Hebrew word · H4670

מִפְתָּן

miftan

threshold

Threshold, sill or entrance platform of a building. It occurs only a few times: Dagon's temple threshold (1 Sam 5:4–5), those who 'leap over the threshold' in a pagan practice (Zeph 1:9), and in Ezekiel 9:3; 10:4, 18; 46:2; 47:1.

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

threshold

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Ezekiel 10:4

Range of meaning

Threshold, sill or entrance platform of a building. It occurs only a few times: Dagon's temple threshold (1 Sam 5:4–5), those who 'leap over the threshold' in a pagan practice (Zeph 1:9), and in Ezekiel 9:3; 10:4, 18; 46:2; 47:1. In a temple it may be a raised platform or podium at the door rather than just a sill.

Against the English

'Threshold' is accurate. NIV's 'moved to the threshold' and BSB's 'stood over the threshold' both make the movement explicit. The Hebrew just says the glory rose from the cherub 'to/over the threshold.'

Used elsewhere in the period

Thresholds were charged spaces in the ancient world, the boundary between holy and common and between inside and outside (compare 1 Sam 5:5, where Dagon's priests avoid treading on the threshold). In Ezekiel 47:1 the life-giving river flows 'from under the threshold of the house' in the restored temple.

From the study of Ezekiel 47:1

Range of meaning

Threshold or sill of a doorway. It is used of temples in particular: Dagon's threshold (1 Sam 5:4–5), the threshold of the Jerusalem temple in Ezekiel (9:3; 10:4, 18; 46:2), and Zeph 1:9.

Against the English

'Threshold' is accurate. English readers may not catch the deliberate echo within Ezekiel itself.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Ezekiel 9:3 and 10:4 the glory of God rises from the cherubim and moves to 'the threshold of the house'. In 10:18 it 'went out from over the threshold' and then left the city eastward (11:23). Thresholds were charged places in the ancient world, as the boundary between holy and ordinary space (compare 1 Sam 5:5, where Dagon's priests will not step on it).

Where it appears

1 Samuel · 2

  1. 1 Samuel 5:4 הַמִּפְתָּ֔ן the threshold

    But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD, with his head and his hands broken off and lying on the threshold. Only the torso remained.

  2. 1 Samuel 5:5 מִפְתַּ֥ן [the] threshold of

    That is why, to this day, the priests of Dagon and all who enter the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on the threshold.

Ezekiel · 5

  1. Ezekiel 9:3 מִפְתַּ֣ן [the] threshold of

    Then the glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side.

  2. Ezekiel 10:4 מִפְתַּ֣ן [the] threshold of

    Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherubim and stood over the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD.

    Here: The threshold or raised entrance of the temple building, its eastern doorway facing the courts. The glory stops here, at the boundary between inside and outside, on its way out.

  3. Ezekiel 10:18 מִפְתַּ֣ן [the] threshold of

    Then the glory of the LORD moved away from the threshold of the temple and stood above the cherubim.

  4. Ezekiel 46:2 מִפְתַּ֥ן [the] threshold of

    The prince is to enter from the outside through the portico of the gateway and stand by the gatepost, while the priests sacrifice his burnt offerings and peace offerings. He is to bow in worship at the threshold of the gate and then depart, but the gate must not be shut until evening.

  5. Ezekiel 47:1 מִפְתַּ֤ן [the] threshold of

    Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.

    Here: The raised sill of the temple door. The same word marked the spot where God's glory paused before leaving the temple (9:3; 10:4, 18); now the same threshold is where water flows out.

Zephaniah · 1

  1. Zephaniah 1:9 הַמִּפְתָּ֖ן the threshold

    On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.