H2903 H2903
frontlets, phylacteries, forehead-bands
Bands or markers worn on the forehead between the eyes, mentioned in Deuteronomy's commands to remember God's law. The term appears in passages commanding Israel to bind God's words as a sign on their hands and as frontlets between their eyes. Originally likely figurative language for constant mindfulness of Torah, later Jewish tradition interpreted these commands literally, developing the practice of wearing phylacteries (tefillin) containing scripture texts. The word itself denotes bands or ornaments worn on the forehead, serving as visible reminders of covenant commitment.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Frontlets or forehead-bands symbolizing devotion to Torah. Exodus 13:16 commands that dedication of the firstborn 'shall be as frontlets between your eyes,' a memorial sign. Deuteronomy 6:8 instructs binding commandments 'as frontlets between your eyes.' Deuteronomy 11:18 repeats this, making God's words 'frontlets between your eyes.' Whether understood literally or figuratively, the image emphasizes constant awareness of God's law. Later Jewish practice of phylacteries derives from literal interpretation. Cross-linguistic terms (Spanish filacterias/frontales, French/English frontlets) reflect both ancient and rabbinic understandings. 3×
AR["عَصَائِبَ", "وَ-لِ-عَصَائِبَ"]·ben["এবং-কপালে-বাঁধনরূপে", "কপালপট্টি-হিসাবে", "স্মারক-রূপে"]·DE["fuer-frontlets", "und-fuer-frontlets", "wie-frontlets"]·EN["and-for-frontlets", "as-frontlets", "for-frontlets"]·FR["comme-frontlets", "et-pour-frontlets", "pour-frontlets"]·heb["ו-ל-טוטפות", "ל-טוטפות"]·HI["और-टीके-के-लिए", "के-लिए-बिन्दी", "पट्टियों-के-लिए"]·ID["dan-sebagai-lambang", "sebagai-lambang"]·IT["come-frontlets", "e-per-frontlets", "per-frontlets"]·jav["ikat-sirah", "lan-dhateng-totopot"]·KO["그리고-에-이마-붙임으로", "에게-이마-표", "이마-표로"]·PT["e-para-filactérios", "para-frontéis", "por-frontal"]·RU["и-для-повязки", "повязками", "повязкой"]·ES["como-frontales", "por-filacterias", "y-por-frontales"]·SW["kama-tepe", "na-kwa-tefilini", "tepe"]·TR["alın-bandı-olarak", "ve-alın-bağı-olarak"]·urd["اور-پٹیوں-کے-طور-پر", "ٹیکے-کے-طور-پر", "پٹی-بن-کر"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† טוֹטָפוֹת n.f.pl. bands (NH טוֹטֶפֶת; Aramaic טוֹטֶפְתָּא, and especially pl. טוטפין id.)—always bands, frontlet-bands, between the eyes (‖ אוֹת על יד; cf. זִכָּרוֹן בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ Ex 13:9 ‖ id.); fig. of dedication of firstborn וְהָיָה … לְטוֹטָפֹת בין עיניך Ex 13:16 (JE); of commandments of י׳, וְהָיוּ לְטו׳ Dt 11:18 and וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפת Dt 6:8.—This injunction, orig. fig. for perpetual…