In biblical terms, the word "closet" refers to a private or secluded place, often used for prayer and personal communion with God. The concept of a closet as a place of solitude and spiritual reflection is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, who emphasized the importance of sincere and private prayer over public displays of piety.

Biblical References:

1. Matthew 6:6 : "But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." This verse is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where He instructs His followers on the proper attitude and approach to prayer. The "inner room" or "closet" symbolizes a private space where one can engage in intimate communication with God, free from the distractions and potential hypocrisy of public prayer.

2. Isaiah 26:20 : "Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves a little while until the wrath has passed." While not directly referring to prayer, this passage from Isaiah uses the imagery of entering a room and shutting the door as a metaphor for seeking refuge and protection. It underscores the idea of a closet as a place of safety and divine shelter.

Theological Significance:

The concept of the closet in biblical teaching highlights the value of personal and private devotion. It serves as a reminder that God desires a genuine relationship with His followers, one that is not based on outward appearances or the approval of others. The closet represents a sacred space where believers can pour out their hearts to God, seek His guidance, and experience His presence in a profound and personal way.

Practical Application:

For Christians, the idea of a closet can be applied in various ways. It encourages the establishment of a dedicated time and place for daily prayer and meditation, away from the busyness and noise of everyday life. This practice fosters spiritual growth, deepens one's relationship with God, and aligns the believer's heart with His will.

Historical Context:

In the cultural context of the Bible, homes often had a small, inner room used for storage or as a private chamber. This would have been the most secluded part of the house, making it an ideal location for undisturbed prayer. The emphasis on privacy in prayer was a countercultural message in a society where religious acts were often performed publicly to gain social standing or approval.

Symbolic Interpretation:

Beyond its literal meaning, the closet can also be seen as a symbol of the inner life of a believer. It represents the hidden, spiritual dimension of one's faith journey, where true transformation and communion with God occur. This inner sanctum is where believers can confront their innermost thoughts, confess their sins, and receive the grace and strength needed to live out their faith in the world.

In summary, the biblical concept of a closet serves as a powerful metaphor for the intimate and personal nature of prayer and devotion. It calls believers to seek God earnestly and authentically, away from the eyes of others, in the quiet sanctuary of their hearts.As used in the New Testament, signifies properly a storehouse (Luke 12:24), and hence a place of privacy and retirement (Matthew 6:6; Luke 12:3). 1. (n.) A small room or apartment for retirement; a room for privacy.

2. (n.) A small apartment, or recess in the side of a room, for household utensils, clothing, etc.

3. (v. t.) To shut up in, or as in, a closet; to conceal.

4. (v. t.) To make into a closet for a secret interview.

CLOSET

kloz'-et: Is the rendering in the King James Version of

(1) chuppah, and

(2) tameion, also tamieion.

Chuppah, derived from chaphah, "to cover," was probably originally the name of the tent specially set apart for the bride, and later (Joel 2:16) used for the bride's chamber. The word tameion, originally storeroom (compare Luke 12:24, the King James Version "storehouse"; the Revised Version (British and American) "storechamber"), but since for safety it was the inner rooms of the Hebrew house which were used for storage purposes, the word came to mean inner room, as in Matthew 6:6 Luke 12:3, in both the King James Version "closet" (compare Matthew 24:26, the King James Version "secret chamber"). In all cases the Revised Version (British and American) uses "inner chamber."

See also HOUSE.

David Foster Estes

5009. tameion -- an inner chamber
... Neuter Transliteration: tameion Phonetic Spelling: (tam-i'-on) Short Definition:
a secret chamber Definition: a store-chamber, secret chamber, closet; a granary ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5009.htm - 6k2646. chuppah -- a canopy, chamber
... chamber, closet, defense. From chaphah; a canopy -- chamber, closet, defence. see
HEBREW chaphah. 2645, 2646. chuppah. 2647 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2646.htm - 6k

Closet Prayer. --Matt. vi. 6
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN LXXVIII. Closet Prayer."Matt. vi. 6. 8.8.8.8 James Montgomery.
Closet Prayer."Matthew 6:6. O! What a privilege to kneel,. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn lxxviii closet prayer matt vi.htm

I Look Upon all the Four Gospels as Thoroughly Genuine...
... If praying were but an hour in the closet, difficulties would face and hinder even
that hour, but praying is the whole life preparing for the closet. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter x i look upon.htm

Shut the Door.
... "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy
door, pray to thy Father which is in secret." Matt.6:6. God is in secret. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/shut the door.htm

Chapter ii
... power. The energy and the soul of their work has been the closet. ... There ought
to be no adjustment of life or spirit for closet hours. The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the possibilities of prayer/chapter ii.htm

Prayerlessness in the Pulpit
... As far as the abiding interests of religion are concerned, a pulpit without
a closet will always be a barren thing. Blessed is the ...
/.../bounds/the weapon of prayer/viii prayerlessness in the pulpit.htm

Prayer Takes in the Whole Man
... Doubt, double-mindedness, division of the affections, are all foreign to the closet
character and conduct, undefiled, made whiter than snow, are mighty ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/i prayer takes in the.htm

God's Need of Men who Pray
... men. It is greatly to be feared that much of the work of the Church is being
done by those who are perfect strangers to the closet. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the weapon of prayer/iv gods need of men.htm

Prayer Incidents in the Life of Our Lord
... In all praying, it is the man who prays. The life and the character flow
into the closet. There is a mutual action and reaction. ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/viii prayer incidents in the.htm

1 Timothy ii. 10-Aug
... But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy
door, pray to thy Father, which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in ...
/.../homily viii 1 timothy ii.htm

Psalm CXLII.
... For the Lord Jesus Christ bade thee pray in secret: but if thou knowest what
"thy closet" is, and cleansest it, there thou prayest to God. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxlii.htm

Closet (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To shut up in, or as in, a closet; to conceal. 4. (vt) To make into a closet
for a secret interview. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CLOSET. ...
/c/closet.htm - 9k

Cupboard
... 1. (n.) A board or shelf for cups and dishes. 2. (n.) A small closet in a room,
with shelves to receive cups, dishes, food, etc.; hence, any small closet. ...
/c/cupboard.htm - 6k

Safe (388 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A strong and fireproof receptacle (as a movable chest of steel, etc., or
a closet or vault of brickwork) for containing money, valuable papers, or the ...
/s/safe.htm - 37k

Closest (8 Occurrences)

/c/closest.htm - 8k

Necessary (75 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A privy; a water-closet. 6. (n.) Such things, in respect to infants, lunatics,
and married women, as are requisite for support suitable to station. ...
/n/necessary.htm - 30k

Latrine (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A privy, or water-closet, esp. in a camp, hospital,
etc. Multi-Version Concordance Latrine (2 Occurrences). ...
/l/latrine.htm - 7k

Wardrobe (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A room or apartment where clothes are kept, or
wearing apparel is stored; a portable closet for hanging up clothes. ...
/w/wardrobe.htm - 8k

Relieving (1 Occurrence)
... had gone, the servants came; and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber
were locked, they thought, "He is only relieving himself in the closet of the ...
/r/relieving.htm - 6k

Enter (372 Occurrences)
... To come or go into; to pass into the interior of; to pass within the outer cover
or shell of; to penetrate; to pierce; as, to enter a house, a closet, a country ...
/e/enter.htm - 39k

Draught (8 Occurrences)
... draft (aphedron; Matthew 15:17 Mark 7:19): "Closet," "sink" or "privy" (Rheims),
literally, "place for sitting apart" (compare 2 Kings 10:27, "draught-house ...
/d/draught.htm - 11k

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Closet: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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