from פָּתַח; an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way; door, entering (in), entrance (-ry), gate, opening, place.
Transliteration:pethach
Pronunciation:peh'-thakh
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun פֶּתַח (pethach), Strong's number `{{H6607}}`, is derived from the verbal root פָּתַח (patach), `{{H6605}}`, meaning "to open," "to unbind," or "to let loose." Consequently, pethach fundamentally denotes the *result* or *locus* of such an opening. Its core meaning encompasses any kind of aperture or passageway.
Semantically, pethach refers primarily to a physical opening, such as:
* A "door" or "doorway" of a dwelling, tent, or building.
* An "entrance" or "entryway" to a specific place or area.
* A "gate" or "gateway," particularly in the context of a city or a fortified structure.
* More broadly, any "opening" or "place" that serves as an access point.
Beyond its literal applications, pethach can also carry metaphorical or figurative weight, representing an opportunity, a point of decision, or a threshold of transition.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term pethach appears frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible, often in highly significant contexts:
1. **The Entrance to the Tabernacle/Tent of Meeting:** This is perhaps the most common and theologically crucial usage. pethach consistently refers to the "door" or "entrance" of the tent where God's presence dwelt and where sacrifices were offered.
* [[Exodus 29:4]]: "You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tent of meeting and wash them with water." This highlights the entrance as the designated place for priestly consecration and divine encounter.
* [[Leviticus 1:3]]: "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the door of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD." Here, pethach is the point of access for sacrificial atonement.
* [[Numbers 3:25]]: "The responsibility of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting was the tabernacle and the tent, its covering, its screen for the door of the tent of meeting..." This emphasizes pethach as a distinct architectural feature of the sacred space.
2. **Entrances to Dwellings and Cities:** pethach also describes the entry points to personal residences or communal spaces.
* [[Genesis 18:1]]: "Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day." This illustrates a common domestic setting.
* [[Judges 9:35]]: "But Gaal went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate, and Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush." Here, pethach denotes the strategic entry point of a fortified city.
3. **Figurative and Metaphorical Uses:** These instances reveal the deeper conceptual implications of pethach.
* [[Genesis 4:7]]: "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." This profound verse uses pethach metaphorically to represent the threshold of moral choice. Sin lies ready at the "door" of one's heart or actions, poised to enter if not mastered.
* [[Hosea 2:15]]: "And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt." This powerful image portrays God's redemptive power, transforming a place of trouble and judgment (Achor, meaning "trouble") into an "opening of hope" (פֶּתַח תִּקְוָה, *pethach tiqvah*), signifying new beginnings and divine restoration.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of pethach is enriched by its relationship to other Hebrew terms and broader biblical concepts:
* **`{{H6605}}` (patach):** The verbal root from which pethach is derived. Understanding the action of "opening" (patach) illuminates the nature of the "opening" (pethach) itself.
* **`{{H8179}}` (sha'ar):** Often translated "gate," especially in the context of city gates. While pethach can refer to a "gate" or "gateway," sha'ar often emphasizes the larger, more substantial structure of a city gate, which served as a place of judgment, commerce, and public assembly. pethach tends to highlight the *opening* or *access point*, whereas sha'ar emphasizes the *structure* of the gate.
* **`{{H1817}}` (delet):** This noun specifically refers to a "door" in the sense of a physical leaf or panel that swings open or shut. While pethach is the *opening*, delet is the *physical barrier* that covers the opening.
* **Concepts of Access and Boundary:** pethach inherently defines a boundary, separating an interior from an exterior, or one space from another. It signifies a point of transition, allowing or restricting access. This concept is vital in understanding sacred space, personal privacy, and communal security.
* **Opportunity and Vulnerability:** As seen in [[Hosea 2:15]] and [[Genesis 4:7]], pethach can represent a moment of opportunity (for hope or sin) or a point of vulnerability.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of pethach is profound, particularly in its association with divine encounter, human responsibility, and God's redemptive work:
1. **The Gateway to God's Presence:** The repeated designation of the Tabernacle's entrance as pethach underscores its role as the divinely appointed means of access to the Holy One. It was at this "door" that priests mediated, sacrifices were offered, and the community could approach the Lord. This prefigures the ultimate access to God through Christ.
2. **The Threshold of Moral Choice:** [[Genesis 4:7]] presents pethach as the critical juncture where human beings confront temptation. Sin's "crouching at the door" highlights its proximity and cunning, but also humanity's responsibility to exercise dominion over it. This imagery emphasizes free will and the consequences of moral decisions made at the "door" of the heart.
3. **Divine Initiative in Opening Hope:** The "door of hope" in [[Hosea 2:15]] is a powerful testament to God's sovereign grace. Even in places of desolation and judgment (the Valley of Achor), God can create an unexpected opening, transforming despair into a pathway for restoration and new covenant relationship. This illustrates God's ability to provide a way forward where humanly none exists.
4. **Exclusion and Inclusion:** As an entrance, pethach inherently defines who is "in" and who is "out." This concept is crucial for understanding covenant membership, access to sacred space, and the boundaries of God's people.
### Summary
The Hebrew word פֶּתַח (pethach, `{{H6607}}`) denotes an "opening," "door," or "entrance," derived from the verb "to open" (`{{H6605}}`). While often referring to literal physical apertures such as the entrance to a tent or a city gate, its biblical usage extends to significant metaphorical applications. Theologically, pethach serves as a crucial concept for understanding access to God's presence, particularly at the "door of the tent of meeting." It also powerfully illustrates the threshold of moral decision, as seen in [[Genesis 4:7]] where "sin is crouching at the door." Furthermore, pethach symbolizes divine initiative in providing "a door of hope" ([[Hosea 2:15]]), transforming despair into opportunity for restoration. Thus, pethach underscores fundamental biblical themes of access, boundary, human responsibility, and God's sovereign grace in opening pathways for His people.
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