Letters and Writings

סֵ֫פֶר185 n.m. Is 29:11 missive, document, writing, book (prob. ancient loan-word from Assyrian šipru, missive, message DlHWB 683, TelAm. šipru, šipirtu, id. WklTA Gloss.; √ šâpâru, send, send message or letter DlHWB 683, Wkll.c., whence also šâpiru, writer, and (perhaps ruler, šapirûtu, rule; v. HomAufsätze (1892), 34 BuhlLex 13; perhaps cf. Arabic سَفَرَ go forth to journey, ii. send on a journey Lane1370; NH סֵפֶר = BH; so Aramaic סִיפְרָא, ܣܶܦܪܳܐ; ChrPal. Aramaic ܣܝܦܪܐ SchwallyIdiot. 64; Arabic سِفْرٌ );—ס׳ abs. 2 S 11:14 +; cstr. Ex 24:7 +; sf. סִפְרִי Ex 32:33, סִפְרְךָ v 33 ψ 139:16; pl. סְפָרִים 1 K 21:8 +;— †1. missive: a. letter of instruction, written order, commission, or request, usually from king, 2 S 11:14, 15; 1 K 21:8(×2), 9, 11; 2 K 5:5, 6(×2), 7; 10:1, 2, 6, 7; 19:14 = Is 37:14 cf. 2 Ch 32:17; 2 K 20:12 = Is 39:1; = written decree for publication Est 1:22; 3:13; 8:5; 9:20, 25, 30 (= אִגֶּרֶת v 26, 29, vid. p. 8 b supra), cf. וַיִּשְׁלַּח סְפָרִים בְּיַד הָרָצִים בַּסּוסִים רֹכְבֵי הָרֶכֶשׁ 8:10.—[כָּתַב ס׳ 2 S 11:15; 1 K 21:8; 2 K 10:1, 6; 2 Ch 32:17; כָּתַב בַּסּ׳ (of specif. contents) 2 S 11:15; 1 K 21:9, 11; קָרָא אֶת־הַסּ׳ 2 K 5:7 read the letter].— b. from prophet Je 29:1, other influential persons v 25, 29†. †2. legal document, ס׳ כְּרִיתֻת certificate of divorce Dt 24:1, 3 and (fig.) Je 3:8; Is 50:1; ס׳ הַסִּקְנָה deed of purchase Je 32:11, 12 (del. art.), v 12, 14, 16, cf. בַּסּ׳ v 10, הַסִּפָרִים v 14 (si vera l.; del. 𝔊 Gie cf. Gf), סֵפֶר v 14 b, 44; ס׳ = indictment Jb 31:35 (obj. of כָּתַב; כָּתַב בְּ׳ = sign Je 32:10, 12, 44). 3. book, or scroll, in which something is written to preserve it for future use Ex 17:14 (E), Jos 18:9 (JE), 1 S 10:25; Is 30:8 Jb 19:23 +; in form of roll, cf. וְנָגֹ֫לּוּ כַּסֵּפֶר הַשָּׁמַיִם Is 34:4, הַסּ׳ הֶחָתוּם 29:11, 12 (v. Je 36 etc., infr.); partic.: a. book of prophecies Je 25:13; 30:2 + 6 times Je 3:6; Dn 12:4; ס׳ חֲזוֹן נַחוּם Na 1:1; סֵפֶר י׳ Is 34:4; so מְגִלַּת סֵפֶר Je 36:2, 4 (= מְגִלָּה v 6 + 6 times; with many columns, דְּלָתוֹת v 23), Ez 2:9, cf. ψ 40:8. b. geneal. register, ס׳ תּוֹלְדוֹת Gn 5:1 (P), ס׳ הַיַּ֫חַשׂ Ne 7:5. c. law-book, †ס׳ הַבְּרִית Ex 24:7 (E), 2 K 23:2 = 2 Ch 34:30; 2 K 23:21; †ס׳ הַתּוֹרָה Dt 28:61; 29:20; 30:10; 31:26; Jos 1:8; 8:34 (all D), 2 K 22:8 = 2 Ch 34:15, 2 K 22:11; Ne 8:3; †ס׳ תּוֹרַת אֱלֹהִים Jos 24:26 (E), Ne 8:8 (reading ס׳ תּוֹרַת, so 𝔊, cf. Talm. Nedarim 37 b), v 18; 9:3; †ס׳ תּוֹרַת י׳ 2 Ch 17:9; 34:14; †ס׳ תִוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה Jos 8:31; 23:6 (both D), 2 K 14:6; Ne 8:1; †ס׳ מֹשֶׁה 2 Ch 25:4; 35:12; Ne 13:1. d. book of poems, ס׳ מִלְחֲמֹת י׳ Nu 21:14 (JE), ס׳ הַיָּשָׁר Jos 10:13 (JE), 2 S 1:18. e. book concerned with kings, ס׳ דִּבְרֵי שְׁלֹמֹה 1 K 11:41, and especially ס׳ דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לְמַלְכֵי וגו׳ 1 K 14:19, 29 + 31 times K (18 times of Isr., 15 times of Judah), cf. Est 10:2 (of Media and Pers.); also ס׳ דִּבְרֵי הַיָמִים לַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִיד 1 Ch 27:24 (reading ס׳ for מִסְפָּר, 𝔊 Kit Hpt); ס׳ הַמְּלָכִים לִיהוּדָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל 2 Ch 16:11; ס׳ מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה וְיִשׂ׳ 25:26; 28:26; 32:32; ס׳ מ׳ יִשׂ׳ וִיהוּדָה 27:7 35:27; 36:8; ס׳ מ׳ יִשׂ׳ 1 Ch 9:1; 2 Ch 20:34; מִדְרַשׁ ס׳ הַמְּלָבִים 24:27; also ס׳ דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים Ne 12:23; Est 2:23; ס׳ הַזִּכְרֹנוֹת דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים Est 6:1. f. once בַּסְּפָרִים Dn 9:2 by means of the Scriptures (canonical books) cf. Ew Meinh Bev MartiKau. g. God’s record-book, ψ 139:16, ס׳ זִכָּרוֹן Mal 3:16; God’s register of living, Ex 32:32, 33 (E), ס׳ חַיִּים ψ 69:29; הַסּ׳ Dn 12:1 (citizens of Mess. kingdom). 4. ס׳ =book-learning, especially writing: יָדַע (הַ)סֵּפֶר Is 29:11, 12(×2) (of ability to read); so לְלַמְּדָם סֵפֶר וּלְשׁוֹן כַּשְׂדִּים Dn 1:4 to teach them the writing and speech of the Chaldeans (on constr. v. Ges§ 128 a); more gen. הַשְׂכִּיל בְּכָל־ס׳ וְחָכְמָה v 17.—[סֵפֶר book is joined with vbs. thus: it is written (יִכָּתֵב) Mal 3:16; a thing is written בַּסּ׳ Ex 17:14 + 20 times, עַל־ס׳ 2 S 1:18 + 50 times (+ Je 36:32; בַּדְּיוֹ with ink v 18), אֶל־ס׳ †Je 30:2; 51:60; conversely דָּרַשׁ מֵעַל ס׳ Is 34:16; שָׁמַע מֵעַל ס׳ Je 36:11; v. also †בַּסּ׳ וְיֻחָ֑קוּ Jb 19:23 inscribe in a book, †עַל־ס׳ חֻקָּהּ Is 30:8 (‖ כָּתְבָהּ עַל־לוּחַ); †מָחָה מִסּ׳ blot out of a book Ex 32:32, 33 ψ 69:29; †קָרָא אֶת־הַסּ׳ Je 51:63 read the book, scroll, but usually †קָרָא בְס׳ 36:8, 10, 13 Ne 8:8, 18; 9:3; 13:1].—ס׳ in קִרְיַת ס׳, v. קָסַם" dir="rtl" >ק׳.

ἐπιστολ-ή, ἡ, (ἐπιστέλλω) anything sent by a messenger, message, order, commission, whether verbal or in writing, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐξ ἐπιστολῆς by command, Refs 5th c.BC+: used by Trag. always in plural, Refs 5th c.BC+; Πενθέως ἐπιστολαῖς by his commands, Refs 5th c.BC+; τέκνων ἐπιστολὰς ἔγραψεν commands about her children, Refs __2. letter, ἐ. διαπέμπειν, ἀποδοῦναι, Refs 5th c.BC+; πέμπειν τινί Refs 5th c.BC+: in plural of one letter, like{γράμματα}, Latin litterae, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν ἐπιστολῶν.. τοῦ Ὄθωνος, Latin ab epistulis Othoni, his secretary, Refs 1st c.AD+; νομογραφικὴ ἐ. Refs 1st c.BC+

γράμμα, ατος, τό, Doric dialect γράθμα, probably in Refs 6th c.BC+, but γράσσμα, Refs 5th c.BC+: late Aeolic dialect plural γρόππατα, Refs: (γράφω):— that which is drawn: plural, lines of a drawing, picture, etc., Refs 5th c.BC+; picture, Ἀπέλλεω γ. Refs 3rd c.BC+: singular, drawing, picture, Refs 5th c.BC+: plural, figures in a picture, Refs 5th c.AD+ __II written character, letter, Refs 5th c.BC+: in plural, letters, characters, γραμμάτων τε συνθέσεις NT+4th c.BC+; the letters, the alphabet, Refs 5th c.BC+; Ἀσσύρια, Ἑλληνικά, Refs 5th c.BC+; μαθεῖν to have learnt to read, Refs; ἐδίδασκες γράμματα, ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἐφοίτων you kept school—I went there, Refs 4th c.BC+; τέχνη ἡμῶν γ. our profession is that of the scribe, Refs 1st c.AD+ __II.b articulate sound, letter, Refs 5th c.BC+; γράμματα φθέγγεσθαιRefs __II.c παρὰ γράμμα λέγοντα.. σκοπεῖν etymologically, Refs; τὰ παρὰ γ. σκώμματα puns, Refs; but ἀρετὴν παρὰ γ. διώκοντες, with reference to Νικαρέτη, the mistress of Stilpo, Refs 4th c.BC+ __II.d inscription, τὸ Δελφικὸν γ. Refs 5th c.BC+ __II.2 in plural, notes in music, Refs 1st c.AD+ __II.3 mathematical diagram, epigram cited in Refs 3rd c.AD+ __II.4 letter inscribed on the lots which the δικασταί drew, Refs 5th c.BC+; practically, = division of dicasts, ἐν ὁποίῳ γ. δειπνεῖ Refs 5th c.BC+; ἁ κατὰ γράμμα φυλακά the roster of guards, Refs 3rd c.BC+ __II.4.b quarters of a town, Refs; accent, Refs __II.5 a small weight, 1/24 ounce, scruple, Refs 1st c.AD+ __III in plural, set of written characters, piece of writing, Refs 5th c.BC+: hence, letter, Refs 5th c.BC+; inscription, epitaph, etc., ἐκόλαψε ἐς τὸν τάφον γράμματα λέγοντα τάδε Refs 5th c.BC+ __III.2 papers, documents, Refs 5th c.BC+; τούτων τὰ γ. the documents to prove this, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰ δημόσια γ. the public records, Decrees cited in Refs 4th c.BC+; title-deeds, Refs 2nd c.AD+; account of loans, Refs 5th c.BC+; contract or estimate, Refs; catalogue, Refs 5th c.BC+: in singular, bond, NT; note of hand, Refs 1st c.AD+ __III.3 a man's writings, i.e. book, treatise, τὰ τοῦ Ζήνωνος γ. Refs 5th c.BC+: plural, books, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰ ἱερὰ γ. the Holy NT+3rd c.BC+; ἱερὰ γ., = Imperial rescripts, Refs 3rd c.AD+; = hieroglyphics, Refs 2nd c.BC+: in singular, the NT+2nd c.AD+; opposed to πνεῦμα, Refsarticle of a treaty, Refs 5th c.BC+ __III.4 laws or rules, Refs 5th c.BC+; κατὰ γράμματα ἄρχειν, opposed to ἄνευ γραμμάτων, Refs 5th c.BC+ __IV in plural, also, letters, learning, ἀπείρους γραμμάτων Refs 5th c.BC+

אִגֶּ֫רֶת n.f. letter, letter-missive (late, prob. loan-word, As. egirtu DlW)—abs. Ne 2:8 + 2 textual; cstr. Est 9:29; pl. אִגְּרוֹת abs. 2 Ch 30:1 + 3 textual; cstr. Ne 2:9; אִגְּרֹתֵיהֶם Ne 6:17—letter, especially royal letter 2 Ch 30:1, 6 Ne 2:7, 8, 9; but also others Ne 6:5, 17, 19 Es 9:26, 29 (‖ סֵפֶר vv 20, 30; other syn. מִכְתָּב, נִשְׁתְּוָן q.v.)

† מִכְתָּב n.m. 2 Ch 21:12 writing;—abs. מ׳ Dt 10:4 + 5 times; cstr. מִכְתַּב Ex 32:16 + 2 times;— 1. = hand-writing וְהַמִּכְתָּב מִכְתַּב אֱלֹהִים הוּא Ex 32:16. 2. = thing written, Ex 39:30 (acc. cogn. c. כָּתַב), Dt 10:4; specif. a royal enactment or edict (= כְּתָב 4), 2 Ch 35:4 (‖ כְּתָב), 36:22 = Ezr 1:1; a prophetic writing 2 Ch 21:12. 3. in a title, מ׳ לְחִזְקִיָּהוּ Is 38:9 Writing of Hezekiah.

אֱדַ֫יִן57 adv. then, thereupon (so Egyptian Aramaic (S-CPap. H 1, J 1), not 𝔗: the usually Aramaic forms are הֵידֵין, ܗܳܝܕܶܝܢ, Mand. האידין (NöM 207); from [אֱדַי] = BH אֲזַי (v. אָז) + determ. affix n (as in דִּכֵּן, תַּמָּן; in Sab. = post-pos. art., HomChr. § 57: cf.WCG 115), NöGGA 1884, 1020: אֲזַי, [אֱדַי], prob. from same demonstr. √ as זֶה, דָּא, דִּי, etc., إِذْ, إِذَا, lo, إِذًا well then, in that case, Ethiopic ማእዜ when? ይእዜ now (Di Lex. 197, 1072), Syriac ܕܶܝܢ (enclitic) but);—then, thereupon, Dn 2:15, 17, 19, 25, 48; 3:24 +, Ezr 4:9, 23; 5:4, 9 + (always, except Ezr 5:5, at beginning of sentence, introducing new stage of narrative with some emph.); so c. בְּ, בֵּאדַיִן (3 times Ezr., 26 times Dn) Dn 2:14, 35, 46; 3:3, 13, 19, 21, 26, etc., Ezr 4:24; 5:2; 6:1; מִן־אֱדַיִן from that time †Ezr 5:16.

† [נִשְׁתְּוָן] n.m. Ezr 4:18 letter (prob. Pers.; v. BH);—emph. נִשְׁתְּוָנָא Ezr 4:18, 23; 5:5.

† נִשְׁתְּוָן n.[m.] letter (usually der. from Pers. نُوِشْتن, نُبِشْتن i.e. writing, Hoffm ZA ii (1887), 52 yet cf. Meyer Judenthum 22);—abs. נ׳ Ezr 4:7; 7:11.

συστᾰτ-ικός, ή, όν, of or for putting together, component, μόρια Refs 2nd c.AD+; opposed to διαιρετικός, Refs 5th c.AD+ __2 drawing together, consolidating, opposed to διαχυτικός, Refs 4th c.BC+ __3 probatory, confirmatory, Refs 5th c.BC+; σ. δημόσιος χρηματισμός a publicly deposited deed confirmatory (of a gift), Refs 3rd c.AD+ __II of or for bringing together, introductory, commendatory, τὸ κάλλος παντὸς ἐπιστολίου -ώτερον personal appearance is better introduction than any letter, Refs 4th c.BC+; σ. ἐπιστολαί letters of introduction, NT; ἡ σ. alone, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __III -κόν, τό, deed of representation, power of attorney, Refs 2nd c.AD+; agreement to appoint a representative, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __III.2 = minervalicium (probably teacher's fee), Refs __IV productive, ὑπὸ τῆς φλεγμονῆς ταρασσομένην τὴν καρδίαν τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους συστατικὴν γίνεσθαι Refs 1st c.AD+

χάρτ-ης, ου, ὁ, = {χαρτηρία}, papyrus, or a roll made thereof, χ. δύο LXX+5th c.BC+; ὥσπερ χάρτην εὐεργὸν εἰς ἀπολραφήν (of the soul at birth) Refs 4th c.BC+; χ. βασιλικοί, of the finest papyrus, Refs 2nd c.BC+; χ. κεκαυμένος used in Medicine, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 metaphorically, any leaf or thin plate, χ. μολύβδινοι sheets of lead, Refs 2nd c.BC+