Book

This word has a comprehensive meaning in Scripture. In the Old "Testament it is the rendering of the Hebrew word sepher, which" "properly means a "writing," and then a "volume" (Ex. 17:14;" "Deut. 28:58; 29:20; Job 19:23) or "roll of a book" (Jer. 36:2," 4). "Books were originally written on skins, on linen or cotton "cloth, and on Egyptian papyrus, whence our word "paper." The" "leaves of the book were generally written in columns, designated" "by a Hebrew word properly meaning "doors" and "valves" (Jer." "36:23, R.V., marg. "columns")." "Among the Hebrews books were generally rolled up like our maps, "or if very long they were rolled from both ends, forming two" rolls (Luke 4:17-20). Thus they were arranged when the writing was on flexible materials; but if the writing was on tablets of "wood or brass or lead, then the several tablets were bound" together by rings through which a rod was passed. "A sealed book is one whose contents are secret (Isa. 29:11; Rev. "5:1-3). To "eat" a book (Jer. 15:16; Ezek. 2:8-10; 3:1-3; Rev." 10:9) is to study its contents carefully. "The book of judgment (Dan. 7:10) refers to the method of human courts of justice as illustrating the proceedings which will take place at the day of God's final judgment. "The book of the wars of the Lord (Num. 21:14), the book of "Jasher (Josh. 10:13), and the book of the chronicles of the" "kings of Judah and Israel (2 Chr. 25:26), were probably ancient" "documents known to the Hebrews, but not forming a part of the" canon. "The book of life (Ps. 69:28) suggests the idea that as the "redeemed form a community or citizenship (Phil. 3:20; 4:3), a" catalogue of the citizens' names is preserved (Luke 10:20; Rev. 20:15). Their names are registered in heaven (Luke 10:20; Rev. 3:5). "The book of the covenant (Ex. 24:7), containing Ex. 20:22-23:33, is the first book actually mentioned as a part of the written "word. It contains a series of laws, civil, social, and" "religious, given to Moses at Sinai immediately after the" "delivery of the decalogue. These were written in this "book."

Related Bible Dictionary Terms:
Daniel Book of    Esther Book of    Exodus Book of    Ezekiel Book of    Ezra Book of    Haggai Book of    Isaiah The Book of    Jeremiah Book of    Job Book of    Joel Book of    Jonah Book of    Joshua The Book of    Judges Book of    Lamentations Book of    Micah Book of    Nahum Book of    Nehemiah Book of    Numbers Book of    Obadiah Book of