Lintel

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Heb. kaphtar. Amos 9:1; Zephaniah 2:14 (RSV correctly "chapiters," as in A.V. marg.).

Copyright StatementThese dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. Entry for 'Lintel'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/l/lintel.html. 1897.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

mashqowp , the upper crossbeam of a door. "The upper doorpost" (Exodus 12:7; Exodus 12:23). The word meant also to "look out," because there were grates or lattices above the door from whence the inmates could see who was outside. In 1 Kings 6:31 for "lintel" translated 'ayil "the projection of the doorposts," occupying the fifth of the breadth of the wall (Keil). The entrance was four cubits broad, including the projecting doorposts, and each of the two wings of the folding doors about a cubit and a half broad, reckoning the projecting framework on either side at half a cubit in breadth. In Ezekiel 40:9; Ezekiel 40:21-24; Ezekiel 40:26, "posts" (the same word 'ayil ) mean projecting column faced fronts of the sides of the doorway, opposite one another. In Amos 9:1 for "lintel" translated the sphere-like capital of the column: kaphtoreyah . Zephaniah 2:14, "the capitals of her columns," margin "the knops" ("pomegranate like at the tops of the houses," Grotius) or chapiters (capitals).

Holman Bible Dictionary

Exodus 12:22-23

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

LINTEL. See House, § 6 .

King James Dictionary

LINT'EL, n.

The head-piece of a door-frame or window-frame the part of the frame that lies on the side-pieces. Exodus 41 .

Morrish Bible Dictionary

In Exodus 12:22,23 the 'lintel' is the beam that runs along the top of a door and joins the two side-posts. The word is mashqoph, and occurs only in the above passage and in Exodus 12:7 , where it is translated 'upper door post,' but clearly means the lintel. In 1 Kings 6:31 the word is ayil, which is often translated 'posts.' In this passage its meaning is doubtful. In Amos 9:1; Zephaniah 2:14 the word is kaphtor, which is elsewhere translated 'knop.' It may refer to some device placed over a door.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Lintel. The beam which forms the upper part of the framework of a door.

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) A horizontal member spanning an opening, and carrying the superincumbent weight by means of its strength in resisting crosswise fracture.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lin´tel . See House , II, 1, (4).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(prop. מִשְׁקוֹ Š, mashkoph', lit. a projecting cover; Exodus 12:22; Exodus 12:33; "upper door-post," Exodus 12:7; also כִּפְתֹּר, kaphtor', a chaplet, i.e., capital of a column, Amos 9:1; Zephaniah 2:14; elsewhere a "knop" of the candelabrum; and אִיַל, a'yil, a "ram," as often; hence a pilaster or pillar in a wall, 1 Kings 6:31, elsewhere "post"), the head-piece of a door, or the horizontal beam covering the side-posts or jambs. (See Post). This the Israelites were commanded to mark with the blood of the paschal lamb on the memorable occasion when the Passover was instituted. (See Passover).