Quick Definition
φυλακτήριον, ου, τό n.n. a phylactery, an amulet
Strong's Definition
a guard-case, i.e. "phylactery" for wearing slips of Scripture texts
Derivation: neuter of a derivative of G5442 (φυλάσσω);
KJV Usage: phylactery
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | -ου
6.195 · Artifacts · Adornments
phylactery a small leather case containing OT scripture verses and worn on the arm and forehead by Jews, especially when praying The Greek word φυλακτήριον, both before and during NT times, referred to an object used as a means of protection from evil forces. As such, it constituted a kind of amulet, but in MAT 23:5 φυλακτήριον is a reference to what was called in Aramaic tephillin, meaning ‘prayers.’ The two phylacteries, one worn on the head and the other on the left arm, were bound on during daily morning prayers. Just what their function seems to have been is not certain. In MAT 23:5, Jesus does not condemn the use of such phylacteries, but he does denounce their ostentatious use.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
φυλακτήριον, -ov, τό, (neut. of the adj. φυλακτήριος, -a, -ov, fr. φυλακτήρ [΄ poetic for φύλαξ ᾽)); 1. a fortified place provided with a garrison, a station for a guard or garrison. 2. a preservative or safeguard, an amulet: Dem. p. 71, 24; Diose. 5, 158 (159) sq., often in Plut. The Jews gave the name of φυλακτήρια (in the Talm. poan prayer-fillets, Germ. Gebetsriemen; [ οἴ. O. T. ‘frontlets’]) to small strips of parchment on which were written the foll. pass. from the law of Moses, Ex. xiii. 1-10, 11-16; Deut. vi. 4-9; xi. 13-21, and which, enclosed in little cases, they were accustomed when engaged in prayer to wear fastened by a leather strap to the forehead and to the left arm over against the heart, in order that they might thus be solemnly reminded of the duty of keeping the commands of God in the head and in the heart, acc. to the directions given in Ex. xiii. 16; Deut. vi. 8; xi. 18; (cf. Joseph. antt. 4, 8,13). These scrolls were thought to have power, like amulets, to avert various evils and to drive away demons (Targ. on Cant. viii. 3); hence their Greek name. [But see Ginse burg in Alex.’s Kitto s. vv. Phylacteries (sub fin.) and Mezuza.] The Pharisees were accustomed τὰ φυλακτήρια αὐτῶν πλατύνειν, to widen, make broad, their phylacteries, that they might render them more conspicuous and show themselves to be more eager than the majority to be reminded of God’s law: Mt. xxiii. 5. Cf. Win. RWB. 5. v. Phylakterien; Leyrer in Herzog xi. 639 sqq.; Kneucker in Schenkel i. 601 sq.; Delitzsch in Riehm 270 sq.; [Edersheim, Jewish Social Life etc., p. 220 sqq-; B. Ὁ. 5. ν. Frontlets; esp. Hamburger, Real-Encycl. s. v. Tephillin, vol. ii. p. 1203 sq. 5 Ginsburg in Alex.’s Kitto u. 5.7.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
φυλακτήριον phylaktērion 1x
the station of a guard or watch; a preservative, safeguard; hence, a phylactery or amulet, worn about the person; from which circumstance the word is used in the NT as a term for the Jewish Tephillin or prayer-case, which took their rise from the injunction in Deut. 6:8; 11:18; Mt. 23:5*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
* φυλακτήριον, -ου, τό an outpost, fortification (Thuc., al.).
a safeguard (Plat.).
an amulet (Plut., al.); in NT for the Talmudic תְּפִלִּין, a prayer fillet, a phylactery, a small strip of parchment on which portions of the law were written and worn on the forehead and next the heart (cf. Ex 13:16): Mt 23:5.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
φυλακτήριον, lit. “ἃ guarded post” or ‘‘ fortification,” came to be used by the Jews as a technical term for the ‘‘ prayer-fillet,”’ a strip of parchment inscribed with portions of the Law, and worn as an “‘amulet” or ‘‘ protective-mark ” on the forehead or next the heart, as in Mt 23°: cf. the golden φυλακτήρια worn by the kings of Egypt, OGZS go4* (Rosetta stone— B.C. 196) ἐπιθεῖναι δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ περὶ τὰς βασιλείας τετραγώνου κατὰ τὸ προειρημένον βασίλειον φυλακτήρια χρυ[σᾶ, ‘‘to place on the square surface round the crowns, beside the afore-mentioned crown, golden phylacteries” (Mahaffy). (=I. p. 143) τὸ yap ὄνομα σοῦ ἔχω € φυλακτήριων (/. ἔχω ὡς φυλακτήριον) ἐν καρδίᾳ τῇ ἐμῇ, 5: ἐν τὸ ἀργύρῳ πετάλου (1 ἐν τῷ ἀργύρου πετάλῳ) τὰ ἵ (sc. vocales), πρὸς τὸν φυλκτήρον (/. τὸ φυλακτήριον), and P Lond 121795 (ili/A.D.) (=T. p. 94) φυλακτήρια A€wv—a spell for the times when the moon is in the several signs of the Zodiac. See also Deissmann S&S, p. 352.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
φυλακτήριον (phulaktērion) — phylactery. φῠλᾰκ-τήριον, τό, guarded post, fort, castle, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: especially an outpost communicating with fortifications, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: plural, guardrooms, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
2. safeguard, security, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: preservative, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; amulet, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; among the Jews φυλακτήρια were small rolls of parchment with texts from the Law written on them, bound to the forehead by persons praying, [NT]; φ. χρυσᾶ, symbols denoting the kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; amulet, [Refs]
3. perhaps guard or chain, PLond.unpublished2199.