PHYLACTERY (f1-15k'tEr-y).
(1) Name. (Gr. 85uXaKrhpLov, foo-lak-tay'ree-on, a. station for a guard; in Rabbinical Hebrew 1'77, teft-ee-leen', prayer fillets).
(2) Form and Use. The Phylactery was a piece of parchment inscribed with particular pas sages of Scripture (Deut. vi ; xi : ; Exod. xiii:1-to, 1-16). They were folded up and en closed in a small leather box, generally one and a half inches square, and worn upon the forehead nearly between the eyes, or upon the left arm near to the heart, being attached by straps of leather (Joseph. Antig. iv.
8, 13; Hieron in Ezek. xxiv :17 ).
They were consid ered as thus re minding the wear ers to fulfill the law with the head and heart, a n d they were also regarded as amulets, protect ing the wearer from the powers of evil, specially demons (Targ, in Cant.viii: 3). On this notion was founded the Greek name of ouXcocrhpiop, which means a 'safeguard.' These appendages were used during the stated prayers, and only by men. The whole observance is founded on the authority of the texts which are written on the strips of parchment, as Exod. xiii: t6: 'It shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets (bands, fillets) between thine eyes ;' which, although in all probability only figurative expressions, have been literally understood, and acted upon by the Jews since the Exile. In exist
ing usage the skin employed in making the phy lacteries is prepared with much care, and the writ ing traced with minute accuracy and neatness. The Hebrew ritualists give very exact and nu merous directions on this subject, which are re quired to be closely observed. The case itself is composed of several layers of parchment or of black calf-skin. The phylacteries for the head have four cavities, in each of which is put one of the four texts to which we have referred ; but the phylacteries for the arm have only one cavity, containing the same texts all written on one slip of parchment. Lightfoot thinks it not unlikely that our Savior himself wore the Jewish tephdin or phylacteries, as well as the zifith or fringes, according to the custom of his nation; and that in Matt. xxiii :5, our Lord condemns not the wearing of them, but the pride and hypocrisy. of the Pharisees in making them broad and visible; to obtain respect and reputation for wisdom and piety. (Townley, Reasons for the Laws of Mosos. P• ii0.) •