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כְּתָב

𐤊𐤕𐤁

kᵉthâb

H3792 noun

SILEX Entry

Root כתב to write, inscribe

Definition

A written document, record, inscription, or piece of writing; denotes the act or result of writing, often referring to official records, letters, decrees, or inscriptions. In some contexts, it may denote the content of what is written as well as the physical document itself.

Semantic Range

written document, writing, inscription, record, letter, decree, edict, content of a message

Root / Etymology

From the root כ-ת-ב (כתב), which carries the basic sense 'to write, inscribe.' כְּתָב is the noun formation indicating something that has been written or the act/result of writing. The noun is especially common in Aramaic passages within the Hebrew Bible.

Historical & Contextual Notes

כְּתָב appears primarily in the post-exilic sections of the Hebrew Bible, notably in Ezra and Daniel, which are written partially in Aramaic. In these contexts, כְּתָב often refers to official state documents or royal correspondence, reflecting the administrative environment of the Persian period. The term largely overlaps with Hebrew מִכְתָּב (mikhtav), though כְּתָב is more prominent in Aramaic usage. Later translation traditions (including the Septuagint and modern English versions) sometimes render the term as 'writing,' 'letter,' or 'document,' but the scope can include inscriptions or edicts as well. There is a shift from earlier Israelite usage, where other forms (such as סֵפֶר) are more prominent for written documents or books. In later Jewish Aramaic and Rabbinic literature, the noun continues primarily as 'writing' or 'script.' The term does not carry the connotation of 'book' in the sense of a bound volume but rather of something written, whether a letter, decree, or inscription.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to כָּתָב; {something written, i.e. a writing, record or book}; prescribing, writing(-ten).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כתב (k-t-b) — to write, inscribe

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3789 כָּתַב in the written ones
H3790 כְּתַב Write!
H3791 כָּתָב in a written document
H3793 כְּתֹבֶת and inscribed-mark of
H4385 מִכְתָּב in a written document

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3792-01 כְּתָבָ/א֙ ketava ANcmsd/Td the document the written record 6
H3792-02 כְּתָבָ֣/ה ketavah ANcmsd/Td this writing the written document 1
H3792-03 כְתָֽב khetav ANcmsa prescribed written record 1
H3792-06 כִּ/כְתָ֖ב kikhetav AR/Ncmsc as it is written writing-of 1
H3792-04 כְתָבָ֖/א khetava ANcmsd/Td writing the written record 1
H3792-05 כְתָבָ֤/ה khetavah ANcmsd/Td writing the written record 1
H3792-07 וּ/כְתָבָ֥/א ukhetava AC/Ncmsd/Td and the writing and the written record 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3792-02 Daniel 5:7 כְּתָבָ֣/ה ketavah ANcmsd/Td this writing the written document
H3792-01 Daniel 5:8 כְּתָבָ/א֙ ketava ANcmsd/Td the writing the written record
H3792-05 Daniel 5:15 כְתָבָ֤/ה khetavah ANcmsd/Td writing the written record
H3792-01 Daniel 5:16 כְּתָבָ֜/א ketava ANcmsd/Td the writing the written record
H3792-01 Daniel 5:17 כְּתָבָ/א֙ ketava ANcmsd/Td the writing the written record
H3792-07 Daniel 5:24 וּ/כְתָבָ֥/א ukhetava AC/Ncmsd/Td and the writing and the written record
H3792-04 Daniel 5:25 כְתָבָ֖/א khetava ANcmsd/Td writing the written record
H3792-01 Daniel 6:9 כְּתָבָ֑/א ketava ANcmsd/Td the document the written record
H3792-01 Daniel 6:10 כְּתָבָ֖/א ketava ANcmsd/Td the document the written record
H3792-01 Daniel 6:11 כְּתָבָ/א֙ ketava ANcmsd/Td the document the written record
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