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γραφή

graphḗ

G1124 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Written text or writing, especially an official or authoritative document; in Hellenistic and early Roman contexts, chiefly refers to individual passages or entire bodies of sacred writing, particularly those recognized as authoritative among Israelite/Judean groups. The term refers generally to 'what is written' but becomes specialized in Jewish and early Christian usage for the text of the Hebrew scriptures or Septuagint.

Semantic Range

writing, piece of writing, written document, legal document; sacred writing, authoritative scriptural text, passage of scripture, scriptural citation

Root / Etymology

Nominal form derived from the verb γράφω ('to write'), with the feminine noun ending -ή.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, γραφή primarily denoted a 'writing' or 'document,' and could also refer to a legal indictment or written record. By the Hellenistic period, the term retained its general sense of 'writing' but was subject to increasing specialization in Greco-Roman Judean circles: γραφή came to denote the sacred writings—the literary corpus regarded as scriptural authority (Hebrew scriptures or their Greek translations). In the New Testament, γραφή almost always refers to these recognized sacred writings, either as a collective whole or as individual passages. Standard English translations traditionally render γραφή as 'Scripture' or 'scripture,' yet the original term conveys the more general notion of 'written text,' and its sanctification is contextual, not inherent. The Septuagint and related Koine sources use γραφή variably for writings in general, yet in explicit religious contexts, it usually designates the authoritative Judean scriptures. The function and status of γραφή parallels, but is not identical to, terms like ἱερὰ γράμματα ('sacred letters') and βιβλίον ('book' or 'scroll').

Translation Consistency

primary "scripture" 1 occurrence

γραφή most often denotes sacred or authoritative written text in Jewish and early Christian contexts. “Scripture” is the natural, concise English noun that captures both the general sense of a written document and the specialized sense of sacred/authoritative writings used throughout the NT and related literature, so it will provide consistent, natural renderings for all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from γράφω; a document, i.e. holy Writ (or its contents or a statement in it):--scripture.

Root Family

γραφ- (grámma) — to write, to inscribe

Root γραφ- to write, to inscribe
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1121 γράμμα written mark
G1123 γραπτός inscribed thing
G1126 γραώδης old-woman-like (masculine accusative plural)
G1449 ἐγγράφω having been inscribed
G1923 ἐπιγραφή inscription

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1124-04 γραφὴ graphe N NOM F SG Scripture authoritative writing authoritative scripture 24
G1124-03 Γραφὰς graphas N ACC F PL Scriptures sacred writings sacred scriptures 9
G1124-02 Γραφαῖς graphais N DAT F PL Scriptures to the sacred writings to the sacred scriptures 4
G1124-05 Γραφὴν graphen N ACC F SG Scripture a written text Scripture 4
G1124-07 Γραφῶν graphon N GEN F PL Scriptures of sacred writings of sacred scriptures 4
G1124-01 Γραφαὶ graphai N NOM F PL Scriptures Sacred Writings Sacred Writings 3
G1124-06 Γραφῆς graphes N GEN F SG Scripture of the sacred writing of the scripture 3

Occurrences in Scripture

51 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1124-03 2 Peter 3:16 Γραφὰς graphas N ACC F PL scriptures sacred writings sacred scriptures
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