Lexical Summary
deleth: Door
Original Word:דֶּלֶת
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:deleth
Pronunciation:deh'-leth
Phonetic Spelling:(deh'-leth)
KJV: door (two-leaved), gate, leaf, lid (In Psa 141
NASB:doors, door, gates, columns, door and leaves, doors had leaves, gateway
Word Origin:[fromH1802 (דָּלָה - To draw)]
1. something swinging, i.e. the valve of a door
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
door two-leaved, gate, leaf, lid
Fromdalah; something swinging, i.e. The valve of a door -- door (two-leaved), gate, leaf, lid. (In Psa. 141:3, dal, irreg.).
see HEBREWdalah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
dalahDefinitiona door
NASB Translationcolumns (1), door (21), door and leaves (1), doors (45), doors had leaves (1), gates (11), gateway (1), leaves (1), lid (1), opening (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
,
door, see below . below
[] (Phoenician ) only figurative: constructPsalm 141:3.
[] , only Qr (Kt )Isaiah 26:20 figurative, door of chamber in which people (personified) hides (compare also dual)
(?Nehemiah 13:19) (Late Hebrewid.; Assyriandaltu(m) StrmAv 1843 SchrCOT Gloss; Phoenician plural CISi. 7. 3; — according to BaZMG 1887, 607 from √ , Assyrianedilu,to bolt,bar) — (always absolute, and with article exceptSongs 8:9 +Ezekiel 41:24 but here Co article)Genesis 19:10 18t.;Genesis 19:9;Judges 19:22;suffix2 Kings 12:10; Du. (compare Sta§ 187 a)Deuteronomy 3:5 9t.,Job 38:10; constructJoshua 2:19 6t. +Ezekiel 26:2 Co;suffixJob 31:32,Zechariah 11:1 +Isaiah 26:20 Kt (compare feminine noun),Joshua 6:26;1 Kings 16:34; pluralJeremiah 36:23 10t.; constructJudges 3:23 19t. +Ezekiel 26:2 (Co ); suffixProverbs 8:34, 2Chronicles 3:7; 4:22;Nehemiah 3:1,3,6,13,14,15; 2Chronicles 4:9;
door of house (distinguished from door-way, compare1 Kings 6:31Genesis 19:6)Genesis 19:9,10;Exodus 2:6 (all J E)Deuteronomy 15:17;Joshua 2:19 (JE)Judges 11:31;Judges 19:22,27;1 Samuel 21:14 ()2 Kings 4:4,5;2 Kings 6:32 (twice in verse);Isaiah 57:8;Job 31:32; so figurative of wisdom's houseProverbs 8:34 ; particulardoors of house of1 Samuel 3:15 (1 Samuel 3:3); temple1 Kings 6:34 (3 t. in verse);1 Kings 7:50;2 Kings 18:16;1 Chronicles 22:3; 2Chronicles 3:7; 4:22; 28:24; 29:3;Nehemiah 6:10;Malachi 1:10; so of Ezekiel's temple,Ezekiel 41:23,24 (5 t. in verse);Ezekiel 41:25.
door of roomJudges 3:23,24,25;2 Samuel 13:17,18;2 Kings 4:33;2 Kings 9:3,10. especiallydoors of or1 Kings 6:31,32;1 Kings 7:50; 2Chronicles 4:22 compare alsoEzekiel 41:23; also of court 2Chronicles 4:9 (twice in verse), and of porch 2Chronicles 29:7.
gates of cityDeuteronomy 3:5;Joshua 6:26 (compare1 Kings 16:34)Judges 16:3;1 Samuel 23:7; 2Chronicles 8:5; 2 Chronicles 14:6;Nehemiah 3:1,3,6,13,14,15;Nehemiah 6:1;Nehemiah 7:1 ( then Generally distinct from , which denotes the whole structure of gate, including posts, open space, etc., while is swinging door),Nehemiah 7:3;Nehemiah 13:19 (where also sense narrower than "" )Isaiah 45:1 ("" ) compareIsaiah 45:2 andPsalm 107:16;Jeremiah 49:31;Ezekiel 38:11.
(mostly figurative): door (probablylid) of chest2 Kings 12:10; aperture of wombJob 3:10 ( ); jaws of crocodileJob 41:6 ( ); lips of manEcclesiastes 12:4; doors enclosing and shutting off seaJob 38:8,10; doors of heaven through which comes rainPsalm 78:23 (compareGenesis 7:11); of column of MS. (from shape)Jeremiah 36:23; figurative of easily accessible woman,Songs 8:9; in simileProverbs 26:14; of Jerusalem as gate of peopleEzekiel 26:2; of LebanonZechariah 11:1.
Topical Lexicon
Physical and Architectural UseDelet designates the swinging “leaf” of a doorway, whether in a tent (Job 31:34), a house (Joshua 2:19), a palace (1 Kings 6:34), or a fortified gate (Nehemiah 3:3). It marks the visible boundary between public space and private or sacred space and is usually paired with bolts, bars, or sockets (Nehemiah 7:3), underscoring its role in security and stewardship. Solomon’s Temple featured elaborately carved olive-wood doors overlaid with gold (1 Kings 6:31), highlighting the material honor given to spaces where the LORD’s name dwelt.
Domestic Life and Social Customs
Doors framed everyday family activity: evening protection (Genesis 19:9), hospitality (Song of Solomon 5:4), and instruction (Proverbs 31:27). “As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed” (Proverbs 26:14) uses the repetitive motion of a door to illustrate habitual laziness; the proverb only works where the hearer recognizes the common sound and sight of a wooden leaf pivoting on sockets.
Covenant Rituals and Legal Proceedings
Delet becomes a courtroom inExodus 21:6: “His master must take him to the door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl, and he will be his servant for life.” The threshold anchors lifelong obligation; blood on wood seals voluntary servitude. Earlier, Passover blood had marked Israel’s house-doors (Exodus 12:7), declaring the occupants under divine protection. In both cases the door separates life from death, liberty from bondage, and covenant identity from outside threats.
Worship and Sacred Space
From Tabernacle to Second Temple, doors controlled access to holiness. Ezekiel’s visionary temple has “double doors” between nave and sanctuary (Ezekiel 41:23-24), emphasizing gradations of approach. Priests opened and shut these doors at prescribed times (2 Chronicles 29:3-7). Neglecting them symbolized apostasy; Hezekiah’s reform began by reopening the doors his father had shut. Malachi rebukes indifferent priests: “If only one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not kindle useless fire on My altar!” (Malachi 1:10), implying that half-hearted worship is worse than none.
Cities and National Defense
While delet usually describes a house-door, the term can refer to the movable leaves of city gates. Builders in Nehemiah “installed its doors, bolts, and bars” (Nehemiah 3:3). Shutting city doors at night (Nehemiah 7:3) guarded against enemies and controlled commerce. The prophets envision eschatological security by reversing that custom: “Your gates will always stand open; they will never be shut day or night” (Isaiah 60:11).
Wisdom, Poetry, and Personal Spirituality
In prayer the psalmist begs, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3), treating speech as an entryway requiring divine sentry. Wisdom warns of unseen danger crouching at a door (Genesis 4:7 conceptually, though another Hebrew term), whereas Job speaks of social shame that would drive him indoors (Job 31:34). Each text uses the door as a metaphor for self-control, moral vigilance, and relational openness.
Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions
Isaiah 26:20 calls the faithful to shelter during judgment: “Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the wrath has passed.” The closed door protects until divine wrath is satisfied, echoing Passover. Conversely, Ezekiel sees the glory of the LORD filling the temple such that the east gate is permanently shut (Ezekiel 44:1-2), signaling completed holiness. Openness or closure thus prophesies either welcome to blessing or exclusion from it.
Christological and Gospel Fulfillment
The Hebrew concept of delet prepares readers for Messiah’s self-declaration, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9). The unique Gospel claim rests on the Old Testament pattern: a door marked by blood, guarded by covenant, opening to those summoned by grace.Revelation 3:7 presents Jesus with “the key of David,” controlling entry to the ultimate sanctuary; the authority anticipated in Temple doors now resides in the risen Christ.
Pastoral and Discipleship Applications
1. Security in Christ: Just as Passover homes were sealed by blood, believers rest under the blood of the Lamb.
2. Hospitable Mission: Rahab’s open door (Joshua 2:19) stands as a model for welcoming those who seek refuge in God.
3. Disciplined Speech:Psalm 141:3 urges believers to install a “watchman” at the doorway of the tongue.
4. Servant Commitment: The bond-servant’s piercing at the door (Exodus 21:6) challenges disciples to lifelong, willing obedience.
5. Expectant Watchfulness: Ministry leaders “stand at the door and knock” as Christ does (Revelation 3:20), offering fellowship that honors each person’s volitional threshold.
Thus delet—far more than a wooden panel—functions throughout Scripture as a theological hinge between exclusion and access, judgment and salvation, concealment and revelation, culminating in the open invitation of the Gospel itself.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּדַלְת֤וֹת בְּדַלְתּ֑וֹ בִּדְלָתַ֣יִם בַּדֶּ֔לֶת בדלת בדלתו בדלתות בדלתים דְּ֝לָתַ֗י דְּלָת֔וֹת דְּלָת֖וֹת דְּלָת֛וֹת דְּלָתֶ֑יךָ דְּלָתֶ֔יהָ דְּלָתֶֽיהָ׃ דְּלָתַ֔יִם דְּלָתַ֣יִם דְּלָתַ֥יִם דְּלָתוֹת֮ דְלָת֖וֹת דְלָתַ֙יִם֙ דְלָתַ֧יִם דֶּ֣לֶת דַּ֥ל דַּ֭לְתֹתַי דַּלְת֣וֹת דַּלְת֤וֹת דַּלְת֥וֹת דַּלְת֧וֹת דַּלְת֨וֹת דַּלְתֵ֣י דַּלְתֹתָ֑יו דַּלְתֹתָ֔יו דַּלְתוֹתָ֨יו דַלְת֖וֹת דְּלָתְךָ֖ דל דלת דלתות דלתותיו דלתי דלתיה דלתיה׃ דלתיך דלתים דלתך דלתתי דלתתיו הַ֭דֶּלֶת הַדְּלָת֑וֹת הַדְּלָת֔וֹת הַדְּלָת֖וֹת הַדֶּ֔לֶת הַדֶּ֖לֶת הַדֶּ֙לֶת֙ הַדֶּ֛לֶת הַדֶּ֤לֶת הַדֶּ֥לֶת הַדָּ֑לֶת הַדָּֽלֶת׃ הדלת הדלת׃ הדלתות וְדַלְתֵ֖י וְדַלְתֵ֥י וְדַלְתוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם וְדַלְתוֹתָ֖יו וְהַדֶּ֖לֶת וּבַדֶּ֔לֶת וּדְלָת֧וֹת וּדְלָתַ֖יִם וּדְלָתָֽיִם׃ ובדלת ודלתות ודלתותיהם ודלתותיו ודלתי ודלתים ודלתים׃ והדלת לְדֶ֣לֶת לְדַלְת֧וֹת לְדַלְתֵ֥י לְדַלְתוֹת֩ לַדְּלָת֑וֹת לדלת לדלתות לדלתי מִדַּלְתֵ֤י מִדַּלְתֵ֨י מדלתי bad·de·leṯ badDelet baddeleṯ bə·ḏal·ṯō·wṯ bə·ḏal·tōw bedalTo bedalTot bəḏaltōw bəḏalṯōwṯ biḏ·lā·ṯa·yim bidlaTayim biḏlāṯayim dal dal·ṯê dal·ṯō·ṯāw dal·ṯō·ṯay dal·ṯō·w·ṯāw dal·ṯō·wṯ ḏal·ṯō·wṯ dalṯê dalTei dalTot Daltotai daltoTav dalṯōṯāw dalṯōṯay dalṯōwṯ ḏalṯōwṯ dalṯōwṯāw də·lā·ṯa·yim ḏə·lā·ṯa·yim də·lā·ṯay də·lā·ṯe·hā də·lā·ṯe·ḵā də·lā·ṯə·ḵā də·lā·ṯō·wṯ ḏə·lā·ṯō·wṯ de·leṯ delaTai dəlāṯay delaTayim dəlāṯayim ḏəlāṯayim delateCha dəlāṯehā delaTeicha delaTeiha dəlāṯeḵā dəlāṯəḵā delaTot dəlāṯōwṯ ḏəlāṯōwṯ Delet deleṯ had·dā·leṯ had·də·lā·ṯō·wṯ had·de·leṯ hadDalet haddāleṯ haddelaTot haddəlāṯōwṯ hadDelet haddeleṯ lad·də·lā·ṯō·wṯ laddelaTot laddəlāṯōwṯ lə·ḏal·ṯê lə·ḏal·ṯō·wṯ lə·ḏe·leṯ ləḏalṯê ledalTei ledaltOt ləḏalṯōwṯ leDelet ləḏeleṯ mid·dal·ṯê middalṯê middalTei ū·ḇad·de·leṯ ū·ḏə·lā·ṯa·yim ū·ḏə·lā·ṯā·yim ū·ḏə·lā·ṯō·wṯ ūḇaddeleṯ udelaTayim ūḏəlāṯayim ūḏəlāṯāyim udelaTot ūḏəlāṯōwṯ uvadDelet vedalTei vedaltoTav vedaltoteiHem vehadDelet wə·ḏal·ṯê wə·ḏal·ṯō·w·ṯāw wə·ḏal·ṯō·w·ṯê·hem wə·had·de·leṯ wəḏalṯê wəḏalṯōwṯāw wəḏalṯōwṯêhem wəhaddeleṯ
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