1 Samuel 19:13

Modern

Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment.

Traditional

And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.

Literal

And Michal took the teraphim and laid it in the bed, and she put a cover of goats’ hair for his head, and covered it with clothing.

Latin

Tulit autem Michol statuam, et posuit eam super lectum, et pellem pilosam caprarum posuit ad caput ejus, et operuit eam vestimentis.

Hebrew

English

Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment.

A household idol: The Hebrew word teraphim refers to household idols (small images used in homes, often for worship or protection). These idols appear in several Old Testament passages, such as Genesis 31:30; Judges 17:5; and 2 Kings 23:24. Having an idol in David and Michal's home might show how common pagan idol worship was among the Israelites. The idol might have belonged to Michal. David did not seem to object to Michal having it. (Compare to Rachel stealing her father’s household idols in Genesis 31:19.)
Siblings Jonathan (1 Samuel 19:1–7) and Michal (19:11–18) saved David from their father and disrupted their father’s plans to harm him. Members of Saul’s royal family were important in David’s rise, though David did not take Saul’s throne by force.

Theme notes and profiles

Genesis 31:19
Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.
Judges 18:17
And the five men who had gone to spy out the land went inside and took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten idol, while the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred armed men.
Judges 18:14
Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish said to their brothers, “Did you know that one of these houses has an ephod, household gods, a graven image, and a molten idol? Now think about what you should do.”
Hosea 3:4
For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol.
Judges 17:5
Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household idols, and ordained one of his sons as his priest.

Michal: Daughter of Saul; wife of David