Doorkeeper
Holman Bible Dictionary [1]
2 Kings 22:4 1 Chronicles 15:23-24 Esther 2:21 John 18:16-17 Acts 12:13
The Hebrew word underlying the translation “doorkeeper” in Psalm 84:10 (Kjv, Rsv, Niv ) appears only once in the Old Testament. The root idea is threshold. Thus some translations (Nasv, Reb, Tev ) render the word by “at the threshold” or some similar expression. The reference is those waiting outside the Temple either to beg alms or to seek admission. The thought of the verse is that it is better to be standing outside the Temple than to be inside the tents of the wicked.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary [2]
A place of dignity in the East; therefore translate as margin Psalms 84:10, "I had rather lie at the threshold (as the lame man at the temple gate, Acts 3:2; or as the poor in the synagogue, James 2:3) in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness;" for that is an abiding house, however low my position in it; these are but shifting tents, though one have a dwelling in them.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(n.) One who guards the entrance of a house or apartment; a porter; a janitor.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [4]
dōr´kēp - ẽr ( שׁוער , shō‛ēr ): The gates of an oriental city and of the temple courts so closely resembled the door of a house that the same Hebrew word was used for doorkeeper and gatekeeper. It is often translated by the less definite word "porter" (which see).
In the preëxilic writings ( 2 Samuel 18:26; 2 Kings 7:10 , 2 Kings 7:11 ) reference is made to porters at the gates of the cities Mahanaim and Samaria. In these early writings there is also mention of a small number of "keepers of the threshold" of the temple, whose duties included the gathering of money from the people for temple purposes, and the care of the sacred vessels ( 2 Kings 12:9; 2 Kings 22:4; 2 Kings 23:4 ). They held an honorable position ( 2 Kings 25:18 ), and occupied chambers in the temple ( Jeremiah 35:4 ). The same term is used to describe officers in the household of the king of Persia ( Esther 2:21; Esther 6:2 ).
Differing from these "keepers of the threshold" in some respects are the doorkeepers or porters mentioned in Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. These formed a numerous sacred order ( 1 Chronicles 9:22; 1 Chronicles 23:5 ) from the time of David. Their duties and the words describing them in two passages, "keepers of the thresholds" ( 1 Chronicles 9:19 ) and "porters of the thresholds" ( 2 Chronicles 23:4 ), connect them in some measure with the "keeper of the threshold" referred to above. They guarded the gates of the house of Yahweh ( 1 Chronicles 9:23 ), closing and opening them at the proper times ( 1 Chronicles 9:27 ) and preventing the unclean from entering the sacred enclosure ( 2 Chronicles 23:19 ); they had charge of the sacred vessels and of the free-will offerings ( 2 Chronicles 31:14 ), and dwelt in the chambers about the temple ( 1 Chronicles 9:27 ). They were Levites, and came in from the Levitical villages every seventh day for service in their turn ( 1 Chronicles 9:25 ). Their office was honorable, ranking with the singers, after the priests and Levites ( Ezra 2:42; 1 Chronicles 15:18 ).
In Psalm 84:10 , "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God," the word is not used in its technical sense. the Revised Version, margin gives "stand (the King James Version margin "sit") at the threshold," to an eastern mind a situation of deep humility (compare title of the Ps and 1 Chronicles 9:19 ).
In the New Testament the order of temple doorkeepers is not referred to. But a doorkeeper (θυρωρός , thurōrós ) is mentioned in connection with a private house ( Mark 13:34 ), with the high priest's house ( John 18:16 , John 18:17 ), and with sheep-folds ( John 10:3 ), a maid serving as doorkeeper in some cases ( Acts 12:13 ).
