Bible Dictionary: Doorkeeper

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Easton's Bible Dictionary

This word is used in Psalm 84:10 (R.V. marg., "stand at the threshold of, " etc.), but there it signifies properly "sitting at the threshold in the house of God." The psalmist means that he would rather stand at the door of God's house and merely look in, than dwell in houses where iniquity prevailed.

Persons were appointed to keep the street door leading into the interior of the house (John 18:16, 17; Acts 12:13). Sometimes females held this post.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) One who guards the entrance of a house or apartment; a porter; a janitor.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

DOORKEEPER

dor'-kep-er (sho`er): The gates of an oriental city and of the temple courts so closely resembled the door of a house that the same Hebrew word was used for doorkeeper and gatekeeper. It is often translated by the less definite word "porter". In the preexilic writings (2 Samuel 18:26 2 Kings 7:10, 11) reference is made to porters at the gates of the cities Mahanaim and Samaria. In these early writings there is also mention of a small number of "keepers of the threshold" of the temple, whose duties included the gathering of money from the people for temple purposes, and the care of the sacred vessels (2 Kings 12:9; 2 Kings 22:4; 2 Kings 23:4). They held an honorable position (2 Kings 25:18), and occupied chambers in the temple (Jeremiah 35:4). The same term is used to describe officers in the household of the king of Persia (Esther 2:21; Esther 6:2).

Differing from these "keepers of the threshold" in some respects are the doorkeepers or porters mentioned in Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. These formed a numerous sacred order (1 Chronicles 9:22; 1 Chronicles 23:5) from the time of David. Their duties and the words describing them in two passages, "keepers of the thresholds" (1 Chronicles 9:19) and "porters of the thresholds" (2 Chronicles 23:4), connect them in some measure with the "keeper of the threshold" referred to above. They guarded the gates of the house of Yahweh (1 Chronicles 9:23), closing and opening them at the proper times (1 Chronicles 9:27) and preventing the unclean from entering the sacred enclosure (2 Chronicles 23:19); they had charge of the sacred vessels and of the free-will offerings (2 Chronicles 31:14), and dwelt in the chambers about the temple (1 Chronicles 9:27). They were Levites, and came in from the Levitical villages every seventh day for service in their turn (1 Chronicles 9:25). Their office was honorable, ranking with the singers, after the priests and Levites (Ezra 2:42 1 Chronicles 15:18).

In Psalm 84:10, "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God," the word is not used in its technical sense. the Revised Version, margin gives "stand (the King James Version margin "sit") at the threshold," to an eastern mind a situation of deep humility (compare title of the Psalms and 1 Chronicles 9:19).

In the New Testament the order of temple doorkeepers is not referred to. But a doorkeeper (thuroros) is mentioned in connection with a private house (Mark 13:34), with the high priest's house (John 18:16, 17), and with sheep-folds (John 10:3), a maid serving as doorkeeper in some cases (Acts 12:13).

George Rice Hovey

Greek

2377. thuroros -- a doorkeeper
... a doorkeeper. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine; Noun, Masculine Transliteration: thuroros
Phonetic Spelling: (thoo-ro-ros') Short Definition: a door-keeper ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2377.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

8652. tara -- doorkeeper
... tara. 8653 . doorkeeper. Transliteration: tara Phonetic Spelling: (taw-raw') Short
Definition: doorkeepers. ... porter. (Aramaic) from tra'; a doorkeeper -- porter ...
/hebrew/8652.htm - 6k

466. Eliphelehu -- "may God distinguish him," a doorkeeper
... Eliphelehu. 467 . "may God distinguish him," a doorkeeper. Transliteration:
Eliphelehu Phonetic Spelling: (el-ee-fe-lay'-hoo) Short Definition: Eliphelehu. ...
/hebrew/466.htm - 6k

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. ...
/hebrew/7778.htm - 6k

5605. saphaph -- to stand at or guard the threshold
... Word Origin denominative verb from saph Definition to stand at or guard the threshold
NASB Word Usage stand at the threshold (1). be a doorkeeper. ...
/hebrew/5605.htm - 6k

5592b. saph -- threshold, sill
... Word Origin from the same as saph Definition threshold, sill NASB Word Usage door
(1), doorkeeper* (1), doorkeepers* (4), gatekeepers* (1), temple (2 ...
/hebrew/5592b.htm - 5k

8104. shamar -- to keep, watch, preserve
... careful (32), careful to keep (1), cares (1), charge (4), confine (1), confined
(1), defending (1), did (1), diligently keep (1), doorkeeper* (1), doorkeepers ...
/hebrew/8104.htm - 7k

2929. Talmon -- an Israelite name
... name NASB Word Usage Talmon (5). Talmon. From the same as chargol; oppressive; Talmon,
a temple doorkeeper -- Talmon. see HEBREW chargol. 2928, 2929. ...
/hebrew/2929.htm - 6k

2928. Telem -- an Israelite, also a place in the desert of Judah
... Telem. From an unused root meaning to break up or treat violently; oppression; Telem,
the name of a place in Idumaea, also of a temple doorkeeper -- Telem. ...
/hebrew/2928.htm - 6k

Library

John Chapter x. 13-Nov
... Among the good, therefore, are the door, the doorkeeper, the shepherd, and the sheep:
among the bad, the thieves and robbers, the hirelings, and the wolf. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xlvi john chapter x.htm

A Lesson in Courtesy
... courteous. This young man was an assistant doorkeeper in the capitol at
Washington. ... way.". "No, I can't," the doorkeeper answered. ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/a lesson in courtesy.htm

Whether There are Seven Orders?
... since (Decretals, Dist. xxi, cap. Cleros) the "psalmist" is reckoned as
the second Order after the doorkeeper. I answer that, Some ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there are seven orders.htm

The Good Shepherd.
... At the doors of the large sheepfolds, where many thousands of sheep are protected,
a porter, or doorkeeper, remains on guard, and this doorkeeper will only ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the good shepherd.htm

John ix. 34-36
... Ver.2-4. "He that entereth in by the door, the same is the shepherd of the sheep;
to him the doorkeeper openeth, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lix john ix 34-36.htm

Whether the Acts of the Orders are Rightly Assigned in the Text?
... But in opening and shutting doors the doorkeeper has no special power that other
men have not. Therefore this should not be reckoned their act. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the acts of the 2.htm

Blessed Trust
... The Psalmist goes on"'A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand; I had rather
be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/blessed trust.htm

Book Six Turmoil in the Twenties. ...
... memory of the saints, offerings of porridge, bread, and wine"as had been her custom
in Africa"and she was forbidden to do so by the doorkeeper [ostiarius]. ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book six turmoil in the.htm

John Chapter x. 14-21
... and the robbers we have to beware of; who are the sheep, and what is the door whereby
both sheep and shepherd enter: how we are to understand the doorkeeper. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xlvii john chapter x.htm

Discussion of the Saying of Peter.
... of the devil who caused him to stumble; and whether it is possible for any one to
deny Jesus, and that in presence of a little maid and a doorkeeper and men ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/40 discussion of the saying.htm

Thesaurus

Doorkeeper (8 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DOORKEEPER. ... In Psalm 84:10, "I had rather be a
doorkeeper in the house of my God," the word is not used in its technical sense. ...
/d/doorkeeper.htm - 13k

Porter (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A man who has charge of a door or gate; a doorkeeper;
one who waits at the door to receive messages. ... See DOORKEEPER. ...
/p/porter.htm - 11k

Obed-edom (16 Occurrences)
... In 1 Chronicles 15:16-21 Obed-edom is a "singer," and in 1 Chronicles 15:24 a
"doorkeeper," while according to 1 Chronicles 26:4-8, 15 he is a Korahite ...
/o/obed-edom.htm - 15k

Obededom (15 Occurrences)
... In 1 Chronicles 15:16-21 Obed-edom is a "singer," and in 1 Chronicles 15:24 a
"doorkeeper," while according to 1 Chronicles 26:4-8, 15 he is a Korahite ...
/o/obededom.htm - 14k

Port (3 Occurrences)
... For some inscrutable reason the Revised Version (British and American) renders
sho`er by "doorkeeper" in 1 Chronicles 15-26, but not elsewhere. See DOORKEEPER. ...
/p/port.htm - 10k

Voluntary-offerings (4 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 31:14 And Kore the son of Jimnah the Levite, the doorkeeper toward
the east, was over the voluntary-offerings of God, to distribute the heave ...
/v/voluntary-offerings.htm - 7k

Zebadiah (9 Occurrences)
... Some manuscripts have Zechariah in (1), (a), (b), (3)). Compare ZABDI; ZABDIEL:
(1) Levites: (a) a Korahite doorkeeper of David's reign (1 Chronicles 26:2); (b ...
/z/zebadiah.htm - 11k

Kore (4 Occurrences)
... See KORAH, 4. Shallum, Chief doorkeeper in the latest Bible times, is described
as "the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah" (1 Chronicles 9:19 ...
/k/kore.htm - 10k

Obed (13 Occurrences)
... (3) One of David's mighty men (1 Chronicles 11:47). (4) A Korahite doorkeeper, son
of Shemaiah, and grandson of Obed-edom (1 Chronicles 26:7). (5) Father of ...
/o/obed.htm - 12k

Jimnah (4 Occurrences)
... (DBY). 2 Chronicles 31:14 And Kore the son of Jimnah the Levite, the doorkeeper
toward the east, was over the voluntary-offerings of God, to distribute the heave ...
/j/jimnah.htm - 8k

Bible Concordance

Doorkeeper (8 Occurrences)

Mark 13:34 "It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.
(WEB DBY NAS RSV)

John 10:3 to this one the doorkeeper doth open, and the sheep hear his voice, and his own sheep he doth call by name, and doth lead them forth;
(YLT NAS)

John 18:16 and Peter was standing at the door without, therefore went forth the other disciple who was known to the chief priest, and he spake to the female keeping the door, and he brought in Peter.
(See NAS)

2 Samuel 4:6 They came there into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they struck him in the body: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
(See RSV)

1 Chronicles 9:21 Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was doorkeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 31:14 And Kore the son of Jimnah the Levite, the doorkeeper toward the east, was over the voluntary-offerings of God, to distribute the heave-offerings of Jehovah, and the most holy things.
(DBY)

Psalms 84:10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
(WEB KJV ASV RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 35:4 and I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door;
(See NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Doorkeeper

Related Terms

Porter (6 Occurrences)

Obed-edom (16 Occurrences)

Obededom (15 Occurrences)

Port (3 Occurrences)

Voluntary-offerings (4 Occurrences)

Zebadiah (9 Occurrences)

Kore (4 Occurrences)

Obed (13 Occurrences)

Jimnah (4 Occurrences)