The term "door-post" refers to the vertical elements on either side of a door, which are integral to the structure and function of a doorway. In biblical times, door-posts held significant cultural and religious importance, often serving as sites for symbolic and ritualistic practices.

Biblical References and Significance

1. Passover and the Exodus: One of the most notable mentions of door-posts in the Bible is found in the account of the Passover in the Book of Exodus. God instructed the Israelites to mark their door-posts with the blood of a lamb as a sign for the angel of death to pass over their homes during the final plague on Egypt. Exodus 12:7 states, "They are to take some of the blood and put it on the two side posts and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs." This act of marking the door-posts was a demonstration of faith and obedience, signifying the protection and deliverance provided by God.

2. The Shema and Mezuzah: In Deuteronomy 6:9 , the Israelites are commanded to write the words of God's commandments on their door-posts: "Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates." This practice is part of the Shema, a central declaration of faith in Judaism. The commandment led to the tradition of affixing a mezuzah, a small case containing a scroll with verses from the Torah, to the door-posts of Jewish homes. This serves as a constant reminder of God's presence and the commitment to His laws.

3. Symbol of Covenant and Identity: Door-posts in biblical times were not merely structural elements but also symbols of covenant and identity. By marking their door-posts, the Israelites visibly declared their allegiance to God and their distinct identity as His chosen people. This practice underscored the importance of the household as a unit of faith and obedience to God's commandments.

4. Prophetic Imagery: Door-posts also appear in prophetic imagery, symbolizing judgment and protection. In Ezekiel 9:4 , God instructs a man clothed in linen to "pass throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there." While not directly mentioning door-posts, this passage echoes the protective marking seen in the Passover narrative, highlighting the theme of divine protection for the faithful.

5. Cultural Practices: Beyond their religious significance, door-posts were also central to various cultural practices in ancient Israel. They were often the site of legal transactions and public declarations. For instance, in Deuteronomy 15:17 , the ritual of piercing a servant's ear at the door-post signified a voluntary, lifelong commitment to service: "Then take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he will be your servant for life."

In summary, door-posts in the Bible are rich with symbolic meaning, representing faith, obedience, and identity. They serve as a tangible reminder of God's covenant with His people and the call to live according to His commandments.4201. mezuzah -- a doorpost, gatepost
... Origin from the same as ziz Definition a doorpost, gatepost NASB Word Usage door
post (2), door posts (1), doorpost (4), doorposts (10), post (1), posts (2). ...
/hebrew/4201.htm - 6k

5592. caph -- a basin, goblet
... caph. 5592a . a basin, goblet. Transliteration: caph Phonetic Spelling: (saf)
Short Definition: bason. bason, bowl, cup, door post, gate, post, threshold ...
/hebrew/5592.htm - 5k

Two Essential Things
... A door without a door-post to hang upon is not a door at all; while a
door-post without the door hanging to it is of no value whatever. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/two essential things.htm

The Upbringing of Jewish Children
... recurring weekly festival, or those of the annual feasts"it must have been attracted
by the so-called "Mesusah," which was fastened at the door-post of every ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 7 the upbringing of.htm

Christ Our Passover
... My heart rejoices to look on him whom I have pierced, and see his blood, as the
lamb's blood, sprinkled on my lintel and my door-post, and see his bones ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/christ our passover.htm

Appendix 1 Massecheth Middoth
... Half a cubit the door-post from this [corner], and half a cubit the doorpost from
that, and so it is said: And the doors had two leaves alike, two turning ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/appendix 1 massecheth middoth.htm

Of Israel's Bondage in Egypt, their Deliverance, and their Passage ...
... as a lamb to the slaughter." [1445] And with the sign of His passion and cross,
thou art this day to be marked on thy forehead, as on the door-post, and all ...
/.../on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 20 of israels bondage in.htm

Canaan on Earth
... the type of the deliverance which every one of God's people enjoys, when by faith
he strikes the blood of Jesus on his lintel and his doorpost, and spiritually ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/canaan on earth.htm

The Tabernacle of the Most High
... Can there be such a thing as a sanctified steeple? Can it possibly happen that there
can be such a thing in the world as a moral window or a godly door post? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the tabernacle of the most.htm

The Passover: an Expiation and a Feast, a Memorial and a Prophecy
... congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.7. And they shall take of the
blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the passover an expiation and.htm

The Kinsman Redeemer
... Israelites, the slavery was ended in six years or at the jubilee, whichever period
came first"unless the slave had his ear bored to the doorpost to intimate ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the kinsman redeemer.htm

Psalm LIX.
... brow of a Psalm with the high announcement of a Mystery, [2218] in order that we
that are about to go in may know (when as it were upon the door-post we have ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lix.htm

Doorpost (5 Occurrences)
... (n.) The jamb or sidepiece of a doorway. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DOORPOST.
dor'-post. See HOUSE. Multi-Version Concordance Doorpost (5 Occurrences). ...
/d/doorpost.htm - 8k

Door-post (5 Occurrences)
Door-post. Doorpost, Door-post. Doorposts . Multi-Version Concordance ... (Root
in JPS ASV YLT). Doorpost, Door-post. Doorposts . Reference Bible.
/d/door-post.htm - 8k

Doorposts (15 Occurrences)
... on a slip of parchment these verses (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and 11:13-21), which they
enclosed in a reed or cylinder and fixed on the right-hand door-post of every ...
/d/doorposts.htm - 11k

Post (26 Occurrences)
... house. 3. (n.) The doorpost of a victualer's shop or inn, on which were
chalked the scores of customers; hence, a score; a debt. 4 ...
/p/post.htm - 19k

Threshold (28 Occurrences)
... 9:3; 10:4, 18; 46:2; 47:1); also rendered "door" and "door-post.". ... 43:8 in their
setting of their threshold by my threshold, and their doorpost beside my ...
/t/threshold.htm - 18k

Shiloh (34 Occurrences)
... followed with startling rapidity (1 Samuel 3; 1 Samuel 4). The sanctuary in Shiloh
is called a "temple" (1 Samuel 1:9; 1 Samuel 3:3) with doorpost and doors (1 ...
/s/shiloh.htm - 27k

Practices (80 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 43:8 in their setting of their threshold by my threshold, and their doorpost
beside my doorpost, and there was but the wall between me and them; and ...
/p/practices.htm - 29k

Setting (82 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 43:8 in their setting of their threshold by my threshold, and their doorpost
beside my doorpost, and there was but the wall between me and them; and ...
/s/setting.htm - 32k

Upper (99 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Exodus 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side
posts and on the upper doorpost of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. ...
/u/upper.htm - 39k

Lintel (4 Occurrences)
... 7, "upper doorpost, " but RV "lintel"); the head-piece of a door, which the Israelites
were commanded to Mark with the blood of the paschal lamb. ...
/l/lintel.htm - 8k

Should Christians post prayers on social media? | GotQuestions.org

What was Jesus' message to the church in Philadelphia in Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

Questions about the Christian Life (All) | GotQuestions.org

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