H3792 H3792
Writing, written document — an inscription, decree, or script; used almost exclusively in Aramaic portions of Daniel and Ezra
The noun כְּתָב (ketab) denotes a piece of writing, an inscription, or an official written document. It appears almost exclusively in the Aramaic sections of Daniel and Ezra, where it refers to royal decrees, the mysterious writing on the wall, and sacred scripture. In Daniel 5:7-8, Belshazzar promises rewards to whoever can read the 'writing' on the palace wall. Daniel 10:21 speaks of 'the writing of truth' — a heavenly book of decrees. In Ezra 6:18, the priests are arranged 'according to the writing of the book of Moses.' Spanish 'escritura' and French 'écrit' both reflect the documentary, inscriptional sense.
Senses
1. writing, written document — A written text, inscription, or official document — encompassing royal decrees, mysterious divine inscriptions, and authoritative scripture. The word dominates the Belshazzar narrative: the king sees 'the writing' on the wall and summons interpreters (Dan 5:7-8, 15-17, 24-25). Daniel 10:21 elevates it to a celestial register with 'the writing of truth,' a heavenly record of future events. Ezra 6:18 uses it for the written authority of the Mosaic text. The few Hebrew occurrences (1 Chr 28:19; 2 Chr 2:10) likewise denote authoritative written plans or records. Spanish 'escritura' and German 'Schrift' both capture the documentary force. 12×
AR["الْكِتَابَةَ", "الْكِتَابَةُ", "كَ-كِتابَة", "مَكْتُوب", "وَ-الْكِتَابَةُ"]·ben["এবং-লেখা", "লেখা", "লেখা-অনুসারে"]·DE["Schrift", "[ככתב]", "schrieb", "und-die-Schrift"]·EN["and-writing", "as-written", "prescribing", "the-writing", "writing"]·FR["comme-elle-viendra", "et-écrit", "écrit", "écriture"]·heb["ה-כתב", "ו-ה-כתב", "כ-כתב", "כתב"]·HI["और-लेख", "जैसा-लिखा-है", "निर्धारित-सीमा", "लेख"]·ID["dan-tulisan", "seperti-yang-tertulis", "terbatas", "tulisan"]·IT["e-la-scrittura", "scrittura"]·jav["cacah", "kados-katulis", "lan-seratan", "seratan"]·KO["그리고-글-", "글-", "글-을", "글-이니", "기록된", "문서-가", "문서-를", "에-기록된대로"]·PT["a-escrita", "conforme-escrito-em", "e-esta-escrita", "esta-escrita", "o-escrito", "prescrito"]·RU["документ", "и-написанное", "как-написано", "написанное", "написано"]·ES["como-está-escrito", "el-documento", "la-escritura", "límite", "y-la-escritura"]·SW["andiko", "kama-ilivyoandikwa", "kuandikwa", "maandishi", "na-maandishi", "ndiyo-maandishi"]·TR["belge", "belgeyi", "ve-yazı", "yazildigi-gibi", "yazili", "yazıdır", "yazıyı"]·urd["اور-لکھاوٹ", "تحریر", "تحریر-پر", "حد", "لکھاوٹ", "لکھاوٹ-کو", "لکھاوٹ-ہے", "کے-لکھا-ہوا"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† כְּתָב n.m. Dn 5:7 writing;—abs. כְּתָ֑ב Ezr 7:22 (Baer כְּתַב, but v. K§ 57 ad fin. Str); cstr. כ׳ 6:18; emph. כְּתָכָא Dn 5:8 +, ה—ָ 5:7, 15;— 1. writing, inscription (on wall) Dn 5:7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 24, 25. 2. a. written decree 6:9, 10, 11. b. written requirement Ezr 6:18; 7:22.