975. biblion
Lexical Summary
biblion: Book, scroll, document

Original Word: βιβλίον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: biblion
Pronunciation: bee-BLEE-on
Phonetic Spelling: (bib-lee'-on)
KJV: bill, book, scroll, writing
NASB: book, books, certificate, scroll
Word Origin: [a diminutive of G976 (βίβλος - book)]

1. a roll

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
book, scroll, writing.

A diminutive of biblos; a roll -- bill, book, scroll, writing.

see GREEK biblos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from biblos
Definition
a paper, book
NASB Translation
book (27), books (4), certificate (2), scroll (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 975: βιβλίον

βιβλίον, βιβλίου, τό (diminutive of βίβλος), a small book, a scroll: Luke 4:17, 20; John 20:30; Galatians 3:10; 2 Timothy 4:13, etc.; a written document; a sheet on which something has been written, βιβλίον ἀποστασίου (bill of divorcement): Matthew 19:7; Mark 10:4; see ἀποστάσιον, 1. βιβλίον ζωῆς, the list of those whom God has appointed to eternal salvation: Revelation 13:8 (Rec. τῇ βίβλῳ); ; see ζωή, 2 b. (From Herodotus down.)

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek Number 975 designates the word employed in the New Testament for a written document—whether a scroll, roll, or emerging codex—commonly rendered “book.” Thirty-four occurrences span narrative, didactic, and apocalyptic contexts, underscoring Scripture’s self-conscious commitment to written revelation, covenant recordkeeping, and eternal accountability.

Historical Background

First-century Judaism preserved sacred writings on papyrus or parchment scrolls housed in synagogues (Luke 4:17). By the apostolic era, private ownership of writings had grown (2 Timothy 4:13), and the transition to codices had begun, making personal collections feasible. Against this backdrop the New Testament’s appeal to “books” signals an intersection of divine communication and common literary culture: God speaks through what is written.

Usage in the Synoptic Gospels

Matthew 19:7 and Mark 10:4 reference the “certificate of divorce,” a legal document demonstrating the word’s range from sacred writ to civic paperwork. Luke 4:17-20 shows Jesus receiving, reading, and returning Isaiah’s scroll, exemplifying public proclamation from Scripture and affirming its Messianic fulfillment. Luke highlights the deliberate, reverent handling of the text—an implicit model for ministry.

Johannine References

John frames his Gospel with two reflective statements on the limits of human record: John 20:30 and John 21:25. “I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). Written testimony is both abundant and selective, inviting faith while admitting the inexhaustibility of Christ’s works. The author consciously distinguishes inspired Scripture from unwritten deeds, reinforcing canonicity without denying historical breadth.

Pauline Use

Galatians 3:10 cites Deuteronomy: “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all the things written in the Book of the Law’ ”. “Book” here functions as a covenant repository of commands and sanctions, underpinning Paul’s argument for justification by faith. In 2 Timothy 4:13, Paul requests “the books, especially the parchments,” revealing the apostle’s dependence on written resources during imprisonment and suggesting an early Christian appreciation for texts beyond the Hebrew canon—perhaps notes, sermons, or early Gospel material.

Hebrews and the Covenant Documents

Hebrews invokes “book” twice. Hebrews 9:19 recalls Moses sprinkling “both the book itself and all the people,” a reminder that covenant literature was consecrated with blood. Hebrews 10:7 quotes Psalm 40 regarding Messiah: “Behold, I have come—in the scroll of the book it is written about Me—to do Your will, O God.” Both passages spotlight Scripture as a living testimony to redemptive purpose.

Apocalyptic Literature and the Scrolls of Revelation

Revelation employs the term more than any other New Testament book, emphasizing eschatological judgment and disclosure. In Revelation 1:11 John is commanded, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches”, confirming prophetic continuity. Revelation 5 presents the sealed scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. No creature can open it until “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” prevails (5:2-5). The unsealing initiates God’s judicial program (6:14), demonstrating Christ’s exclusive authority to unveil divine decrees.

The Book of Life

Six Revelatory references (13:8; 17:8; 20:12; 21:27; 22:18-19) speak of the “Book of Life,” recording those redeemed by the Lamb. Revelation 20:12 juxtaposes “books” of deeds with “the Book of Life,” illustrating perfect justice: “The dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books”. Salvation rests not in self-recorded works but in grace secured before the foundation of the world and documented in God’s immutable registry.

Implications for the Doctrine of Scripture

1. Inspiration and Preservation: The consistent appeal to what is “written” validates the permanence of every God-breathed word.
2. Canon and Authority: The singular focus on a defined “book” in theological and judicial settings argues for a closed, authoritative canon both in Israel’s Law and in the prophetic Revelation given to the churches.
3. Literacy and Discipleship: Apostolic practice assumes reading communities (Revelation 1:3) and encourages personal engagement with sacred texts (2 Timothy 4:13).

Ministerial and Devotional Application

• Preaching: Luke 4 demonstrates Christ’s expository model—read the text, explain, and apply.
• Pastoral Care: Divorce certificates (Matthew 19:7) and covenant scrolls (Hebrews 9) remind shepherds to ground ethical counsel in written revelation.
• Worship: Heavenly liturgy centers on the Lamb opening the scroll (Revelation 5), directing earthly worship toward Scripture-governed exaltation of Christ.
• Evangelism: Assurance rests in inclusion in the Book of Life—a truth that invites urgent proclamation of the gospel (Revelation 20:15).

Intertextual Links with the Old Testament

Exodus 32:32, Psalm 69:28, and Daniel 12:1 prefigure a divine ledger. New Testament writers inherit this motif, demonstrating consistent biblical theology: God records, remembers, and will reward or judge. Moreover, Deuteronomic covenant terminology undergirds Paul’s juridical argument in Galatians, affirming continuity between covenants while highlighting fulfillment in Christ.

Summary

Throughout the New Testament, Strong’s 975 embodies the conviction that God’s will is communicated, authenticated, and memorialized in writing. Whether a legal decree, a prophetic scroll, apostolic correspondence, or the eschatological Book of Life, the “book” signals divine initiative and human responsibility: to read, to obey, and to trust the Lamb whose finished work secures eternal inscription for all who believe.

Forms and Transliterations
βιβλια βιβλία βιβλιοις βιβλίοις βιβλιον βιβλίον βιβλιου βιβλίου βιβλιοφόρων βιβλιω βιβλίω βιβλίῳ Βιβλίων biblia biblía biblio bibliō biblíoi biblíōi bibliois biblíois biblion biblíon bibliou biblíou
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 19:7 N-ANS
GRK: ἐνετείλατο δοῦναι βιβλίον ἀποστασίου καὶ
NAS: to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE
KJV: to give a writing of divorcement,
INT: did command to give a bill of divorce and

Mark 10:4 N-ANS
GRK: Ἐπέτρεψεν Μωυσῆς βιβλίον ἀποστασίου γράψαι
NAS: [a man] TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE
KJV: to write a bill of divorcement,
INT: allowed Moses a bill of divorce to write

Luke 4:17 N-NNS
GRK: ἐπεδόθη αὐτῷ βιβλίον τοῦ προφήτου
NAS: And the book of the prophet Isaiah
KJV: unto him the book of the prophet
INT: there was given to him [the] scroll of the prophet

Luke 4:17 N-ANS
GRK: ἀναπτύξας τὸ βιβλίον εὗρεν τὸν
NAS: to Him. And He opened the book and found
KJV: when he had opened the book, he found
INT: having unrolled the scroll he found the

Luke 4:20 N-ANS
GRK: πτύξας τὸ βιβλίον ἀποδοὺς τῷ
NAS: And He closed the book, gave it back
KJV: he closed the book, and he gave [it] again
INT: having rolled up the scroll having delivered [it] to the

John 20:30 N-DNS
GRK: ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ
NAS: are not written in this book;
KJV: in this book:
INT: in the book this

John 21:25 N-ANP
GRK: τὰ γραφόμενα βιβλία
NAS: would not contain the books that would be written.
KJV: contain the books that should be written.
INT: the written books

Galatians 3:10 N-DNS
GRK: ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου
NAS: WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW,
KJV: in the book of the law
INT: in the book of the law

2 Timothy 4:13 N-ANP
GRK: καὶ τὰ βιβλία μάλιστα τὰς
NAS: with Carpus, and the books, especially
KJV: [with thee], and the books, [but] especially
INT: and the books especially the

Hebrews 9:19 N-ANS
GRK: τε τὸ βιβλίον καὶ πάντα
NAS: both the book itself
KJV: and sprinkled both the book, and all
INT: both the book and all

Hebrews 10:7 N-GNS
GRK: ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ
NAS: (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN
KJV: the volume of the book it is written
INT: in [the] scroll of [the] book it is written of

Revelation 1:11 N-ANS
GRK: γράψον εἰς βιβλίον καὶ πέμψον
NAS: saying, Write in a book what you see,
KJV: write in a book, and send
INT: write in a book and send

Revelation 5:1 N-ANS
GRK: τοῦ θρόνου βιβλίον γεγραμμένον ἔσωθεν
NAS: on the throne a book written
KJV: on the throne a book written within
INT: the throne a book written inside

Revelation 5:2 N-ANS
GRK: ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον καὶ λῦσαι
NAS: to open the book and to break
KJV: worthy to open the book, and to loose
INT: to open the book and to break

Revelation 5:3 N-ANS
GRK: ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον οὔτε βλέπειν
NAS: was able to open the book or to look
KJV: to open the book, neither
INT: to open the book nor to look at

Revelation 5:4 N-ANS
GRK: ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον οὔτε βλέπειν
NAS: worthy to open the book or to look
KJV: and to read the book, neither to look
INT: to open the book nor to look at

Revelation 5:5 N-ANS
GRK: ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον καὶ τὰς
NAS: so as to open the book and its seven
KJV: to open the book, and
INT: [so as] to open the book and the

Revelation 5:8 N-ANS
GRK: ἔλαβεν τὸ βιβλίον τὰ τέσσαρα
NAS: He had taken the book, the four
KJV: he had taken the book, the four
INT: he took the book the four

Revelation 5:9 N-ANS
GRK: λαβεῖν τὸ βιβλίον καὶ ἀνοῖξαι
NAS: are You to take the book and to break
KJV: worthy to take the book, and to open
INT: to take the book and to open

Revelation 6:14 N-ANS
GRK: ἀπεχωρίσθη ὡς βιβλίον ἑλισσόμενον καὶ
NAS: like a scroll when it is rolled
KJV: as a scroll when it is rolled together;
INT: departed as a scroll being rolled up and

Revelation 10:8 N-ANS
GRK: λάβε τὸ βιβλίον τὸ ἠνεῳγμένον
NAS: take the book which is open
INT: take the little scroll which is open

Revelation 13:8 N-DNS
GRK: ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τῆς ζωῆς
NAS: of the world in the book of life
INT: in the book of life

Revelation 17:8 N-ANS
GRK: ἐπὶ τὸ βιβλίον τῆς ζωῆς
NAS: has not been written in the book of life
KJV: written in the book of life from
INT: in the book of life

Revelation 20:12 N-NNP
GRK: θρόνου καὶ βιβλία ἠνοίχθησαν καὶ
NAS: the throne, and books were opened;
KJV: God; and the books were opened: and
INT: [the] throne and books were opened and

Revelation 20:12 N-NNS
GRK: καὶ ἄλλο βιβλίον ἠνοίχθη ὅ
NAS: and another book was opened,
KJV: and another book was opened, which
INT: and another book was opened which

Strong's Greek 975
34 Occurrences


βιβλία — 3 Occ.
βιβλίῳ — 6 Occ.
βιβλίοις — 1 Occ.
βιβλίον — 18 Occ.
βιβλίου — 6 Occ.

974
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