5612. sepher

Strong's Lexicon

sepher: Book, scroll, document, writing

Original Word: סֵפֶר
Part of Speech: noun masculine; feminine; noun feminine
Transliteration: cepher
Pronunciation: SAY-fer
Phonetic Spelling: (say'-fer)
Definition: Book, scroll, document, writing
Meaning: writing, a book

Word Origin: From the root verb סָפַר (saphar), meaning "to count, recount, relate, or declare."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - βιβλίον (biblion) - Strong's Greek 975: Refers to a book or scroll, similar in usage to "sepher."

- γράμμα (gramma) - Strong's Greek 1121: Refers to a letter or written document.

Usage: The Hebrew word "sepher" primarily refers to a written document, which can range from a simple letter to a formal book or scroll. It is used to denote various forms of written communication, including legal documents, historical records, and literary works. In the context of the Bible, "sepher" often refers to sacred texts, such as the Torah or other scriptural writings.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, writing was a significant means of preserving and transmitting knowledge, laws, and religious teachings. Scrolls made from papyrus or parchment were the primary medium for writing. The ability to read and write was highly valued, especially among scribes and religious leaders. The use of "sepher" reflects the importance of written records in maintaining the covenantal relationship between God and His people, as well as in the administration of justice and governance.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
probably of foreign origin
Definition
a missive, document, writing, book
NASB Translation
Book (47), book (79), books (2), certificate (3), deed (6), deeds (3), illiterate* (1), indictment (1), letter (14), letters (15), literate* (1), literature (2), read* (1), scroll (6), scroll* (3), writ (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

סֵ֫פֶר₁₈₅ noun masculine^{Isaiah 29:11} missive, document, writing, book (probably ancient loan-word from Assyrian šipru, missive, message Dl^{HWB 683}, Tel Amarna šipru, šipirtu, id. Wkl^{TA Gloss}; √ šâpâru, send, send message or letter Dl^{HWB 683}, Wkl^{l.c., whence} also sâpiru, writer, and (perhaps) ruler, šapirûtu, rule; see Hom^{Aufsätze (1892), 34} Buhl^{Lex 13}; perhaps compare Arabic go forth to journey, II. send on a journey Lane¹³⁷⁰; Late Hebrew סֵפֶר = Biblical Hebrew; so Aramaic סִיפְרָא ; Christian-Palestinian Aramaic Schw^{Idioticon 64}; Arabic ); — ׳ס absolute 2 Samuel 11:14 +; construct Exodus 24:7 +; suffix סִפְרִי Exodus 32:33, סִפְרְךָ Exodus 32:33; Psalm 139:16; plural סְפָרִים 1 Kings 21:8 +; —

1 missive:

a. letter of instruction, written order, commission, or request, usually from king, 2 Samuel 11:14,15; 1 Kings 21:8 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 21:9,11; 2 Kings 5:5,6 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 5:7; 2 Kings 10:1,2,6,7; 2 Kings 19:14 = Isaiah 37:14 compare 2 Chronicles 32:17; 2 Kings 20:12 = Isaiah 39:1; = written decree for publication Esther 1:22; Esther 3:13; Esther 8:5; Esther 9:20,25,30 ( = אִגֶּרֶת Esther 9:25; Esther 9:29, see above), compare וַיִּשְׁלַח סְפָרִים בְּיִד הָרָצִים בַּסּוּסִים רֹכְבֵי הָרֶכֶשׁ Esther 8:10. — [׳כָּתַב ס 2 Samuel 11:15; 1 Kings 21:8; 2 Kings 10:1,6; 2Chronicles 32:17; ׳כָּתַב בַּסּ (of specific contents) 2 Samuel 11:15; 1 Kings 21:9,11; קָרָא ׳אֶתהַֿסּ 2 Kings 5:7 read the letter]. —

b. from prophet Jeremiah 29:1, other influential persons Jeremiah 29:25; Jeremiah 29:29 .

2 legal document, כְּרִיתֻת ׳ס certificate of divorce Deuteronomy 24:1,3and (figurative) Jeremiah 3:8; Isaiah 50:1; הַמִּקְנָה ׳ס deed of purchase Jeremiah 32:11,12 (strike out article), Jeremiah 32:12; Jeremiah 32:14; Jeremiah 32:16, compare ׳בַּסּ Jeremiah 32:10, הַסְּפָרִים Jeremiah 32:14 (si vera lectio; strike out ᵐ5 Gie compare Gf), סֵפֶר Jeremiah 32:16b; Jeremiah 32:44; ׳ס = indictment Job 31:35 (object of כָּתַב; ׳כָּתַב בְּ = sign Jeremiah 32:10,12,44).

3 book, or scroll, in which something is written to preserve it for future use Exodus 17:14 (E), Joshua 18:9 (JE), 1 Samuel 10:25; Isaiah 30:8; Job 19:23 +; in form of roll, compare וְנָגֹ֫לוּ כַּסֵּפֶר הַשָּׁמַיִם Isaiah 34:4, הֶחָתוּם ׳הַסּ Isaiah 29:11,12 (see Jeremiah 36, etc., below); particular:

a. book of prophecies Jeremiah 25:13; Jeremiah 30:2 6t. Jeremiah 36; Daniel 12:4; חֲזוֺן נַחוּם ׳ס Nahum 1:1; ׳סֵפֶר י Isaiah 34:4; so מְגִלַּת סֵפֶר Jeremiah 36:2,4 (= מְגִלָּה Jeremiah 36:6 6t.; with many columns, דְּלָתוֺת Jeremiah 36:23), Ezekiel 2:9, compare Psalm 40:8.

b. geneal. register, ׳ס תּוֺלְדוֺת Genesis 5:1 (P), הַיַּ֫חַשׂ ׳ס Nehemiah 7:5.

c. law-book, הַבְּרִית ׳ס Exodus 24:7 (E), 2 Kings 23:2 2Chronicles 34:30; 2 Kings 23:21; הַתּוֺרָה ׳ס Deuteronomy 28:61; Deuteronomy 29:20; Deuteronomy 30:10; Deuteronomy 31:26; Joshua 1:8; Joshua 8:34 (all D), 2 Kings 22:8 2Chronicles 34:15; 2 Kings 22:11; Nehemiah 8:3; תּוֺרַת אֱלֹהִים ׳ס Joshua 24:26 (E), Nehemiah 8:8 (reading תּוֺרַת ׳ס, so ᵐ5, compare Talmud^Nedarim37b), Nehemiah 8:18; Nehemiah 9:3; ׳תּוֺרַת י ׳ס2Chronicles 17:9; 34:14; תּוֺרַת משֶׁה ׳ס Joshua 8:31; Joshua 23:6 (both D), 2 Kings 14:6; Nehemiah 8:1; משֶׁה ׳ס2Chronicles 25:4; 35:12; Nehemiah 13:1.

d. book of poems, ׳מִלְחֲמֹת י ׳ס Numbers 21:14 (JE), הַיָּשָׁר ׳ס Joshua 10:13 (JE), 2 Samuel 1:18.

e. book concerned with kings, דֵּבְרֵי שְׁלֹמֹה ׳ס 1 Kings 11:41, and especially ׳דּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לְמַלְכֵי וגו ׳ס 1 Kings 14:19,29 31t. Kings (18 t. of Israel, 15 t. of Judah), compare Esther 10:2 (of Media and Persia); also דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לַמֶּלֶךְ ׳ס דָּוִיד 1 Chronicles 27:24 (reading ׳ס for מִסְמָּד, ᵐ5 Kit^Hpt); הַמְּלָכִים לִיהוּדָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל ׳ס2Chronicles 16:11; מַלְכֵי ׳ס ׳יְהוּדָה וְיִשׁ2Chronicles 25:26; 28:26; 32:32; וִיהוּדָה ׳יִשׂ ׳מ ׳ס2Chronicles 27:7; 35:27; 36:8; ׳יִשׂ ׳מ ׳ס 1 Chronicles 9:1; 2Chronicles 20:34; ׳הָמְּלָכִים מִדְרַשׁ ס2Chronicles 24:27; also דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים ׳ס Nehemiah 12:23; Esther 2:23; הַזִּכְרֹנוֺת דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים ׳ס Esther 6:1.

f. once בַּסְּפָרִים Daniel 9:2 by means of the Scriptures (canonical books) compare Ew Meinh Bev Marti^Kau.

g. God's record-book, Psalm 139:16, זִכָּרוֺן ׳ס Malachi 3:16; God's register of living, Exodus 32:32,33 (E), חַיִּים ׳ס Psalm 69:29; ׳הַסּ Daniel 12:1 (citizens of Messianic kingdom).

4 ׳ס = book-learning, especially writing: יָדַע (הַ) סֵּפֶר Isaiah 29:11,12 (twice in verse) (of abilityto read); so לְלַמְּדָם סֵפֶר וּלְשׁוֺן כַּשְׂדִּים Daniel 1:4 to teach them the writing and speech of the Chaldeans (on construction see Ges^{§ 128a}); more Generally וְחָכְמָה ׳הַשְׂכִּיל בְּכָלסֿ Daniel 1:17. — [סֵפֶר book is joined with verbs thus: it is written (יִכָּפֶב) Malachi 3:16; a thing is written ׳בַּסּ Exodus 17:14 20t., ׳עַלסֿ 2 Samuel 1:18 50t. ( + Jeremiah 36:32; בַדְּיוֺ with ink Jeremiah 36:18), ׳אֶלסֿ Jeremiah 30:2; Jeremiah 51:60; conversely ׳דָּרַשׁ מֵעַל ס Isaiah 34:16, ׳שָׁמַע מֵעַל ס Jeremiah 36:11; see also וְיֻחָ֑קוּ ׳בַּסּ Job 19:23 inscribe in a book, חֻקָּהּ ׳עָלסֿ Isaiah 30:8 ("" כָּתְבָהּ עַללֿוּחַ); ׳מָחָה מִסּ blot out of a book Exodus 32:32,33; Psalm 69:29; ׳קָרָא אֶתהַֿסּ Jeremiah 51:63 read the book, scroll, but usually ׳קָרָא בְס Jeremiah 36:8,10,13; Nehemiah 8:8; Nehemiah 8:18; Nehemiah 9:3; Nehemiah 13:1]. — ׳ס in ׳קִרְיַת ס, see ׳ק

[סִפְרָה] noun feminine book; — suffix הֲלאֹ בְּסִפְרָתֶ֑ךָ Psalm 56:9 (compare סֵפֶר 3g); strike out as gloss Bi Che Hup-Now Du. — compare also [סְפֹרָה] below

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

bill, book, evidence, learned letter, register, scroll

Or (feminine) ciphrah (Psa. 56:8; Psa. 56:9) {sif-raw'}; from caphar; properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book -- bill, book, evidence, X learn(-ed) (-ing), letter, register, scroll.

see HEBREW 'abedah

see HEBREW caphar

Forms and Transliterations

בְּסִפְרָתֶֽךָ׃ בְּסֵ֖פֶר בְּסֵ֙פֶר֙ בְּסֵ֛פֶר בְּסֵ֣פֶר בְּסֵ֥פֶר בְּסֵ֨פֶר בַּסְּפָרִ֑ים בַּסְּפָרִ֔ים בַּסְּפָרִ֖ים בַּסֵּ֑פֶר בַּסֵּ֔פֶר בַּסֵּ֖פֶר בַּסֵּ֙פֶר֙ בַּסֵּ֛פֶר בַּסֵּ֣פֶר בַּסֵּ֥פֶר בַּסֵּ֥פֶר ׀ בַּסֵּֽפֶר׃ בַסֵּ֛פֶר בספר בספר׃ בספרים בספרתך׃ הַסְּפָרִ֗ים הַסְּפָרִ֛ים הַסְּפָרִ֣ים הַסֵּ֔פֶר הַסֵּ֖פֶר הַסֵּ֗פֶר הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙ הַסֵּ֛פֶר הַסֵּ֜פֶר הַסֵּ֣פֶר הַסֵּ֤פֶר הַסֵּ֥פֶר הַסֵּֽפֶר׃ הספר הספר׃ הספרים וְסֵ֥פֶר וּסְפָרִ֣ים וספר וספרים כַסֵּ֖פֶר כספר מִֽסִּפְרְךָ֖ מִסִּפְרִֽי׃ מִסֵּ֣פֶר מספר מספרי׃ מספרך סְפָרִ֗ים סְפָרִ֜ים סְפָרִ֡ים סְפָרִ֤ים סְפָרִ֥ים סְפָרִים֙ סִפְרְךָ֮ סֵ֑פֶר סֵ֔פֶר סֵ֖פֶר סֵ֙פֶר֙ סֵ֚פֶר סֵ֛פֶר סֵ֝֗פֶר סֵ֣פֶר סֵ֤פֶר סֵ֥פֶר סֵ֧פֶר סֵ֨פֶר ׀ סֵֽפֶר׃ סֵפֶר֒ סֵפֶר֩ ספר ספר׃ ספרים ספרך bas·sə·p̄ā·rîm bas·sê·p̄er ḇas·sê·p̄er bassefaRim basSefer bassəp̄ārîm bassêp̄er ḇassêp̄er bə·sê·p̄er bə·sip̄·rā·ṯe·ḵā beSefer bəsêp̄er besifraTecha bəsip̄rāṯeḵā chasSefer has·sə·p̄ā·rîm has·sê·p̄er hassefaRim hasSefer hassəp̄ārîm hassêp̄er ḵas·sê·p̄er ḵassêp̄er mis·sê·p̄er mis·sip̄·rə·ḵā mis·sip̄·rî misSefer missêp̄er missifreCha missifRi missip̄rəḵā missip̄rî sə·p̄ā·rîm sê·p̄er sefaRim Sefer səp̄ārîm sêp̄er sifreCha sip̄·rə·ḵā sip̄rəḵā ū·sə·p̄ā·rîm usefaRim ūsəp̄ārîm vasSefer veSefer wə·sê·p̄er wəsêp̄er

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 5:1
HEB: זֶ֣ה סֵ֔פֶר תּוֹלְדֹ֖ת אָדָ֑ם
NAS: This is the book of the generations
KJV: This [is] the book of the generations
INT: This is the book of the generations of Adam

Exodus 17:14
HEB: זֹ֤את זִכָּרוֹן֙ בַּסֵּ֔פֶר וְשִׂ֖ים בְּאָזְנֵ֣י
NAS: this in a book as a memorial
KJV: this [for] a memorial in a book, and rehearse
INT: as A memorial A book and rehearse the ears

Exodus 24:7
HEB: וַיִּקַּח֙ סֵ֣פֶר הַבְּרִ֔ית וַיִּקְרָ֖א
NAS: Then he took the book of the covenant
KJV: And he took the book of the covenant,
INT: took the book of the covenant and read

Exodus 32:32
HEB: מְחֵ֣נִי נָ֔א מִֽסִּפְרְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּתָֽבְתָּ׃
NAS: blot me out from Your book which
KJV: --; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
INT: blot please your book which have written

Exodus 32:33
HEB: לִ֔י אֶמְחֶ֖נּוּ מִסִּפְרִֽי׃
NAS: against Me, I will blot him out of My book.
KJV: against me, him will I blot out of my book.
INT: has sinned will blot of my book

Numbers 5:23
HEB: הָאֵ֛לֶּה הַכֹּהֵ֖ן בַּסֵּ֑פֶר וּמָחָ֖ה אֶל־
NAS: curses on a scroll, and he shall wash them off
KJV: these curses in a book, and he shall blot
INT: these the priest A scroll shall wash into

Numbers 21:14
HEB: כֵּן֙ יֵֽאָמַ֔ר בְּסֵ֖פֶר מִלְחֲמֹ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה
NAS: it is said in the Book of the Wars
KJV: Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars
INT: it is said the Book of the Wars of the LORD

Deuteronomy 17:18
HEB: הַזֹּאת֙ עַל־ סֵ֔פֶר מִלִּפְנֵ֥י הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים
NAS: law on a scroll in the presence
KJV: of this law in a book out of [that which is] before
INT: likewise on A scroll the presence priests

Deuteronomy 24:1
HEB: וְכָ֨תַב לָ֜הּ סֵ֤פֶר כְּרִיתֻת֙ וְנָתַ֣ן
NAS: in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce
KJV: in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement,
INT: some writes her a certificate of divorce and puts

Deuteronomy 24:3
HEB: וְכָ֨תַב לָ֜הּ סֵ֤פֶר כְּרִיתֻת֙ וְנָתַ֣ן
NAS: her and writes her a certificate of divorce
KJV: her, and write her a bill of divorcement,
INT: the latter her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts

Deuteronomy 28:58
HEB: הַזֹּ֔את הַכְּתוּבִ֖ים בַּסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֑ה לְ֠יִרְאָה
NAS: in this book, to fear
KJV: that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear
INT: which are written book of this to fear

Deuteronomy 28:61
HEB: לֹ֣א כָת֔וּב בְּסֵ֖פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את
NAS: not written in the book of this
KJV: which [is] not written in the book of this law,
INT: not written the book law likewise

Deuteronomy 29:20
HEB: הָ֣אָלָ֔ה הַכְּתוּבָ֖ה בַּסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֑ה וּמָחָ֤ה
NAS: in this book will rest
KJV: that are written in this book shall lie
INT: curse is written book this will blot

Deuteronomy 29:21
HEB: הַבְּרִ֔ית הַכְּתוּבָ֕ה בְּסֵ֥פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֖ה הַזֶּֽה׃
NAS: in this book of the law.
KJV: that are written in this book of the law:
INT: of the covenant are written book of the law this

Deuteronomy 29:27
HEB: הַקְּלָלָ֔ה הַכְּתוּבָ֖ה בַּסֵּ֥פֶר הַזֶּֽה׃
NAS: which is written in this book;
KJV: that are written in this book:
INT: curse is written book this

Deuteronomy 30:10
HEB: וְחֻקֹּתָ֔יו הַכְּתוּבָ֕ה בְּסֵ֥פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֖ה הַזֶּ֑ה
NAS: in this book of the law,
KJV: which are written in this book of the law,
INT: and his statutes are written book of the law this

Deuteronomy 31:24
HEB: הַזֹּ֖את עַל־ סֵ֑פֶר עַ֖ד תֻּמָּֽם׃
NAS: law in a book until
KJV: of this law in a book, until they were finished,
INT: likewise in A book until were complete

Deuteronomy 31:26
HEB: לָקֹ֗חַ אֵ֣ת סֵ֤פֶר הַתּוֹרָה֙ הַזֶּ֔ה
NAS: Take this book of the law and place
KJV: Take this book of the law, and put
INT: Take book of the law this

Joshua 1:8
HEB: לֹֽא־ יָמ֡וּשׁ סֵפֶר֩ הַתּוֹרָ֨ה הַזֶּ֜ה
NAS: This book of the law shall not depart
KJV: This book of the law shall not depart
INT: shall not depart book of the law This

Joshua 8:31
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כַּכָּתוּב֙ בְּסֵ֙פֶר֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה
NAS: as it is written in the book of the law
KJV: as it is written in the book of the law
INT: of Israel is written the book of the law of Moses

Joshua 8:34
HEB: כְּכָל־ הַכָּת֖וּב בְּסֵ֥פֶר הַתּוֹרָֽה׃
NAS: that is written in the book of the law.
KJV: according to all that is written in the book of the law.
INT: to all is written the book of the law

Joshua 10:13
HEB: כְתוּבָ֖ה עַל־ סֵ֣פֶר הַיָּשָׁ֑ר וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד
NAS: Is it not written in the book of Jashar?
KJV: written in the book of Jasher?
INT: written in the book convenient stopped

Joshua 18:9
HEB: חֲלָקִ֖ים עַל־ סֵ֑פֶר וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ אֶל־
NAS: divisions in a book; and they came
KJV: parts in a book, and came
INT: divisions in A book came to

Joshua 23:6
HEB: כָּל־ הַכָּת֔וּב בְּסֵ֖פֶר תּוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֑ה
NAS: that is written in the book of the law
KJV: all that is written in the book of the law
INT: all is written the book of the law of Moses

Joshua 24:26
HEB: הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה בְּסֵ֖פֶר תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהִ֑ים
NAS: words in the book of the law
KJV: these words in the book of the law
INT: words these the book of the law of God

186 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5612
186 Occurrences

bas·sə·p̄ā·rîm — 3 Occ.
bas·sê·p̄er — 15 Occ.
bə·sê·p̄er — 16 Occ.
bə·sip̄·rā·ṯe·ḵā — 1 Occ.
ḵas·sê·p̄er — 1 Occ.
has·sə·p̄ā·rîm — 4 Occ.
has·sê·p̄er — 29 Occ.
mis·sê·p̄er — 1 Occ.
mis·sip̄·rə·ḵā — 1 Occ.
mis·sip̄·rî — 1 Occ.
sə·p̄ā·rîm — 12 Occ.
sê·p̄er — 97 Occ.
sip̄·rə·ḵā — 1 Occ.
ū·sə·p̄ā·rîm — 1 Occ.
ḇas·sê·p̄er — 2 Occ.
wə·sê·p̄er — 1 Occ.