The mezuzah is the word of God fixed on the doorposts of the house.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Moses tells Israel to write the words the Lord commands on the doorposts of the house and on the gates. The later name mezuzah means doorpost. A small case holding the Shema is fixed there so that going out and coming in pass the word. The command is the writing, not the case. The blood of the Passover was also on the doorposts, a different mark for a different night. The church keeps the word in the heart and in the house. The doorpost is one way Israel was told not to forget.
- Deuteronomy 6 and 11 both name the doorposts.
- The words are also bound as a sign on the hand and between the eyes.
- A case without the words is not the command. The words are the point.
Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
When you sit, walk, lie down, and rise.
The word at the door.
- Mezuzah means doorpost.
- Israel is told to write the Lord’s words there.
- The same words are taught to the children and bound on the body.
- The later case holds the Shema. The command is the writing.
- Passover blood was a different mark on the same posts.
- The aim is not to forget the Lord in the ordinary house.
- The Place – Doorposts and gates.
- The Words – The command just given.
- The Name – Mezuzah, the post.
- The Case – A later holder for the Shema.
- The Other Mark – Passover blood.
- The Aim – Remember in the house.
- Deuteronomy 6:6-9 – “These words that I command you today shall be on your heart… You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
- Deuteronomy 11:20 – “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
- Exodus 12:7 – The blood of the lamb on the two doorposts and the lintel.
- Psalm 119:11 – “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
These words shall be on your heart.
The mezuzah is that post, and the words on it. The case is later. The command is the word at the door.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.