Category:Phylactery

Phy*lac"ter*y, n.; pl. Phylacteries. Etym: [oe. filateri, of. Filatire, filatiere, f. phylactère, l. phylacterium, gr. Philatory.]

1. Any charm or amulet worn as a preservative from danger or disease.

2. A small square box, made either of parchment or of black calfskin, containing slips of parchment or vellum on which are written the Scriptural passages (Exodus 13:2-9, Exodus 13:10-17, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Deuteronomy 6:13-22. They are worn by Jews on the head and left arm, on week-day mornings, during the time of prayer. Schaff-Herzog Encyc.

3. Among the primitive Christians, a case in which the relics of the dead were enclosed.

Tefillin, which means "to guard or protect" is the plural form of tefillah. In Greek it is known as Phylacteries, the singular being Phylactery. These are the leather boxes which contain verses of Scripture written on parchment. It occurs in Exodus 13:16; Deuteronomy 6:8; Deuteronomy 11:18. The meaning of the injunction to the Israelites, with regard to the statutes and precepts given them, that they should "bind them for a sign upon their hand, and have them as frontlets between their eyes," was that they should keep them distinctly in view and carefully attend to them. But soon after their return from Babylon they began to interpret this injunction literally, and had accordingly portions of the law written out and worn about their person. These they called tephillin, i.e., "prayers." The passages so written out on strips of parchment were these, Exodus 12:2; Exodus 13:11; Deuteronomy 6:4; Deuteronomy 11:18. They were then "rolled up in a case of black calfskin, which was attached to a stiffer piece of leather, having a thong one finger broad and one cubit and a half long. Those worn on the forehead were written on four strips of parchment, and put into four little cells within a square case, which had on it the Hebrew letter called shin, the three points of which were regarded as an emblem of God." This case tied around the forehead in a particular way was called "the tephillah on the head."

The obligation of tefillin, is mentioned four times in the Torah: twice when recalling the The Exodus from Egypt: And it shall be for a sign for you upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand did the LORD bring you out of Egypt. —Exodus 13:9 And it shall be for a sign upon your hand, and as totafot between your eyes; for with a mighty hand did the LORD bring us forth out of Egypt. —Exodus 13:16 and twice in the shema passages: And you shall bind them as a sign upon your arm, and they shall be as totafot between your eyes. —Deuteronomy 6:8 You shall put these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall tie them for a sign upon your arm, and they shall be as totafot between your eyes. —Deuteronomy 11:18