5440. phulaktérion

Strong's Lexicon

phulaktérion: Phylactery

Original Word: φυλακτήριον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: phulaktérion
Pronunciation: foo-lak-TAY-ree-on
Phonetic Spelling: (foo-lak-tay'-ree-on)
Definition: Phylactery
Meaning: a phylactery, an amulet, a parchment capsule containing little parchment rolls with the Hebrew texts, affixed to the left upper arm or the forehead of men at morning prayer, and regarded as a protection (hence the name) against evil spirits.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek word φυλάσσω (phulassō), meaning "to guard" or "to protect."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent is תְּפִלִּין (tefillin), though the specific Strong's number for "tefillin" is not directly listed, related concepts can be found in entries like H4687 (mitzvah, commandment) and H226 (oth, sign).

Usage: In the New Testament, "phulaktérion" refers to small leather boxes containing strips of parchment inscribed with specific passages from the Torah. These boxes are traditionally worn by observant Jewish men during prayer as a reminder of God's commandments.

Cultural and Historical Background: Phylacteries, also known as tefillin in Hebrew, have their origins in the Jewish tradition, based on commands found in the Torah, such as in Deuteronomy 6:8 and Exodus 13:9. These passages instruct the Israelites to bind God's words as a sign on their hands and between their eyes. The practice of wearing phylacteries became a physical manifestation of this command, serving as a daily reminder of one's devotion to God and His laws.

HELPS Word-studies

5440 phylaktḗrion (from 5442 /phylássō, "to keep, preserve") – phylacteries; small, leather cases containing four key passages of Scripture (Ex 13:1-10, 11-16; Dt 6:4-9, 13-21). Strapped to the inside of the left arm (between the shoulder and the elbow), phylacteries "rest over the heart" during prayer. They are also strapped on the wrist and forehead to signify how the Word of God should regulate all behavior and thoughts.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as phulassó and -térion (suff. denoting place)
Definition
an outpost, fortification, an amulet
NASB Translation
phylacteries (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5440: φυλακτήριον

φυλακτήριον, φυλακτηριου, τό (neuter of the adjective φυλακτηριος, φυλακτήρια, φυλακτήριον, from φυλακτήρ (`poetic for φύλαξ'));

1. a fortified place provided with a garrison, a station for a guard or garrison.

2. a preservative or safeguard, an amulet: Demosthenes, p. 71, 24; Dioscorides (?) 5, 158f (159f), often in Plutarch. The Jews gave the name of φυλακτήρια (in the Talm. תְּפִלִּין, prayer-fillets, German Gebetsriemen; (cf. O. T. 'frontlets')) to small strips of parchment on which were written the following passages from the law of Moses, Exodus 13:1-10, 11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 11:13-21, and which, enclosed in little cases, they were accustomed when engaged in prayer to wear fastened by a leather strap to the forehead and to the left arm over against the heart, in order that they might thus be solemnly reminded of the duty of keeping the commands of God in the head and in the heart, according to the directions given in Exodus 13:16; Deuteronomy 6:8; Deuteronomy 11:18; (cf. Josephus, Antiquities 4, 8, 13). These scrolls were thought to have power, like amulets, to avert various evils and to drive away demons (Targ. on Song of Solomon 8:3); hence, their Greek name. (But see Ginsburg in Alex.'s Kitto, see under the words, Phylacteries (under the end) and Mezuza.) The Pharisees were accustomed τά φυλακτήρια αὐτῶν πλατύνειν, to widen, make broad, their phylacteries, that they might render them more conspicuous and show themselves to be more eager than the majority to be reminded of God's law: Matthew 23:5. Cf. Winers RWB, under the word Phylakterien; Leyrer in Herzog xi., 639ff; Kneucker in Schenkel 1:601f; Delitzsch in Riehm 270f; (Edersheim, Jewish Social Life etc., p. 220ff; B. D. under the word Frontlets; especially Hamburger, Real-Encycl., under the word Tephillin, vol. ii, p. 1203f; Ginsburg in Alex.'s Kitto as above).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

phylactery.

Neuter of a derivative of phulasso; a guard-case, i.e. "phylactery" for wearing slips of Scripture texts -- phylactery.

see GREEK phulasso

Forms and Transliterations

φυλακτηρια φυλακτήρια phulakteria phulaktēria phylakteria phylaktēria phylaktḗria

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 23:5 N-ANP
GRK: γὰρ τὰ φυλακτήρια αὐτῶν καὶ
NAS: for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen
KJV: their phylacteries, and
INT: moreover the phylacteries of them and

Strong's Greek 5440
1 Occurrence

φυλακτήρια — 1 Occ.