Closet

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Closet ( ταμεῖον).— Matthew 6:6,  Luke 12:3 Authorized Version.

The older form of the Gr word was παμιεῖον (found in some NT MSS [Note: SS Manuscripts.] ), but the later language frequently shows the coalescence of two following Ι sounds.* [Note: J. H. Moulton in Expositor, 6th ser. ix. [1904] 361: ‘ταμειον, τειν and ὑγεια are overwhelmingly attested by the papyri, where there are only rare examples of a curious reversion, like that in  Matthew 20:22’ (where WH read τιεῖν, elsewhere πεῖν κατατεῖν); cf. Liddell and Scott sub voce, WH, Notes on Orthography, n. 146–170. The Textus Receptus, according to Scrivener, has the older form in  Matthew 6:6, but the later one in the three other places.] The etymology (cf. ταμιας, ‘distributor,’ ‘treasurer, ‘steward,’ etc., akin to ΠέΜΝΑ) shows that ‘store-chamber’ is the primitive meaning of the Gr. word ( i.e. not small sitting-room or bedroom). In this sense it occurs in  Luke 12:24, and even the Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885, following Vulgate and Luther, have been compelled to break their rule of uniformity of rendering in this case. The four occurrences of the Gr. word are dealt with as follows in the versions:—

AV	RV	Vulgate	Luther
Matthew 6:6	closet	inner chamber	cubiculum	Kammerlein
Matthew 24:26	secret chambers	inner chambers	penetralibus	Kammer
Luke 12:3	closets	inner chambers	cuhiculis	Kammern
Luke 12:24	store-house	store-chamber	cellarium	Keller

The Peshitta has ܬܰܘܰܢܳܐ (wȧnȧ) in all four passages, and it seems a pity that ‘store-closet’ or ‘store-chamber’ was not used by Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 in the same way throughout.

Every Jewish house, except the very smallest buts, would have a small room opening out from the ‘living-room,’ as our workmen’s cottages have small pantries, larders, etc., in many cases; but few houses would have a small room specially for private prayer. Yet, curiously, many writers have assumed that Jewish houses did have ‘prayer closets’; usually, they say, in the upper part of the house,* [Note: Carr, Cambridge Bible for Schools; Tholuck, Sermon on the Mount; Lange, St. Matthew; after Kuinoel, and Vitringa, de Syn. i. i. 6.] and many identify it with the ὑπερῷον (עֲלִיָה, ‘ălîyy âh ). Is there any ground for this? The ‘upper rooms’ mentioned in NT were usable as guest-chambers ( Mark 14:15, etc.), large enough to accommodate thirteen persons reclining round tables, and (perhaps) even 120 persons ( Acts 1:15). Would the individual worshipper be able to enter such an important room in a house, and ‘shut the door’ ( Matthew 6:6) against the rest of his family? Others ( e.g. , Keil, Biblical Archaeology , § 95) think of the frail summer-house on the flat roof.

According to modern European ideas, the Vulgate cubiculum , ‘bedroom,’ would suit the context and circumstances well in  Matthew 6:6, perhaps in  Matthew 24:26 and  Luke 12:3, but not at all in  Luke 12:24. Moreover, ( a ) this rendering loses the connexion with the etymology; ( b ) the use of separate bedrooms is not common in the East; ( c ) there are other Gr. and Syriac words to express the idea.

It must be noticed that  Matthew 6:6 is founded on  Isaiah 26:20, εἴσελθε εἰς τὰ ταμεῖά σου, ἁπόκλεισον τὴν θύραν σου. But the motive in Isaiah is fear, in Matthew desire of loving communion. ταμεῖον occurs 40 times in LXX Septuagint. In most cases it retains the meaning ‘store-closet’ ( Deuteronomy 28:8,  Sirach 29:12, etc.). In other cases it is a private chamber of some sort as in  Matthew 6:6 : e.g. ,  Genesis 43:30,  Deuteronomy 32:25,  Judges 3:24. The last case is noticeable. ταμεῖον is defined by τῷ θερινῷ, and represents חָרָר ( heder ), while ὑπερῷον in the context is ‘ălîyy âh , rather implying a distinction. The summer ‘upper room’ (Authorized and Revised Versions ‘parlour’) had a summer ‘closet’ (Authorized and Revised Versions ‘chamber’) attached to it. In the one Eglon was with his attendants till Ehud came, but they afterwards supposed that Eglon had retired into the other, and would not disturb him.

We now get a group of passages which explain ταμεῖον. In  Exodus 8:3 (7:28),  Judges 15:1-2 (4)K 6:12, 11:2,  2 Chronicles 22:11, etc., it is the special ‘store-closet’ (leading or opening out from the larger room) in which the bedding required by night was stored during the day (τὰ ταμεῖα τῶν κοιτῶν or ταμεῖον κλινῶν).† [Note: Lane, Modern Egyptians, ch. v.; Purdoe, City of the Sultan, i. 22: Kitto, Pictorial Bible on  Proverbs 6:16 and  2 Kings 11:2 : Hastings’ DB ii. 434a.] In such a ‘closet’ the Philistines were hiding while Delilah practised her wiles on Samson ( Judges 16:9;  Judges 16:12, LXX Septuagint, also  Ecclesiastes 10:20). In such a ‘closet’ for holding the bedding, the baby prince Joash was concealed when Athaliah murdered the rest of the royal family. Samson was possibly in the ‘living-room’ when his wife’s father prevented him from entering the ταμεῖον ( Judges 15:1 LXX Septuagint, note the variant of A εἰς τὸν κοιτῶνα). Such small rooms or closets could be used as more private sleeping-rooms if required, and would also be available for private conference, concealment, or any similar purpose, as well as for the normal use of storing the bedding and other things which were not immediately required. Our Lord advised their use for private prayer. Thus storage was the primary purpose of the apartment. The other uses were secondary ones, or adaptations.

The Authorized Version ‘closet’ is therefore quite as correct as the Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 ‘inner chamber.’ Of course we do not think of an European cupboard with shelves, in which a person could hardly stand. But Dryden ( Fables ) possibly uses ‘closet’ in the sense of a ‘store-closet,’ as ταμεῖον in  Luke 12:24, though he may have meant ‘private chamber’:

‘He furnishes her closet first, and fills

The crowded shelves with rarities of shells.’

Shakespeare has the other use:

‘The taper burneth in your closet’ ( Jul. Caes. ii. 1).* [Note: A late member of the Abp. of Canterbury’s ‘Assyrian Mission’ informs the writer of this article that the Peshitta word in the form ta-wȧnȧ is still retained in certain parts of the mountain districts, where many old (classical) Syriac words are still in use, but it is not used colloquially in the plains. Ta-wȧnȧ is always the little room leading from the large living room; it is that in which the spare bedding is stored. Its primary meaning is therefore “store-room.” Bp. Maclean (Dictionary of Vernacular Syriac) gives the meanings “closet,” “store-room,” but if he had reversed these two words, i.e. putting “store-room’ first, I think it would hale been better.’]

On the curious Latin renderings of d ( promptalibus ) e ( promptuariis ) in  Luke 12:3, and d ( promptuarium ) in  Luke 12:24, cf. Rönsch, Itala and Vulgata , pp. 32 and 48, and Plummer, ‘St. Luke,’ in International Critical Commentary .

George Farmer.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

CLOSET . The Gr. word so rendered in NT properly denotes ‘a store-chamber’ as   Luke 12:24 RV [Note: Revised Version.] , then any inner or more private room as opposed to the living-room; so   Matthew 6:6 ,   Luke 12:3 RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘inner-chamber.’ Cf.   1 Kings 20:30;   1 Kings 22:25 , lit. ‘a chamber within a chamber,’ and House, § 2 . For   Joel 2:16 see Driver, Joel and Amos, in loc .

A. R. S. Kennedy.

King James Dictionary

CLOSET, n. s as z.

1. A small room or apartment for retirement any room for privacy.

When thou prayest, inter into thy closet.  Matthew 6 .

2. An apartment for curiosities or valuable things. 3. A small close apartment or recess in the side of a room for repositing utensils and furniture.

CLOSET, s as z. To shut up in a closet to conceal to take into a private apartment for consultation.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (n.) A small apartment, or recess in the side of a room, for household utensils, clothing, etc.

(2): (v. t.) To make into a closet for a secret interview.

(3): (v. t.) To shut up in, or as in, a closet; to conceal.

(4): (n.) A small room or apartment for retirement; a room for privacy.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Matthew 6:6 (b) This is any quiet place where one may retire from the busy world to be alone with the Lord.

 Luke 12:3 (b) Here is a figure to describe that the secret things of life shall become public property in the sight of the Lord.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Luke 12 24 Matthew 6:6 Luke 12:3

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Matthew 6:6 Luke 12:3

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kloz´et  : Is the rendering in the King James Version of (1) חפה , ḥuppāh , and (2) ταμεῖον , tameı́on , also tamieion ̌ . Ḥuppāh , derived from ḥāphāh , "to cover," was probably originally the name of the tent specially set apart for the bride, and later ( Joel 2:16 ) used for the bride's chamber. The word tameion , originally storeroom (compare  Luke 12:24 , the King James Version "storehouse"; the Revised Version (British and American) "storexamber"), but since for safety it was the inner rooms of the Hebrew house which were used for storage purposes, the word came to mean inner room, as in  Matthew 6:6;  Luke 12:3 , in both the King James Version "closet" (compare  Matthew 24:26 , the King James Version "secret chamber"). In all cases the Revised Version (British and American) uses "inner chamber." See also House .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( חֻפָּה , Chuppah', A Covering,  Joel 2:16), a bridal couch, with curtains, rendered by our translators "chamber" in  Psalms 19:5. (See Bed). The Jews still employ the same word to designate the canopy under which' among them, the nuptial ceremony is performed. (See Marriage).

The word in the N.T. rendered "closet" is Ταμεῖον , signifying properly a Store-House (as in  Luke 12:24); hence any place of privacy and retirement ( Matthew 6:6;  Luke 12:3). (See Prayer).