Hebrew · H6605

פָּתַח

To open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen , begin , plough , carve

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פָּתַחH6605

What does פָּתַח mean in the Bible?

H6605 describes opening something that was shut or inaccessible and can extend to loosening, uncovering, beginning, or making an entrance, depending on the object and setting. Doors, eyes, mouths, gates, and other objects create different kinds of access, so physical opening, attention, disclosure, speech, and opportunity must not be treated as one symbolic meaning.

Reader summary

Full entry for פָּתַח (H6605) · Open the biblical lexicon

Questions this entry answers

What does פָּתַח mean in the Bible?

H6605 describes opening something that was shut or inaccessible and can extend to loosening, uncovering, beginning, or making an entrance, depending on the object and setting. Doors, eyes, mouths, gates, and other objects create different kinds of access, so physical opening, attention, disclosure, speech, and opportunity must not be treated as one symbolic.

How does the BSB render H6605?

The BSB source-word alignment has 144 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include open (25), opened (11), and opened (4), I will open (4), has opened (3).

Where does פָּתַח appear in Scripture?

The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 7:11. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (21), Psalms (18), Ezekiel (15), Job (13).

What This Word Actually Means

H6605 describes opening something that was shut or inaccessible and can extend to loosening, uncovering, beginning, or making an entrance, depending on the object and setting. Doors, eyes, mouths, gates, and other objects create different kinds of access, so physical opening, attention, disclosure, speech, and opportunity must not be treated as one symbolic meaning.

In 1Sam. 3. 15, samuel lies until morning and then opens the doors of the house of the Lord after receiving a difficult revelation. In 1Kgs. 8. 29, solomon asks that Gods eyes be open toward the temple where the divine name is placed and toward prayer offered there. H6605 opens teaching on access and attention, asking what God or a person opens, who may enter or see, and what responsibility accompanies new availability.

It corrects spiritualized claims that every open door proves divine approval and careless appeals to openness that ignore truth, privacy, consent, and wise boundaries. H6605 remains concrete while supporting theological reflection: Samuel opens the sanctuary doors after receiving a hard word, and Solomon repeatedly asks God to keep divine eyes open toward the temple and the prayers offered there.

For H6605, responsible teaching keeps lexical meaning, passage context, canonical synthesis, and present application distinguishable. The verb does not promise that every opportunity should be taken, that every disclosure is safe, or that prayer depends on a building mechanically securing divine attention.

Sources