PHYLACTERIES (Gr. φυλακτήρια “amulets”). — Strips of parchment on which passages of the Mosaic law are written. This custom, attested among the Jews not only by the Gospel (Mt 23:5) but also by Flavius Josephus (Antiquitates Iudaicae, IV, 21–23) and by early Christian writers, is connected with a false interpretation of the urgent exhortation in Ex 13:9, 16 and Dt 6:8; 11:18 to keep constantly in mind and observe the law of God.
Through a slavish exegesis there arose the obligation (perhaps as early as the time of Esdras or shortly thereafter) to wear a prayer-device composed of “divine words” (Dt 6:4–9; 11:13–21; Nm 15:37–41), transcribed on pieces of parchment and enclosed in two leather capsules. At prayer-time these were bound to the left arm and to the head so that the capsule hung between the eyes. In the Mishnah they are called tefillin (“prayers”), and precise regulations governing them are given. Women, slaves, and children were not permitted to wear them.
Connected with this usage is that of the mezuzah.
ANGELO PENN