在猶太人的民間傳說(shuō)中，指一個(gè)被賦予生命的偶像。它現(xiàn)在的涵義源自中世紀(jì)，那時(shí)產(chǎn)生了許多關(guān)于術(shù)士的傳說(shuō)，這些術(shù)士能夠以一道符咒，或把字母拼成一個(gè)神圣的字或神的名字，而賦予一個(gè)雕像生命。早期的假人故事中，假人往往是一個(gè)完美的仆人，唯一的缺點(diǎn)是在執(zhí)行主人的指令時(shí)，過(guò)于死板或機(jī)械化。后來(lái)假人被賦予猶太人被迫害時(shí)的保護(hù)人的性格，但仍然是一副嚇人的面孔。

　　In Jewish folklore， an image that comes to life. From the Middle Ages stories were told of wise men who could bring clay effigies to life by means of magic charms or sacred words. Golems began as perfect servants， whose only fault lay in fulfilling their master's commands too literally or mechanically. Later golems were imagined as protectors of the Jews in times of persecution， but also had a frightening aspect.