Bible Dictionary
Lintel
A lintel is the beam or upper part of a doorway. The Israelite lintels were marked with Passover blood, and the word may also refer to a capital or upper architectural member.
Definition
A lintel is the beam forming the upper part of a doorway. In Scripture the term may also refer to an upper architectural member or capital. The Hebrew terms translated lintel or chapiter are used of structural parts associated with doors and buildings.
Biblical Usage
The Israelites were commanded to mark the lintel of their doors with the blood of the Passover lamb. The word is also used in passages describing upper architectural members.
Historical Background
A lintel was a projecting or supporting headpiece over a door. Another Hebrew term translated in some versions as lintel is rendered chapiters in the Revised Version.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) Heb. mashkoph, a projecting cover (Ex. 12:22, 23; ver. 7, “upper door post,” but R.V. “lintel”); the head-piece of a door, which the Israelites were commanded to mark with the blood of the paschal lamb. (2.) Heb. kaphtar. Amos 9:1; Zeph. 2:14 (R.V. correctly “chapiters,” as in A.V. marg.).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
the beam which forms the upper part of the framework of a door.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>lin'-tel.</p><p>See HOUSE, II, 1, (4).</p>