key

Concise Bible Dictionary:

A key made in Italy or Spain – 1770-1810
Used symbolically for authority to open or to shut. Spoken of Eliakim, “established by God,” as having the key of the house of David laid upon his shoulder: “he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open” (Isa. 22:2222And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. (Isaiah 22:22)). He is a type of the Lord Jesus, as spoken of in Revelation 3:77And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (Revelation 3:7), who has also the keys of hades and of death (Rev. 1:1818I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18)). To Peter were given the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16:1919And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19)), which he opened to the Jews in Acts 2, and to the Gentiles in Acts 10. The Lord charged the doctors of the law with taking away the key of knowledge (Luke 11:5252Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. (Luke 11:52)). This they did by their traditions and by hindering those who would have entered in to the blessings brought by Christ.

Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:

Number:
4668 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)
Transliteration:
maphteach
Phonic:
maf-tay’-akh
Meaning:
from 6605; an opener, i.e. a key
KJV Usage:
key