Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, door-posts held significant cultural and religious importance, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. The door-posts, or the vertical supports of a doorframe, are mentioned in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, often symbolizing protection, covenant, and divine presence.
Passover and the Blood on the Door-postsOne of the most notable references to door-posts is found in the account of the first Passover in Exodus. As the Israelites prepared to leave Egypt, God instructed them to mark their door-posts with the blood of a lamb. This act was a sign for the Lord to "pass over" their homes during the final plague, which struck down the firstborn of Egypt.
Exodus 12:7 states, "They are to take some of the blood and put it on the two side posts and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs." This ritual underscored the door-posts as a place of divine protection and deliverance.
The Shema and the MezuzahIn
Deuteronomy 6:9, the Israelites are commanded to write the words of God's commandments on their door-posts: "Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates." This instruction is part of the Shema, a central declaration of faith in Judaism. The practice of affixing a mezuzah, a small case containing a scroll with these verses, to the door-posts of Jewish homes continues to this day. It serves as a constant reminder of God's presence and the commitment to His commandments.
Symbolism in Prophetic LiteratureDoor-posts also appear in prophetic literature, symbolizing judgment and sanctification. In
Ezekiel 9:4, God commands a mark to be placed on the foreheads of those who lament the abominations in Jerusalem, sparing them from destruction. This imagery echoes the protective marking of the door-posts during Passover, emphasizing God's discernment and mercy.
New Testament ReferencesWhile the New Testament does not explicitly mention door-posts in the same ritualistic context, the concept of Christ as the door (
John 10:9) can be seen as a fulfillment of the protective and covenantal symbolism associated with door-posts. Jesus declares, "I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved." Here, the imagery of the door and its posts is transformed into a metaphor for salvation and entry into the Kingdom of God.
Cultural and Architectural SignificanceIn ancient Near Eastern culture, door-posts were not only structural elements but also places where covenants and important messages were displayed. They marked the threshold between the public and private spheres, often serving as a place of greeting and blessing. The anointing of door-posts with oil or blood in various rituals further highlights their role as sacred spaces.
In summary, door-posts in the Bible are rich with meaning, representing divine protection, covenantal faithfulness, and the presence of God in the lives of His people. They serve as a tangible reminder of the spiritual truths that underpin the biblical narrative.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The Jews were commanded to write the divine name on the posts (mezuzoth') of their doors (
Deuteronomy 6:9). The Jews, misunderstanding this injunction, adopted the custom of writing on a slip of parchment these verses (
Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and 11:13-21), which they enclosed in a reed or cylinder and fixed on the right-hand door-post of every room in the house.
Strong's Hebrew
4201. mezuzah -- a doorpost, gatepost... Origin from the same as ziz Definition a doorpost, gatepost NASB Word Usage door
post (2),
door posts (1), doorpost (4),
doorposts (10), post (1), posts (2).
...539. aman -- to confirm, support
... to confirm, support NASB Word Usage believe (26), believed (11), believes (2), bringing
(1), carried (1), chronic (1), confirmed (5),doorposts (1), endure (1...
Library
Unxia, My Opponent Says, Presides Over the Anointing ofDoor-Posts...
... Book III. 25 Unxia, my opponent says, presides over the anointing of
door-posts? Unxia, my opponent says, presides over the anointing...
Hebrews xi. 28-31
... [3312] A lamb was slain in every household, and the blood was smeared on the
door-posts, and this was a means of warding off the Egyptian destruction....
But Perhaps Some one is Alarmed at Hearing us Discourse of the...
... For He alone Who knows no stain of sin hath destroyed the sins of all, of those,
at least, who have marked thedoor-posts of their faith with His blood....
This is the Reason, Then, Why Christians are Counted Public...
... and virtue? Why, on the day of gladness, do we neither cover ourdoor-posts
with laurels, nor intrude upon the day with lamps? It...
The Dedication
... Egyptians. That the Israelites might be spared, they were directed to place
upon theirdoorposts the blood of a slain lamb. Every...
John Chapter xi. 55-57; xii
... [1007] Thedoor-posts of the Jews were sealed with the blood of the slaughtered
animal: with the blood of Christ are our foreheads sealed....
The Escape from Egypt
... You shall also take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin
and strike the lintel and the twodoor posts with the blood that is in the...
The Passover: an Expiation and a Feast, a Memorial and a Prophecy
... The Passover ritual, as appointed here, divides itself into two main parts"the
sprinkling of the sacrificial blood on thedoor-posts and lintels, and the...
Christ Our Passover
... said, the blood that was sprinkled on the lintels and on thedoor-posts was the...
occupants had put the ruddy mark on the lintels and on thedoorposts, and were...
On the Holy Ghost and his Descent Upon the Apostles
... to tell the Israelites in the land that on a certain night they were to take a lamb
in each family, kill it, and sprinkle its blood on thedoorposts of their...
Thesaurus
Doorposts (15 Occurrences)... and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two
doorposts, Yahweh will
... Deuteronomy 6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the
door-
posts of thy house, and
...Door-posts (11 Occurrences)
Door-posts.Doorposts,Door-posts. Doors . Easton's Bible Dictionary... (ASV
JPS).Doorposts,Door-posts. Doors . Reference Bible.
Lintel (4 Occurrences)
... and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the twodoorposts, Yahweh will... of
the oracle he made doors of olive wood: the lintel anddoorposts were a...
Door-post (5 Occurrences)
... Door-post.Doorposts . Multi-Version Concordance Door-post (5 Occurrences). Exodus
12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and put it on the twodoor-posts and...
Posts (68 Occurrences)
... and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the twodoorposts, Yahweh will...
Deuteronomy 6:9 You shall write them on thedoorposts of your house, and on...
Jambs (19 Occurrences)
... Jambs (19 Occurrences). 1 Kings 6:31 For the entrance of the oracle he made doors
of olive wood: the lintel anddoorposts were a fifth part of the wall....
Post (26 Occurrences)
... 7 They shall take some of the blood, and put it on the twodoorposts and on... Ezekiel
41:21 As for the temple, thedoorposts were squared; and as for the face...
Olivewood (4 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 1 Kings 6:31 And for the entrance of the Sanctuary he made doors of
olive-wood, thedoor-posts within the frame having five angles. (See RSV)....
Olive-wood (4 Occurrences)
... (See JPS ASV BBE DBY). 1 Kings 6:31 And for the entrance of the oracle he made doors
of olive-wood: the lintel anddoor-posts were a fifth part of the wall ....
Nave (19 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV). 1 Kings 6:33 So also made he for the entrance of the templedoor
posts of olive wood, out of a fourth part of the wall; (See NAS RSV)....
Resources
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