Reference: Frontlets, or Phylacteries
Smith
Frontlets, or Phylacteries.
Ex 13:16; De 6:8; 11:18; Mt 23:5
These "frontlets" or "phylacteries" were strips of parchment, on which were written four passages of Scripture,
Ex 13:2-10,11-17; De 6:4-9,13-23
in an ink prepared for the purpose. 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 and a half cubits long. They were placed at the bend of the left arm. Those worn on the forehead were written on four strips of parchment, and put into four little cells within a square case on which the letter was written. The square had two thongs, on which Hebrew letters were inscribed. That phylacteries were used as amulets is certain, and was very natural. The expression "they make broad their phylacteries,"
refers not so much to the phylactery itself, which seems to have been of a prescribed breadth, as to the case in which the parchment was kept, which the Pharisees, among their other pretentious customs,
Mr 7:3-4; Lu 5:33
etc., made as conspicuous as they could. It is said that the Pharisees wore them always, whereas the common people only used them at prayers.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and of beast; for it is mine. And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery; for the LORD has brought you out of here with a strong hand; therefore, ye shall not eat with leaven. read more. This day ye came out in the month Abib. And when the LORD shall have brought thee into the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, which he swore unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt do this service in this month. Thou shalt eat without leaven for seven days, and the seventh day shall be a feast unto the LORD. Bread without leaven shall be eaten the seven days; and nothing leavened shall be seen with thee, neither shall there be any leaven in all thy borders. And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when he brought me out of Egypt. And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand and for a memorial before thine eyes, that the LORD's law may be in thy mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt, therefore, keep this ordinance in its season from year to year. And it shall be when the LORD shall have brought thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall have given it to thee, that thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that opens the womb and in the same manner every firstborn that opens the wombs of thy animals; the males shall be the LORD's. And every firstborn of an ass thou shalt ransom with a lamb; and if thou wilt not ransom it, then thou shalt cut off its head; and in the same manner thou shalt ransom all the human firstborn among thy sons. And it shall be when thy son asks thee in time to come, saying, What is this? Thou shalt say unto him, With a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery; and it came to pass when Pharaoh was hardening himself to not let us go that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt from the human firstborn to the firstborn of the beast; therefore, I sacrifice to the LORD every male that opens the womb, and I ransom every firstborn of my sons. And it shall be for a token upon thy hand, and for a memorial before thine eyes: That the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand.
And it shall be for a token upon thy hand, and for a memorial before thine eyes: That the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand. And it came to pass when Pharaoh had let the people go that God did not lead them through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt;
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul and with all thy might. read more. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart, and thou shalt repeat them diligently unto thy sons and shalt talk of them being in thy house and walking by the way, lying down in bed, and rising up; and thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thy eyes;
and thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thy eyes; and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house and on thy gates.
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God and serve him and shalt swear by his name. Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are round about you read more. (for the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest peradventure the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded thee. And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD that it may be well with thee and that thou may enter in and inherit the good land which the LORD swore unto thy fathers so that he will cast out all thine enemies from before thy presence, as the LORD has spoken. And when tomorrow thy son asks thee, saying, What are the testimonies and the statutes and the rights, which the LORD our God has commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; and the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and sore, in Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes; and he brought us out from there that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he swore unto our fathers.
Therefore, ye shall lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul and bind them for a sign upon your hand that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
But they do all their works that they may be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments
But they do all their works that they may be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments
(For the Pharisees and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands often, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, unless they wash, they eat not. And there are many other things which they took upon themselves to hold such as the washing of cups and pots, brasen vessels and of tables.)
Then they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but thine eat and drink?