סֵפֶר

𐤎𐤐𐤓

çêpher

H5612 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ספר to count, to recount, to write, to record, to relate

Definition

An inscribed document or written record, typically in the form of a scroll or letter; encompasses any physical or conceptual writing, including legal documents, official records, correspondence, and literary compositions. It can refer either to the object (a written document, book, or scroll) or to the act or product of writing as a record or message.

Semantic Range

written document, scroll, letter, book, record, register, legal document, bill, narrative text, correspondence, evidence, certificate

Root / Etymology

From the root סָפַר (s-p-r), meaning 'to count, to recount, to relate, to write.' The masculine noun סֵפֶר (sefer) derives from this root, signifying the result of recounting or documenting—thus, a 'writing' or 'document.' The feminine form סִפְרָה (sifrāh) is rare and primarily poetic.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, סֵפֶר is most often used to refer to physical documents—contracts, decrees, genealogical records, legal evidence, letters, and literary works. The specific format was typically a strip or roll (scroll) of flexible material such as parchment, papyrus, or leather. In legal or diplomatic usage, a סֵפֶר might be an official decree or treaty record (e.g., 'book of the covenant,' Exodus 24:7), a bill of divorce (סֵפֶר כְּרִיתוּת, Deuteronomy 24:1), or a census or genealogical register. Literary usage includes narrative writings, prophetic scrolls (Isaiah 29:11–12; Jeremiah 36), and poetic works (Psalms). The semantic range in later Hebrew expands to encompass 'book' in the modern sense, but in biblical contexts, codices were unknown; 'book' means 'scroll' or 'written record.' English translations as 'book' can sometimes mislead, and in many cases 'scroll,' 'document,' or 'letter' is more accurate. The feminine form סִפְרָה appears rarely, used poetically or in parallelism for metrical purposes. In some post-exilic and later contexts, סֵפֶר comes to denote authoritative or sacred texts, contributing to the development of the concept of the 'Scriptures.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (feminine) סִפְרָה; (Psalm 56:8 (אֲבֵדָה)), from סָפַר; properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book; bill, book, evidence, [idiom] learn(-ed) (-ing), letter, register, scroll.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

ספר (s-p-r) — to count, to recount, to write, to record, to relate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4557 מִסְפָּר in counted number of
H4558 מִסְפָּר counted total
H4559 מִסְפֶּרֶת Mispereth
H5601 סַפִּיר in the blue precious stones
H5608 סָפַר I will recount

Word Forms

18 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5612-14 סֵ֔פֶר sefer HNcmsc the book written record of 97
H5612-06 הַ/סֵּ֔פֶר hasefer HTd/Ncmsa the book the written record 29
H5612-03 בְּ/סֵ֖פֶר besefer HR/Ncmsc in the book in a written record of 16
H5612-02 בַּ/סֵּ֔פֶר basefer HRd/Ncmsa in the book in the written record 15
H5612-13 סְפָרִים֙ sefarim HNcmpa letters written records 12
H5612-05 הַ/סְּפָרִ֛ים hasefarim HTd/Ncmpa letters the written records 4
H5612-01 בַּ/סְּפָרִ֖ים basefarim HRd/Ncmpa in the letters in the written records 3
H5612-17 בַ/סֵּ֛פֶר vasefer HRd/Ncmsa in the book in the written record 2
H5612-16 וּ/סְפָרִ֣ים usefarim HC/Ncmpa and letters written records 1
H5612-07 ה/ספר hsfr HTd/Ncmsa book the written record 1

Occurrences in Scripture

188 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5612-14 Genesis 5:1 סֵ֔פֶר sefer HNcmsc book written record of
H5612-02 Exodus 17:14 בַּ/סֵּ֔פֶר basefer HRd/Ncmsa in a book in the written record
H5612-14 Exodus 24:7 סֵ֣פֶר sefer HNcmsc book written record of
H5612-11 Exodus 32:32 מִֽ/סִּפְרְ/ךָ֖ misiferekha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms from Your book from your recorded document
H5612-12 Exodus 32:33 מִ/סִּפְרִֽ/י misiferi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs from My book from my written record
H5612-02 Numbers 5:23 בַּ/סֵּ֑פֶר basefer HRd/Ncmsa on a scroll in the written record
H5612-03 Numbers 21:14 בְּ/סֵ֖פֶר besefer HR/Ncmsc in the book in a written record of
H5612-14 Deuteronomy 17:18 סֵ֔פֶר sefer HNcmsa a scroll written record of
H5612-14 Deuteronomy 24:1 סֵ֤פֶר sefer HNcmsc a document written record of
H5612-14 Deuteronomy 24:3 סֵ֤פֶר sefer HNcmsc a-scroll written record of