Topical Bible: Door-keepers

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the role of a door-keeper was a position of both responsibility and honor, particularly within the context of the temple and places of worship. The door-keepers were tasked with the important duty of overseeing the entrances, ensuring that only those who were ceremonially clean and authorized could enter the sacred spaces. This role is mentioned in various parts of the Bible, highlighting its significance in the religious and communal life of Israel.

Old Testament References

The role of door-keepers is prominently mentioned in the context of the temple service. In 1 Chronicles 9:19, we read about the Korahites, who were appointed as gatekeepers: "Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family, the Korahites, were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the tent, just as their fathers had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD."

The duties of the door-keepers extended beyond mere physical guarding. They were also responsible for maintaining the sanctity and order of the temple. In 1 Chronicles 26:1-19, the divisions of the gatekeepers are detailed, emphasizing the organized and structured nature of their service. The passage lists the families and leaders who were assigned to this task, indicating the importance of lineage and heritage in fulfilling this role.

Psalms and the Heart of a Door-keeper

The heart and attitude of a door-keeper are beautifully captured in Psalm 84:10, where the psalmist declares, "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." This verse reflects the deep reverence and joy associated with serving in the house of the Lord, even in a seemingly humble position. It underscores the value placed on being close to God's presence, regardless of the specific duties involved.

New Testament Context

While the specific term "door-keeper" is not as prevalent in the New Testament, the concept of watchfulness and readiness is echoed in the teachings of Jesus. In Mark 13:34, Jesus uses the imagery of a doorkeeper in a parable about being vigilant: "It is like a man going on a journey, who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch."

This parable highlights the spiritual dimension of the door-keeper's role, emphasizing the need for alertness and preparedness in anticipation of the master's return. It serves as a metaphor for the Christian life, where believers are called to be watchful and faithful stewards of the responsibilities entrusted to them.

Symbolism and Spiritual Lessons

The role of door-keepers carries rich symbolic meaning within the biblical narrative. It represents the themes of vigilance, service, and dedication to God's house. Door-keepers were entrusted with the sacred duty of protecting the sanctity of the temple, a task that required both physical and spiritual readiness.

In a broader spiritual sense, the concept of being a door-keeper can be applied to the Christian life, where believers are called to guard their hearts and lives, ensuring that they remain pure and devoted to God. The door-keeper's role serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness, humility, and the privilege of serving in God's presence.

Strong's Hebrew

8652. tara -- doorkeeper
... 8651, 8652. tara. 8653 . doorkeeper. Transliteration: tara Phonetic Spelling:
(taw-raw') Short Definition: doorkeepers. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/8652.htm - 6k

5592b. saph -- threshold, sill
... Word Origin from the same as saph Definition threshold, sill NASB Word Usage door
(1), doorkeeper* (1), doorkeepers* (4), gatekeepers* (1), temple (2 ...
/hebrew/5592b.htm - 5k

8104. shamar -- to keep, watch, preserve
... to keep (1), cares (1), charge (4), confine (1), confined (1), defending (1), did
(1), diligently keep (1), doorkeeper* (1), doorkeepers* (4), gatekeepers* (1 ...
/hebrew/8104.htm - 7k

Library

Excursus on the Minor Orders of the Early Church.
... Some of these lower orders, the subdeacons, readers, door-keepers, and exorcists,
are mentioned in the celebrated letter of Cornelius bishop of Rome (ad251 ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/excursus on the minor orders.htm

Next to the Remarks of Celsus on which we have Already Commented.. ...
... the impostors and jugglers, leading men away to idols and phantoms;" and it is they
who with miserable pains learn off the names of the heavenly doorkeepers. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter xl next to the.htm

Whether Priests Alone have the Keys?
... vii, 12) that the "doorkeepers have to tell the good from the bad, so as to admit
the good and keep out the bad." Now this is the definition of the keys, as ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether priests alone have the.htm

The Young Josiah and the Book of the Law
... to Hilkiah, the chief priest, and see that, when he has taken the money that is
brought into the temple of Jehovah and that which the doorkeepers have gathered ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the young josiah and the.htm

Sorrow the Pledge of Joy.
... will at length dawn whose every throbbing moment will heave our hearts Godward;
we shall scarce need to lift them up: now, there are two door-keepers to the ...
/.../macdonald/hope of the gospel/sorrow the pledge of joy.htm

Salutations.
... My soul be in place of his. I salute the sub-deacons, the readers, the singers,
the doorkeepers, the labourers, [1259] the exorcists, the confessors. ...
/.../ignatius/the epistle of ignatius to the antiochians/chapter xii salutations.htm

A Lesson in Courtesy
... building. One day he overheard a stranger ask one of the other doorkeepers
for help in finding one of the senators from California. ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/a lesson in courtesy.htm

Church Government.
... the possession by devils which is spoken of in the New Testament; the "readers",
whose business it was to read the Scriptures in church; and the "doorkeepers". ...
/.../chapter xvii church government.htm

Justinian (Ad 527-565)
... church had sixty priests, a hundred deacons, forty deaconesses, ninety subdeacons,
a hundred and ten readers, five-and-twenty singers, and a hundred doorkeepers ...
/.../chapter xxvii justinian ad 527-565.htm

The
... 4. For we, the ministers of Christ, have admitted every one, and occupying, as it
were, the place of door-keepers we left the door open: and possibly thou ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/the.htm

Thesaurus

Doorkeepers (37 Occurrences)
...Doorkeepers (37 Occurrences). ... 1 Chronicles 9:17 And the doorkeepers: Shallum, and
Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren; Shallum was the chief. ...
/d/doorkeepers.htm - 18k

Door-keepers (34 Occurrences)
Door-keepers. Doorkeepers, Door-keepers. Door-opening . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Doorkeepers, Door-keepers. Door-opening . Reference Bible.
/d/door-keepers.htm - 17k

Music-makers (18 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:70 So the priests and the Levites and the people and the music-makers and
the door-keepers and the Nethinim, took up their places in their towns; even ...
/m/music-makers.htm - 12k

O'bed-e'dom (14 Occurrences)
... and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah,
and Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers...
/o/o'bed-e'dom.htm - 10k

Courses (28 Occurrences)
... (ASV JPS YLT). 1 Chronicles 26:1 For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites,
Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. (ASV JPS YLT). ...
/c/courses.htm - 17k

Obed-edom (16 Occurrences)
... and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah,
and Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers...
/o/obed-edom.htm - 15k

Korahites (7 Occurrences)
... resided not very far apart. The record speaks with some emphasis of a line
of Korahites doorkeepers. In the latest Old Testament ...
/k/korahites.htm - 20k

Divisions (92 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). 1 Chronicles 26:1 For the divisions of the doorkeepers: of the
Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. ...
/d/divisions.htm - 37k

Zechari'ah (51 Occurrences)
... and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah,
and Eliphalehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers...
/z/zechari'ah.htm - 20k

Ko'rahites (6 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 26:1 For the divisions of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites,
Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. (See RSV). ...
/k/ko'rahites.htm - 8k

Resources

Who was Issachar in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Is door-to-door evangelism an effective method? | GotQuestions.org

What did Jesus mean when He said, “I stand at the door and knock” (Revelation 3:20)? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Door-keepers (34 Occurrences)

2 Kings 7:10
So they came in, and, crying out to the door-keepers of the town, they gave them the news, saying, We came to the tents of the Aramaeans, and there was no one there and no voice of man, only the horses and the asses in their places, and the tents as they were.
(BBE)

2 Kings 7:11
Then the door-keepers, crying out, gave the news to those inside the king's house.
(BBE)

2 Kings 25:18
And the captain of the armed men took Seraiah, the chief priest, and Zephaniah, the second priest, and the three door-keepers;
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 9:17
And the door-keepers: Shallum and Akkub and Talmon and Ahiman and their brothers: Shallum was the chief.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 9:18
Up till then they had been at the king's door to the east. They were door-keepers for the tents of the sons of Levi.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 9:26
For the four chief door-keepers, who were Levites, had a special position, looking after the rooms and the store-houses of the house of God.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 15:18
And with them their brothers of the second order, Zechariah, Bani and Jaaziel and Shemiramoth and Jehiel and Unni, Eliab and Benaiah and Maaseiah and Mattithiah and Eliphelehu and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom and Jeiel, the door-keepers.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 15:23
And Berechiah and Elkanah were door-keepers for the ark.
(BBE JPS WBS)

1 Chronicles 15:24
And Shebaniah and Joshaphat and Nethanel and Amasai and Zechariah and Benaiah and Eliezer, the priests, made music on the horns before the ark of God; and Obed-edom and Jehiah were door-keepers for the ark.
(BBE WBS)

1 Chronicles 16:38
And Obed-edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, with their brothers, sixty-eight of them, to be door-keepers:
(BBE JPS)

1 Chronicles 23:5
Four thousand were door-keepers; and four thousand gave praise to the Lord with the instruments which I made, said David, for giving praise.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 26:1
For the divisions of the door-keepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah, the son of Kore, of the sons of Ebiasaph.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 26:12
Of these were the divisions of the door-keepers, men of authority, having responsible positions like their brothers to be servants in the house of the Lord.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 26:19
These were the divisions of door-keepers, of the sons of the Korahites and of the sons of Merari.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 8:14
And he gave the divisions of the priests their places for their work, as ordered by his father David, and to the Levites he gave their work of praise and waiting on the priests, to do what was needed day by day; and he gave the door-keepers their places in turn at every door; for so David, the man of God, had given orders.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 23:19
And he put door-keepers at the doors of the Lord's house, to see that no one who was unclean in any way might come in.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 34:13
Had authority over the transport workers, giving directions to all who were doing any sort of work; and among the Levites there were scribes and overseers and door-keepers.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 35:15
And the sons of Asaph, the makers of melody, were in their places, as ordered by David and Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, the king's seer; and the door-keepers were stationed at every door: there was no need for them to go away from their places, for their brothers the Levites made ready for them.
(BBE)

Ezra 2:42
The children of the door-keepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-nine.
(BBE)

Ezra 2:70
So the priests and the Levites and the people and the music-makers and the door-keepers and the Nethinim, took up their places in their towns; even all Israel in their towns.
(BBE)

Ezra 7:7
And some of the children of Israel went up, with some of the priests and the Levites and the music-makers and the door-keepers and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
(BBE)

Ezra 10:24
And of the music-makers, Eliashib; and of the door-keepers, Shallum and Telem and Uri.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 7:1
Now when the building of the wall was complete and I had put up the doors, and the door-keepers and the music-makers and the Levites had been given their places,
(BBE)

Nehemiah 7:45
The door-keepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-eight.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 7:73
So the priests and the Levites and the door-keepers and the music-makers and some of the people and the Nethinim, and all Israel, were living in their towns.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 10:28
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the door-keepers, the music-makers, the Nethinim, and all those who had made themselves separate from the peoples of the lands, to keep the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and wisdom;
(BBE)

Nehemiah 10:39
For the children of Israel and the children of Levi are to take the lifted offering of the grain and wine and oil into the rooms where the vessels of the holy place are, together with the priests and the door-keepers and the makers of music: and we will not give up caring for the house of our God.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 11:19
In addition the door-keepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers who kept watch at the doors, were a hundred and seventy-two.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 12:25
Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were door-keepers keeping the watch at the store-houses of the doors.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 12:45
And they kept the watch of their God, and were responsible for making things clean, and so did the music-makers and the door-keepers, as it was ordered by David and Solomon his son.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 12:47
And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave what was needed by the music-makers and the door-keepers day by day: and they made the offerings holy for the Levites; and the Levites did the same for the sons of Aaron.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 13:5
Had made ready for him a great room, where at one time they kept the meal offerings, the perfume, and the vessels and the tenths of the grain and wine and oil which were given by order to the Levites and the music-makers and the door-keepers, and the lifted offerings for the priests.
(BBE)

Job 38:17
Have the doors of death been open to you, or have the door-keepers of the dark ever seen you?
(BBE)

Jeremiah 52:24
And the captain of the armed men took Seraiah, the chief priest, and Zephaniah, the second priest, and the three door-keepers;
(BBE)

Subtopics

Door-keepers

Related Terms

Door-keepers (34 Occurrences)

Music-makers (18 Occurrences)

O'bed-e'dom (14 Occurrences)

Courses (28 Occurrences)

Obed-edom (16 Occurrences)

Korahites (7 Occurrences)

Divisions (92 Occurrences)