lintel Summary and Overview

(1.) Heb. mashkoph, a projecting cover (Ex. 12:22, 23; ver. 7, "upper door post," but R.V. "lintel"); the head-piece of a door, which the Israelites were commanded to mark with the blood of the paschal lamb. (2.) Heb. kaphtar. Amos 9:1; Zeph. 2:14 (R.V. correctly "chapiters," as in A.V. marg.).

the beam which forms the upper part of the framework of a door.

LIN'TEL , the head-piece of a doorframe, by which the superimposed mass is supported. The Hebrews were commanded to strike blood upon it on the Passover night. Ex 12:22.

mashqowp, the upper crossbeam of a door. "The upper doorpost" (Exodus 12:7; Exodus 12:23). The word meant also to "look out," because there were grates or lattices above the door from whence the inmates could see who was outside. In 1 Kings 6:31 for "lintel" translated 'ayil "the projection of the doorposts," occupying the fifth of the breadth of the wall (Keil). The entrance was four cubits broad, including the projecting doorposts, and each of the two wings of the folding doors about a cubit and a half broad, reckoning the projecting framework on either side at half a cubit in breadth. In Ezekiel 40:9; Ezekiel 40:21-24; Ezekiel 40:26, "posts" (the same word 'ayil) mean projecting column faced fronts of the sides of the doorway, opposite one another. In Amos 9:1 for "lintel" translated the sphere-like capital of the column: kaphtoreyah. Zephaniah 2:14, "the capitals of her columns," margin "the knops" ("pomegranate like at the tops of the houses," Grotius) or chapiters (capitals).