King James Bible Dictionary

A gate-keeper (2 Samuel 18:26; 2 Kings 7:10; 1 Chronicles 9:21; 2 Chronicles 8:14). Of the Levites, 4,000 were appointed as porters by David (1 Chronicles 23:5), who were arranged according to their families (26:1-19) to take charge of the doors and gates of the temple. They were sometimes employed as musicians (1 Chronicles 15:18).

This word when used in the Authorized Version does not bear its modern signification of a carrier of burdens, but denotes in every case a gate-keeper, from the Latin portarius , the man who attended to the porta or gate.

PORTER, noun [Latin porta, a gate.]

1. A man that has the charge of a door or gate; a door-keeper.

2. One that waits at the door to receive messages.

3. [Latin porto.] A carrier; a person who carries or conveys burdens for hire.

4. A malt liquor which differs from ale and pale beer, in being made with high dried malt.

PORTERAGE, noun Money charged or paid for the carriage of burdens by a porter.

1. The business of a porter or door-keeper.

PORTERESS, noun [from porter.] A female guardian of a gate.

PORTERLY, adjective Coarse; vulgar. [Little used.]

Guards at the city gates, the doors of the king's palace, and doors of the temple
1 Chronicles 9:17-32; 2 Chronicles 34:13; 2 Chronicles 35:15

Lodged round about the temple in order to be present for opening the doors
1 Chronicles 9:27

One-third were porters of the temple
2 Chronicles 23:4

One-third were porters of the king's house
2 Chronicles 23:5

One-third were porters of the Gate of the Foundation
2 Chronicles 23:5

They served, also, as porters of the gates of the walls
Nehemiah 12:25

They served in twenty-four courses
1 Chronicles 26:13-19

Their posts were determined by lot
1 Chronicles 24:31; 1 Chronicles 26:13-19