Lock
“Bolt, fastening (from 'naal,' to bar up)”
Summary
A device for securing doors, typically made of wood in ancient times, operated by a key or bolt mechanism.
☩Ancient Lock Mechanisms
The doors of ancient Hebrews were secured by bars of wood or iron, with iron bars primarily used for fortresses, prisons, and city gates (Isaiah 45:2). The typical domestic lock consisted of a wooden bolt passing through a groove into a socket in the doorpost. Small sliding pins dropped into holes in the bolt, and the key, with corresponding pins, lifted these to allow the bolt to be drawn back (Judges 3:23-25; Song of Solomon 5:5; Nehemiah 3:3). Such locks were easily picked, so doors were sometimes sealed with clay impressed with a signet.
☩Locks of Hair
The word 'lock' also refers to hair in Scripture. The Hebrew 'machlaphoth' describes Samson's seven locks or braided strands (Judges 16:13, 19), typical of plaited hair still worn by some Bedouin warriors. Other terms describe forelocks ('tsitsith,' Ezekiel 8:3), unshorn Nazirite locks ('pera,' Numbers 6:5), and the luxuriant hair of Hebrew youth ('qewutstsah,' Song of Solomon 5:2, 11).
Related Verses19 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Lock," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Locks," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).