from the same as פֶּתֶן; a stretcher, i.e. a sill; threshold.
Transliteration:miphtân
Pronunciation:mif-tawn'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word H4670 (מִפְתָּן, miphtân) primarily denotes a "threshold" or "door sill." Its etymological root is linked to פֶּתֶן (pethen), which refers to a venomous serpent, possibly suggesting something stretched out or laid flat, akin to a sill. However, the core meaning is consistently the horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway, over which one steps to enter or exit. Semantically, it is a narrow but potent term, always referring to this specific architectural element. It inherently signifies a boundary, a point of transition, and a physical marker separating one space from another, such as inside from outside, or one room from another.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word H4670 (מִפְתָּן) appears a limited number of times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in historical narrative and prophetic literature, where its usage carries significant weight.
* **[[1 Samuel 5:4-5]]**: This is a highly illustrative passage. After the Ark of the Covenant is placed in the temple of Dagon, the Philistine idol is twice found prostrate before the Ark. The second time, Dagon's head and hands are severed and found lying on the "threshold" (מִפְתָּן) of the temple. This event leads to the custom that Dagon's priests and worshippers do not tread on this threshold. Here, the miphtân becomes a place of divine judgment and humiliation for the pagan deity, marking a defiled and consequently revered or avoided spot.
* **[[Ezekiel 9:3]]**: In Ezekiel's vision, the glory of the God of Israel moves from above the cherubim to stand at the "threshold" (מִפְתָּן) of the temple. This movement signals God's imminent departure from the temple due to the people's idolatry and defilement. The threshold serves as a temporary, liminal resting place for the divine presence, emphasizing the boundary between the holy and the profaned sanctuary.
* **[[Ezekiel 10:4]]**: Similar to [[Ezekiel 9:3]], the glory of the Lord ascends and stands over the "threshold" (מִפְתָּן) of the temple, reiterating the solemn process of divine withdrawal.
* **[[Ezekiel 10:18]]**: This verse marks a further stage in God's departure; the glory of the Lord departs from the "threshold" (מִפְתָּן) and moves to stand over the cherubim. The threshold is depicted as the final point of contact within the temple structure before the complete removal of God's presence.
* **[[Ezekiel 43:8]]**: Here, God condemns Israel for defiling His holy name by placing their "thresholds" (מִפְתָּן) next to His "threshold" (מִפְתָּן) and their doorposts next to His. This act of blurring the sacred boundary between the holy temple and common, potentially idolatrous, dwellings is presented as a grave sin of sacrilege and syncretism. The miphtân here symbolizes the critical distinction between the holy and the common, which Israel had violated.
* **[[Ezekiel 46:2]]**: In the vision of the future, restored temple, the prince is described as standing by the doorpost of the gate and then worshipping at the "threshold" (מִפְתָּן) of the gate. This usage portrays the miphtân as a place of humble and proper worship, indicating reverent access to the divine in a sanctified context.
Across these contexts, miphtân consistently functions as a physical boundary that becomes imbued with spiritual and theological significance, marking points of judgment, separation, and transition.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H6607}}` פֶּתַח (petach)**: Meaning "opening" or "entrance," this word is closely related, as the miphtân is the bottom part of the petach. While petach refers to the entire doorway, miphtân specifies the sill.
* **`{{H8179}}` שַׁעַר (sha'ar)**: Denoting a "gate" or "gateway," this term refers to a larger point of entry, often to a city or a compound like the temple. The miphtân would be the threshold of a door within a gate, or the gate's own sill. Both sha'ar and miphtân emphasize entry and exit points.
* **Boundary/Separation**: The concept of miphtân inherently speaks to boundaries and the separation of spaces. This resonates with broader biblical themes of holiness and unholiness, clean and unclean, and the distinction between the sacred and the profane, which are foundational to Mosaic law and prophetic warnings.
* **Liminality**: A threshold is a classic example of a "liminal space"—a transitional zone that is neither fully one thing nor the other. In the biblical narrative, especially in Ezekiel, the miphtân acts as a liminal space where divine presence pauses before a significant transition (departure or return).
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H4670 (מִפְתָּן) extends far beyond its literal meaning, serving as a powerful symbol in several key areas:
1. **Divine Presence and Departure**: In Ezekiel's prophecies, the miphtân is central to the dramatic portrayal of God's glory departing from the defiled temple. Its temporary resting on the threshold ([[Ezekiel 9:3]], [[Ezekiel 10:4]]) before its final departure ([[Ezekiel 10:18]]) underscores the holiness of God and His inability to dwell amidst persistent sin. The threshold thus becomes a poignant witness to divine judgment and the solemn consequences of Israel's apostasy.
2. **Sacred Boundaries and Defilement**: The Dagon narrative ([[1 Samuel 5:4-5]]) establishes the threshold as a place where divine power is demonstrated against pagan impotence, leading to a defiled or sacred custom. More profoundly, [[Ezekiel 43:8]] highlights the sin of Israel in blurring the distinction between the holy and the common by placing their "thresholds" alongside God's. This act signifies a profound disrespect for God's holiness and an attempt to integrate profane practices with sacred worship, emphasizing the absolute necessity of maintaining the divinely ordained separation.
3. **Access and Worship**: In the visionary temple of Ezekiel, the miphtân is presented as a place of proper, reverent access and worship ([[Ezekiel 46:2]]). This contrasts sharply with its role in the context of defilement, indicating that in a restored and sanctified relationship with God, the threshold is a point of humble approach and devotion.
4. **Judgment and Consequence**: Both the Dagon account and Ezekiel's prophecies demonstrate that the miphtân can be a site where divine judgment is enacted or displayed. It represents a critical juncture, a point of no return, where actions lead to clear consequences, whether it be the humiliation of a false god or the departure of the true God's glory.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H4670 (מִפְתָּן, miphtân) denotes a "threshold" or "door sill," an architectural element that signifies a boundary or point of transition. Its limited but impactful occurrences in the biblical text imbue it with profound theological meaning. In [[1 Samuel 5:4-5]], the miphtân of Dagon's temple becomes a site of divine judgment and defilement, where the idol's humiliation is displayed. In Ezekiel, the miphtân of the temple serves as a crucial waypoint for the glory of God, first resting upon it ([[Ezekiel 9:3]], [[Ezekiel 10:4]]) and then departing from it ([[Ezekiel 10:18]]), symbolizing God's sorrowful withdrawal due to Israel's sin. Furthermore, [[Ezekiel 43:8]] condemns Israel for blurring the sacred boundary by placing their profane thresholds next to God's holy one, underscoring the vital importance of distinguishing between the holy and the common. Conversely, in the vision of the restored temple, the miphtân is a place of proper, humble worship ([[Ezekiel 46:2]]). Thus, miphtân transcends its literal meaning to represent the presence and departure of God, the sanctity of divine boundaries, the consequences of defilement, and the appropriate posture of worship before a holy God.
TRV