כְּתֹבֶת
𐤊𐤕𐤁𐤕
kᵉthôbeth
H3793 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Inscription or mark, specifically an incised, engraved, or tattooed sign on the skin, serving as a form of identification, decoration, or ownership mark. In biblical usage, the term denotes physical markings, especially those created by cutting or pricking the skin to form either decorative symbols or inscriptions.
Semantic Range
inscription on flesh, tattoo, engraved mark, cut or pricked sign on the skin
Root / Etymology
From the root כתב (k-t-v), which has the core meaning 'to write, inscribe.' כְּתֹבֶת is a feminine noun formation indicating the result or product of writing—thus, 'inscription' or 'written mark.' In context, it refers exclusively to physical marks made on the body, rather than written documents or letters.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The only attested use of כְּתֹבֶת in the Hebrew Bible is in Leviticus 19:28, where Israelites are forbidden from making 'cuts in your flesh for a dead person, nor incising any writing/inscription (כְּתֹבֶת) on yourselves.' Here, the term refers specifically to marks, likely tattoos or ritual scars, etched onto the skin, often associated in the ancient world with mourning rites, cultic practices, or identification with gods or specific groups. Unlike other derivatives of כתב—which refer to writing in a broader sense (letters, scrolls, inscriptions on objects)—כְּתֹבֶת is uniquely tied to the practice of marking bodies. Standard English translations use 'mark' or 'tattoo,' which approximates the meaning, but may underrepresent the cultural or ritualistic significance implied in the ancient context. The word does not carry connotations of written communication but rather of visible, permanent marking. There is no evidence for the word's use beyond the biblical period or outside the context of body marking in ancient Israelite society. This meaning is distinct from later Judean or Jewish attitudes toward tattooing.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּתַב; a letter or other mark branded on the skin; [idiom] any (mark).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כתב (k-t-v) — to write, inscribe
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3789 | כָּתַב | in the written ones |
| H3790 | כְּתַב | Write! |
| H3791 | כָּתָב | in a written document |
| H3792 | כְּתָב | the written record |
| H4385 | מִכְתָּב | in a written document |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3793-01 |
וּ/כְתֹ֣בֶת | ukhetovet | HC/Ncfsc |
and-writing | and inscribed-mark of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3793-01 |
Leviticus 19:28 | וּ/כְתֹ֣בֶת | ukhetovet | HC/Ncfsc |
and-writing | and inscribed-mark of |