פֶּתַח
𐤐𐤕𐤇
pethach
H6607 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An opening or entrance, typically a physical space in a wall, door, gate, tent, or other barrier that allows passage from one place to another. Frequently denotes the literal threshold or entry point but can, in context, refer to the location immediately inside or outside such an opening. The term encompasses entrances of tents, houses, city gates, temples, as well as figurative openings (e.g., to the mouth or to opportunity or threat).
Semantic Range
entrance, doorway, opening, threshold, gate entrance, tent opening, place of entry, figurative opening (e.g., opportunity, danger waiting), threshold area
Root / Etymology
From the root פ-ת-ח (פתח), which fundamentally means 'to open.' The noun פֶּתַח is derived as the result or product of the action 'to open'—that is, 'an opening' or 'entryway.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
פֶּתַח occurs throughout the Hebrew Bible, most commonly to denote the doorway or entrance to a tent, house, or city gate. In patriarchal and wilderness settings, it typically refers to a tent opening (e.g., Genesis 18:1). In the monarchic and later periods, it is frequently used for city gates or the entrances to sanctuaries and temples (e.g., 1 Kings 6:8). The term is functionally distinct from דֶּלֶת (delet, 'door'; H1817), which refers more specifically to the door or barrier itself, and from שַׁעַר (shaʿar, 'gate'; H8179), which more frequently means the large gate structure of a city or compound. פֶּתַח can also be used in proximal spatial references—at or near the entrance—and rarely in a figurative sense (e.g., Genesis 4:7: 'sin crouches at the entrance'). English translations often blur the distinctions among פתח, delet, and shaʿar, sometimes rendering פֶּתַח as 'door,' 'gate,' or 'opening' without reference to the original's specific imagery of the open space. Later Jewish tradition’s use of the term may include metaphorical applications, but these are generally absent in biblical usage.
Translation Consistency
'Entrance' is the most natural single-word rendering for פֶּתַח, covering literal doorways, gates, tent openings and the immediate threshold area while also working for figurative openings (opportunity, danger). It is the most frequent P2 choice and fits typical usage better than more specialized alternatives like 'threshold'.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from פָּתַח; an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way; door, entering (in), entrance (-ry), gate, opening, place.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פתח (p-t-ḥ) — to open, to unbolt, to free passage
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3315 | יֶפֶת | to Yepheth |
| H3316 | יִפְתָּח | to He-Will-Open |
| H4668 | מַפְתֵּחַ | the opener |
| H4669 | מִפְתָּח | the opening |
| H5318 | נֶפְתּוֹחַ | Opening-Spring |
Word Forms
30 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6607-16 |
פֶּֽתַח | petach | HNcmsc |
entrance | opening-of | entrance-of | 106 |
H6607-09 |
הַ/פֶּ֔תַח | hapetach | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the entrance | the opening | the entrance | 10 |
H6607-13 |
לְ/פֶ֣תַח | lefetach | HR/Ncmsc |
for the entrance | to the opening of | to the entrance of | 8 |
H6607-22 |
וּ/פֶ֥תַח | ufetach | HC/Ncmsc |
and-opening | and opening-of | and entrance-of | 5 |
H6607-02 |
בְּ/פֶ֣תַח | befetach | HR/Ncmsc |
at the entrance | at the opening of | in the entrance of | 4 |
H6607-20 |
פִּתְחֵ֥י | pitechey | HNcmpc |
gates | openings of | entrances of | 4 |
H6607-14 |
מִ/פֶּ֣תַח | mipetach | HR/Ncmsc |
from the door | from the opening of | from the entrance of | 3 |
H6607-27 |
וּ/מִ/פֶּתַח֩ | umipetach | HC/R/Ncmsc |
and from entrance | and from opening | and from entrance | 2 |
H6607-07 |
פְתָחִ֣ים | fetachim | HNcmpa |
of the doors | openings | openings | 1 |
H6607-01 |
בַּ/פָּֽתַח | bapatach | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the doorway | in the opening | in the opening | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
164 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6607-12 |
Genesis 4:7 | לַ/פֶּ֖תַח | lapetach | HRd/Ncmsa |
at the door | to the opening | at the opening |
H6607-22 |
Genesis 6:16 | וּ/פֶ֥תַח | ufetach | HC/Ncmsc |
and the door | and opening-of | and entrance-of |
H6607-16 |
Genesis 18:1 | פֶּֽתַח | petach | HNcmsc |
at the entrance | opening-of | at the entrance of |
H6607-14 |
Genesis 18:2 | מִ/פֶּ֣תַח | mipetach | HR/Ncmsc |
from the entrance | from the opening of | from the entrance of |
H6607-16 |
Genesis 18:10 | פֶּ֥תַח | petach | HNcmsc |
at the entrance | opening-of | entrance-of |
H6607-11 |
Genesis 19:6 | הַ/פֶּ֑תְחָ/ה | hapetechah | HTd/Ncmsa/Sd |
to the doorway | toward the opening | toward the opening |
H6607-16 |
Genesis 19:11 | פֶּ֣תַח | petach | HNcmsc |
at the entrance | opening-of | entrance-of |
H6607-08 |
Genesis 19:11 | הַ/פָּֽתַח | hapatach | HTd/Ncmsa |
the door | the opening | the entrance |
H6607-02 |
Genesis 38:14 | בְּ/פֶ֣תַח | befetach | HR/Ncmsc |
at the entrance of | at the opening of | in the entrance of |
H6607-16 |
Genesis 43:19 | פֶּ֥תַח | petach | HNcmsc |
at the entrance | opening-of | at the entrance of |