Bible Dictionary
Phylacteries
Phylacteries were small leather cases containing passages from the Law, worn by Jewish men on the arm and forehead. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for enlarging them to make their religious devotion conspicuous before others.
Definition
Phylacteries were small leather cases containing written passages from the Law. One form was worn on the forehead and another on the left arm near the elbow, fastened with leather straps. The cases contained passages from Exodus and Deuteronomy and were known among modern Jews as tephillin.
Biblical Usage
Phylacteries are mentioned in the supplied material in Matthew 23:5, where Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for enlarging them to make their religious observance conspicuous before others.
Historical Background
The forehead case was divided into compartments for the written passages, while the arm case contained one compartment. The cases were fastened by straps and were associated with prayer and remembrance of the Law.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Gr. phulakteria; i.e., “defences” or “protections”), called by modern Jews tephillin (i.e., “prayers”) are mentioned only in Matt. 23:5. They consisted of strips of parchment on which were inscribed these four texts: (1.) Ex. 13:1-10; (2.) 11-16; (3.) Deut. 6:4-9; (4.) 11:18-21, and which were enclosed in a square leather case, on one side of which was inscribed the Hebrew letter shin, to which the rabbis attached some significance. This case was fastened by certain straps to the forehead just between the eyes. The “making broad the phylacteries” refers to the enlarging of the case so as to make it conspicuous. (See FRONTLETS.) Another form of the phylactery consisted of two rolls of parchment, on which the same texts were written, enclosed in a case of black calfskin. This was worn on the left arm near the elbow, to which it was bound by a thong. It was called the “Tephillah on the arm.”