📖 Biblical Definition
Tefillin (Greek phylacteries) are the small leather boxes — one for the forehead, one for the arm — containing four key Torah passages on parchment: Exodus 13:1-10; 13:11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21. They are bound on the head and the left arm during morning prayer in literal obedience to Deuteronomy 6:8: "And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes." Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for enlarging their phylacteries to be seen of men (Matthew 23:5), not for wearing them. The deeper command is internal: the Word bound to hand (deed) and forehead (thought) is the believer’s vocation. Tefillin in the soul, not just the strap.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Leather scripture-boxes worn on forehead and arm during prayer.
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The leather boxes worn on forehead and arm during morning Jewish prayer, containing four key Torah passages handwritten on parchment. Hebrew tefillin ("prayers"); Greek phylakteria ("safeguards") — the same word KJV translates as "phylacteries." Jesus wore them; He criticized only their being made wide for show (Matt 23:5).
📖 Key Scripture
Deuteronomy 6:8 — "And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes."
Exodus 13:9 — "And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD's law may be in thy mouth."
Matthew 23:5 — "But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Often dismissed by Christians as Pharisaic legalism; missed that Jesus wore them and rebuked only their show-display.
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Many Christians read Matthew 23:5 as Jesus rejecting tefillin entirely. The text is more careful: He rebukes the broadening for show. The practice itself was Mosaic; Jesus kept it.
Recover the principle: visible reminders of the word are not legalism — they become legalism when worn for human approval. The mnemonic itself is good; the heart's display-motive is the corruption.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew tefillin; Greek phylakterion.
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['Hebrew', '—', 'tefillin', 'prayers (the boxes)']
['Greek', 'G5440', 'phylakterion', 'phylactery']
Usage
"Tefillin obey Deut 6:8 literally."
"Jesus wore them; rebuked only the show-display."
"Visible mnemonics of the word are good."