What are the Urim and Thummim in Deuteronomy 33:8?

Hebrew (with Transliteration & English Gloss)

• וּלְלֵוִ֣י (u-le-Levi) – And of Levi
• אָמַ֔ר (amar) – he said
• תֻּמֶּ֥יךָ (tummecha) – your Thummim
• וְאֽוּרֶ֖יךָ (ve-urecha) – and your Urim
• לְאִ֣ישׁ (le-ish) – to the man
• חֲסִידֶ֑ךָ (chasidecha) – your godly one
• אֲשֶׁ֨ר (asher) – whom
• נִסִּית֔וֹ (nissito) – you tested him
• בְּמַסָּ֖ה (b-massah) – at Massah
• תְּרִיבֵ֥הוּ (terivehu) – you contended with him
• עַל־מֵֽי־מְרִיבָֽה (al-mei-merivah) – at the waters of Meribah

What Are the Urim and Thummim?

• Urim (אוּרִים, 'lights') and Thummim (תֻּמִּים, 'perfections' or 'completeness') were sacred lots or objects kept in the high priest’s breastplate.
• They were used as a means for the priest to seek God’s guidance and make decisions for Israel, especially when the answer was not clear from the Law or prophetic word.

How Did They Work?

• The exact method is not described in the Bible and remains a bit of a mystery.
• When the Israelites needed divine direction (for example: who should lead, should we go to battle, etc.), the high priest would inquire of God using the Urim and Thummim.
• God would reveal His answer—likely a yes/no or true/false response—through these objects.

Symbolic Meaning

• Urim and Thummim represent God’s guidance, light, truth, and decision-making for His people.
• They remind us that God desires to lead His people and provide clarity when we seek Him.

In Deuteronomy 33:8