Lexical Summary deyo: Enough, sufficient Original Word: דְּיוֹ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ink Of uncertain derivation; ink -- ink. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originnoun from davah Definition ink NASB Translation ink (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs דְּיוֺ noun masculine ink (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic דְּיוּתָא  ; Arabic  inkbottle, inkhorn; Ges-Dietr Fl NHWBi. 41 derived from √ דוה in assumed sense of slowly flowing; Fl compare Arabic  thin skin on surface of milk, compare also Ol§ 178 g), וַאֲנִי כֹּתֵב עַלהַֿסֵּפֶר בַּדְּי֑וֺ Jeremiah 36:18, compare LagGes. Abh. 216. — On erasable quality of Hebrew ink compare RSOTJC, 400 f. ed. 2, 71; see further L. LöwGraphische Requisiten etc. bel den Juden, 1870, i. 145 ff. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence The term appears once: “And Baruch answered, ‘He dictated all these words to me while I was writing in ink on the scroll’” (Jeremiah 36:18). The word focuses attention on the physical medium through which divine revelation was preserved for the nation. Semantic Significance Ink in Scripture represents durability, legibility, and the faithful transmission of divine truth. By specifying that Baruch used ink, the text highlights the permanence intended for Jeremiah’s prophetic message in contrast to transient oral speech. Historical Background Seventh–sixth-century B.C. Judah was literate enough to employ professional scribes. Ink formulations of the period combined carbon soot, gum arabic, and water, producing a dark, enduring script when applied with a reed pen. Such writing could survive repeated handling, which was vital for scrolls that were read publicly before kings and commoners alike (Jeremiah 36:21–23). Ink in Ancient Near Eastern Culture Outside Israel, Egypt and Mesopotamia used similar carbon-based inks for administrative and religious documents. Jeremiah’s scroll therefore fit a well-established technology that enabled covenant documents, royal decrees, and prophetic oracles to be archived and disseminated. Scribal Ministry in Jeremiah Baruch’s role illustrates the partnership between prophet and scribe: Theological Reflections: God’s Written Revelation 1. Permanence of Scripture: Ink signifies that God’s word is meant to endure beyond the lifespan of the original hearers (Isaiah 40:8). New Testament Echoes Greek μελάνιον/μέλαν (“ink”) carries the motif forward. Paul writes, “You are a letter from Christ…not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God” (2 Corinthians 3:3). John expresses eagerness to move beyond ink to face-to-face fellowship (2 John 1:12; 3 John 1:13). Together, these passages contrast physical ink with the Spirit’s internal inscription, yet do not depreciate the written word. Rather, they show continuity: the same God who inscribed Jeremiah’s prophecy externally now writes His law internally through the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10). Practical Ministry Implications • Commitment to Accurate Transmission: Modern translators, copyists, and teachers should emulate Baruch’s precision. Forms and Transliterations בַּדְּיֽוֹ׃ בדיו׃ bad·də·yōw baddeYo baddəyōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 36:18 HEB: עַל־ הַסֵּ֖פֶר בַּדְּיֽוֹ׃ פ NAS: to me, and I wrote them with ink on the book. KJV: and I wrote [them] with ink in the book. INT: on the book ink 1 Occurrence |
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