Lexical Definition

‎כָּתָב‎ kâthâb (kaw-thawb') writing ^H:N-M
from ‎כָּתַב‎

register, scripture, writing.

• something written, i.e. a writing, record or book

1) a writing, document, edict
1a) register, enrolment, roll
1b) mode of writing, character, letter
1c) letter, document, a writing
1d) a written edict
1d1) of royal enactment
1d2) of divine authority

See Greek: ἀπογραφή · γραφή · δόγμα · ἐπιστολή

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: ke.tav (‎כ‎ְּ‎ת‎ָ‎ב‎ "inscription" כְּתָב)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎כְּתָב‎ noun masculine^{Ezra 4:7} writing (late Aramaic; Biblical Aramaic ‎כְּתָב‎ Syriac ); — ‎׳‎‎כ‎ absolute 1Chr 28:19 + 4 t.; construct Ezek 13:9 + 4 t.; suffix ‎כְּתָבָהּ‎ Esth 1:22 + 2 t.; ‎כְּתָבָם‎ Ezra 2:62 + 3 t.; — writing:

1. register, enrolement, Ezek 13:9; Ezra 2:62 = Neh 7:64.

2. = mode of writing, character, letter, ‎הִנִּשְׁתְּוָן כָּתוּב אֲרָמִית‎ ‎׳‎‎וּכ‎ Ezra 4:7 and the writing of the letter was written in Aramaic (characters; so probably, see BeRy Ryle, compare Late Hebrew Hoffm^{ZAW i.(1881), 334 ff.}); compare Esth 1:22; Esth 3:12; Esth 8:9 (twice in verse).

3. = letter, 2Chr 2:10*; Esth 9:27.

4. of a royal enactment, edict 2Chr 35:4 (|| ‎מִכְתָּב‎), Esth 3:14; Esth 8:8; Esth 8:13 more fully ‎כְּתָבהַֿדָּת‎ Esth 4:8.

5. of a writing with divine authority 1Chr 28:19 ‎אֱמֶת‎ ‎׳‎‎כ‎ Dan 10:21, i.e. a book of truth.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References