance tied to the priestly office, though religious authorities have offered differing explanations over time. Modern scholarship generally treats them as a ritual or sacred instrument whose exact form and method cannot be determined from the available sources.