דֶּלֶת

דֶּלֶת

something swinging, i.e. the valve of adoor

Definition

The Hebrew noun דֶּלֶת (deleth) primarily refers to a door, specifically a swinging door or gate. It most often denotes the physical entrance to a house (Genesis 19:6), city gate (Deuteronomy 3:5), or tabernacle/temple structure (Exodus 26:36). In some contexts, it can refer to the two-leaved doors of a large gate (Isaiah 45:1) or metaphorically to the 'doors of the mouth' as an entrance for speech (Psalm 141:3). The word consistently implies a movable barrier that controls access, whether literal or figurative.

Biblical Usage

This word is used 78 times across the Old Testament, appearing in narrative, legal, and poetic books. It frequently describes the door of a private dwelling, especially in stories of hospitality or judgment (Genesis 19:9-10). In legal texts, it signifies the doorpost where a servant's ear is pierced to mark permanent service (Exodus 21:6, Deuteronomy 15:17). It also describes the fortified gates of cities (Joshua 6:26) and the sacred doors of the tabernacle and temple (1 Kings 6:31-32).

Etymology

Derived from the root דָּלָה (dalah, H1802), meaning 'to draw (water)' or 'to lift up.' The connection likely stems from the action of lifting or swinging a door on its hinges, emphasizing its movable, suspended nature. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'daltu,' confirm the long-standing meaning of 'door.'

Semantic Range

As a point of controlled access, דֶּלֶת carries theological weight. It marks boundaries between safety and danger, sacred and profane, or inclusion and exclusion. The doorpost ritual in Exodus 21:6 symbolizes a voluntary, permanent covenant of service. In Psalm 141:3, guarding the 'door of my lips' becomes a prayer for moral and verbal integrity, showing how a physical object can illustrate spiritual discipline. In ancient Israelite homes, the door was a primary point of security, hospitality, and legal ceremony. Unlike modern hinged doors, many were simple, movable barriers—often wooden slabs or skins—that could be barred from within. The act of bringing a servant to the 'door' or 'doorpost' (Exodus 21:6) was a public, household ritual, making the door a site of legal and social transition. פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — a more general term for an opening, doorway, or entrance, not necessarily with a movable door. שַׁעַר (sha'ar, H8179) — refers to the larger gate complex of a city or courtyard, often involving doors (deleth) within it. דְּלָתַיִם (delathayim, H1817 dual form) — specifically denotes double doors or two-leaved gates.

Word Details