SG Heritage Dictionary

Phylactery [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. In a general sense, any charm, spell or amulet worn as a preservative from danger or disease.

2. Among the Jews, a slip of parchment on which was written some text of Scripture, particularly of the decalogue, worn by devout persons on the forehead, breast or neck as a mark of their religion.

3. Among the primitive christians, a case in which they inclosed the relics of the dead.

Phylactery [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. Any charm or amulet worn as a preservative from danger or disease.

2. A small square box, made either of parchment or of black calfskin, containing slips of parchment or vellum on which are written the scriptural passages Exodus xiii. 2-10, and 11-17, Deut. vi. 4-9, 13-22. They are worn by Jews on the head and left arm, on week-day mornings, during the time of prayer.

3. Among the primitive Christians, a case in which the relics of the dead were inclosed.

Phylactery Encyclopedia Britannica

PHYLACTERY(φυλακτήρων) is the name given in the New Testament to the Γ⅛∏ (tefillîn) or “prayerthongs” of the Jews. Every Jew wears at prayer two of these thongs—(1) the hand-tefilla, a leather thong wound round the left arm and supporting a small case containing a parchment strip with the passages Exod. xiii. 1-10,11-16, Deut. vi. 4-9, xi. 13-21 written in four columns; (2) the head-tefilla, a similar thong with the four passages inscribed on four separate slips of parchment, and worn round the head so that the box with the texts rests on the forehead. The use of these phylacteries is justified by a literal interpretation of expressions in the passages above cited, and they form, together with the ΓWy (zîzîth) or “fringe” (Numb. XV. 37 sq.) and the Hfflô (mezûza) above the door, the three sets of visible signs by which the Israelite is constantly reminded of his duty to God. The zîzîth is no longer placed on the outer garment as in New Testament times (Matt, xxiii. 5), but on the woollen scarves called ∏ , ψip (tallith), of which the Jewish man always wears one, while another is wound round the head and neck during prayer. The mezûza is now a longish box fixed over the right doorpost of houses or rooms and containing a parchment with Deut. vi. 4-9, xi. 13-21....

9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 19, p. 1
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