Festivals & practices
Phylactery
Small scripture-containing boxes worn in Jewish prayer practice.
Also called · tefillin · prayer boxes
What it means
The practice developed from commands to bind God’s words as a sign on the hand and between the eyes.
The boxes contain handwritten biblical passages and are fastened with straps.
How it appears in the Bible
Jesus criticizes people who enlarge their phylacteries to make their religious observance conspicuous.
Translation note
“Tefillin” is the usual Jewish term; “phylactery” is traditional in many Christian translations.