Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the term "porter" referred to a gatekeeper or doorkeeper, an individual responsible for guarding the entrances to a city, temple, or palace. The role of a porter was significant in maintaining security and order, as well as in facilitating the smooth operation of daily activities within these important structures.
Old Testament ReferencesThe role of porters is prominently mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in relation to the temple service. In
1 Chronicles 9:17-27, the porters are listed among the Levites who were assigned specific duties in the house of the Lord. The passage details the responsibilities of these gatekeepers, emphasizing their role in safeguarding the temple: "The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers; Shallum was the chief. They were stationed until that time at the king’s gate on the east side. These were the gatekeepers for the camp of the Levites" (
1 Chronicles 9:17-18).
The porters were organized into divisions and were responsible for opening the gates each morning, as well as ensuring that only those who were ceremonially clean could enter the sacred precincts. Their duties were not only practical but also spiritual, as they helped maintain the sanctity of the temple.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the concept of a porter is used metaphorically in the teachings of Jesus. In
John 10:3, Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd and describes the role of the porter in the context of a sheepfold: "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out" (
John 10:3). Here, the porter is seen as one who recognizes the true shepherd and facilitates the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep.
Symbolic and Spiritual SignificanceThe role of the porter carries symbolic significance in the spiritual life of believers. Just as porters were tasked with guarding the physical gates of the temple, Christians are called to guard the "gates" of their hearts and minds, ensuring that only what is pure and holy enters. This concept is echoed in
Proverbs 4:23: "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life" .
Furthermore, the metaphor of the porter in
John 10 highlights the importance of discernment and recognition of the true voice of Christ. Believers are encouraged to be vigilant and discerning, recognizing the voice of the Good Shepherd and following His guidance.
ConclusionThe role of the porter in biblical times was both practical and spiritual, serving as a guardian of sacred spaces and a facilitator of divine encounters. This role continues to hold spiritual significance for believers today, reminding them of the importance of vigilance, discernment, and the safeguarding of their spiritual lives.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A gate-keeper (
2 Samuel 18:26;
2 Kings 7:10;
1 Chronicles 9:21;
2 Chronicles 8:14). Of the Levites, 4,000 were appointed as porters by David (
1 Chronicles 23:5), who were arranged according to their families (
26:1-19) to take charge of the doors and gates of the temple. They were sometimes employed as musicians (
1 Chronicles 15:18).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A man who has charge of a door or gate; a doorkeeper; one who waits at the door to receive messages.
2. (n.) A carrier; one who carries or conveys burdens, luggage, etc.; for hire.
3. (n.) A bar of iron or steel at the end of which a forging is made; esp., a long, large bar, to the end of which a heavy forging is attached, and by means of which the forging is lifted and handled in hammering and heating; -- called also porter bar.
4. (n.) A malt liquor, of a dark color and moderately bitter taste, possessing tonic and intoxicating qualities.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PORT; PORTERport, por'-ter: "Port" in the sense of "gate" (of a city or building) is obsolete in modern English, and even in the King James Version is found only inNehemiah 2:13. "Porter," as "gate-keeper," however, is still in some use, but "porter" now (but never in the English Versions of the Bible) generally means a burden-carrier. In the Old Testament, except in2 Samuel 18:262 Kings 7:10, 11, the porter (sho`er) is a sacred officer of the temple or tabernacle, belonging to a particular family of the Levites, with a share in the sacred dues (Nehemiah 13:5;Nehemiah 12:47). The "porters" are mentioned only in Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah, and Chronicles has a special interest in them, relating that their duties were settled as far back as the time of David (1 Chronicles 26:1-19), and that the office extended further to the first settlement of Palestine and even to Moses' day (1 Chronicles 9:17-26). The office was evidently one of some dignity, and the "chief-porters" (1 Chronicles 9:26) were important persons. For some inscrutable reason the Revised Version (British and American) renders sho`er by "doorkeeper" in1 Chronicles 15-26, but not elsewhere.
SeeDOORKEEPER.
Burton Scott Easton
Greek
2377. thuroros -- a doorkeeper... of Speech: Noun, Feminine; Noun, Masculine Transliteration: thuroros Phonetic Spelling:
(thoo-ro-ros') Short Definition: a door-keeper,
porter Definition: a
...Strong's Hebrew
7778. shoer -- a gatekeeper... doorkeeper,
porter. Or shomer {sho-are'}: active participle of sha'ar (as denominative
from sha'ar); a janitor -- doorkeeper,
porter. see HEBREW sha'ar.
...8652. tara -- doorkeeper
... doorkeepers (1).porter. (Aramaic) from tra'; a doorkeeper --porter. see
HEBREW tra'. 8651, 8652. tara. 8653 . Strong's Numbers.
5449. sabbal -- burden bearer
... to bear, bearer of burdens. From cabal; aporter -- (to bear, bearer of)
burden(-s). see HEBREW cabal. 5448, 5449. sabbal. 5450 . Strong's Numbers.
2410. Chatita -- a Levite
... Hatita. From an unused root apparently meaning to dig out; explorer; Chatita, a
templeporter -- Hatita. 2409, 2410. Chatita. 2411 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
How St Francis Gave to Brother Masseo the Office ofPorter, of...
... HERE BEGIN THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHAPTER XII HOW ST FRANCIS
GAVE TO BROTHER MASSEO THE OFFICE OFPORTER, OF ALMONER AND OF COOK; AND HOW...
Letter P
... Pope, Benjamin "Received 1828, Died 1835 * Pope, Solomon "Received 1834 * Pope,
Thomas W. "Received 1835 * Port, David "Received 1827 *Porter, Elias R...
Jesus the Good Shepherd.
... sheep. To him theporter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he
calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. When...
At Dilligen
... "I want to see Father Canisius," he told theporter at the door.... Theporter was very
sorry, but Father Canisius was not in Augsburg. Stanislaus' heart fell....
How St Francis, Walking one Day with Brother Leo, Explained to Him...
... all drenched with rain and trembling with cold, all covered with mud and exhausted
from hunger; if, when we knock at the convent-gate, theporter should come...
John Chapter x. 13-Nov
... Yesterday theporter was also introduced by name.... "To him," He saith, "theporter
[doorkeeper] [882] openeth." To whom doth he open? To the Shepherd....
History of the Mt. Byrd Church. When Established. Where. Charter...
... Lucinda Moffett, Sarah Ann Moffett, Catherine Stipes, Alexander Moffett, Nancy Moffett,
Emily Moffett, Harriet Moffett, Jane Moffett,Porter Fisher, Caroline...
The Good Shepherd.
... At the doors of the large sheepfolds, where many thousands of sheep are protected,
aporter, or doorkeeper, remains on guard, and this doorkeeper will only...
Discourse on the Good Shepherd.
... They did not come in the ways ordained of God.] 2 But he that entereth in by the
door is the shepherd of the sheep.3 To him theporter openeth; and the sheep...
Self-Examination
... Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his home, and gave authority
to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded theporter to watch...
Thesaurus
Porter (6 Occurrences)... to the end of which a heavy forging is attached, and by means of which the forging
is lifted and handled in hammering and heating; -- called also
porter bar.
...Port (3 Occurrences)
... imperative, as a command; as, port your helm. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
PORT;PORTER. port, por'-ter: "Port" in the sense of...
Kore (4 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 9:19; 26:1). (2.) A Leviticalporter at the east gate of the
temple (2 Chronicles 31:14). (3.) In 1 Chronicles 26:19...
Shallum (27 Occurrences)
... (6.) 1 Chronicles 7:13. (7.) A keeper of the gate in the reign of David (1 Chronicles
9:17). (8.) A Leviteporter (1 Chronicles 9:19, 31; Jeremiah 35:4)....
Journey (214 Occurrences)
... H.Porter. JOURNEY. jur'-ni. See DAY'S JOURNEY; SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY. SABBATH DAY'S
JOURNEY.... H.Porter. Multi-Version Concordance Journey (214 Occurrences)....
Doorkeeper (8 Occurrences)
... (n.) One who guards the entrance of a house or apartment; aporter; a janitor.
Int.... It is often translated by the less definite word "porter"....
Day's (19 Occurrences)
... Bible times. H.Porter. SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY. jur... less definite. H.Porter.
Multi-Version Concordance Day's (19 Occurrences). Matthew...
Argob (6 Occurrences)
... These ancient cities of Bashan probably contain the very oldest specimens of domestic
architecture in the world" (Porter's Giant Cities). (see BASHAN.). Int....
Owl (11 Occurrences)
... Gene Stratton-Porter. OWL, GREAT.... It is included in the abomination lists of Leviticus
11:17 and Deuteronomy 14:16. See OWL. Gene Stratton-Porter. OWL, LITTLE....
Hawk (6 Occurrences)
... See GLEDE; KITE; NIGHT HAWK; FALCON. Gene Stratton-Porter. NIGHT HAWK.... See HAWK.
Gene Stratton-Porter. Multi-Version Concordance Hawk (6 Occurrences)....
Resources
What is an acolyte? | GotQuestions.orgWhat did Jesus mean when He said “I am the door” (John 10:7)? | GotQuestions.orgPorter: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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Bible Encyclopedia •
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