Closet

as used in the New Testament, signifies properly a storehouse ( Luke 12: : 24 ), and hence a place of privacy and retirement ( Matthew 6:6 ; Luke 12:3 ).

CLOSET

kloz'-et:

Is the rendering in the King James Version of

(1) chuppah, and

(2) tameion, also tamieion.

Chuppah, derived from chaphah, "to cover," was probably originally the name of the tent specially set apart for the bride, and later (Joel 2:16) used for the bride's chamber. The word tameion, originally storeroom (compare Luke 12:24, the King James Version "storehouse"; the Revised Version (British and American) "storechamber"), but since for safety it was the inner rooms of the Hebrew house which were used for storage purposes, the word came to mean inner room, as in Matthew 6:6; Luke 12:3, in both the King James Version "closet" (compare Matthew 24:26, the King James Version "secret chamber"). In all cases the Revised Version (British and American) uses "inner chamber."

See also \HOUSE\.

David Foster Estes