A leather box containing four sections of the law (Exodus 11:13–21) written on parchment, and which Jewish men tied to the forehead and left arm (close to the heart) before morning prayers. The practice of wearing phylacteries arose, probably after the exile, from a literal interpretation by pious Jews of passages such as Exodus 13:9.
The significance of wearing phylacteries
A reminder of God's deliverance
Exodus 13:11–16 See also Exodus 13:1–10
And after the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as He swore to you and your fathers, you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. You must redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. And every firstborn of your sons you must redeem. In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’ So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead, for with a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”
A reminder of God's requirements
Deuteronomy 11:13–21 Phylacteries, when worn, were to be an outward sign of the importance of taking God's word into the heart; Psalm 119:11; Proverbs 3:1–3 See also Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 30:14; Romans 10:8; Deuteronomy 32:46; Psalm 37:31, Psalm 40:8; Proverbs 6:21, Proverbs 7:2–3; Jeremiah 31:33
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life. Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
A sign of allegiance and belonging
Isaiah 44:5; Revelation 7:3 See also Song of Solomon 8:6; Revelation 9:4, Revelation 14:1
One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD,’ another will call himself by the name of Jacob, and still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name of Israel.”
“Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have placed a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
The practice of wearing phylacteries
Matthew 23:5 Jesus Christ condemns the Pharisees for wearing phylacteries for outward show.
All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.