Book: This word has a comprehensive meaning in Scripture. In the Old
Testament it is the rendering of the Hebrew word sepher, which
properly means a "writing," and then a "volume"
(Exodus 17:14; Deuteronomy 28:58)
(Deuteronomy 29:20; Job 19:23) or "roll of a book"
(Jeremiah 36:2,4) Books were
originally written on skins, on linen or cotton cloth, and on
Egyptian papyrus, whence our word "paper." The leaves of the book
were generally written in columns, designated by a Hebrew word
properly meaning "doors" and "valves"
(Jeremiah 36:23) R.V., marg.
"columns". Among the Hebrews books were generally rolled up like our
maps, or if very long they were rolled from both ends, forming two
rolls
(Luke 4:17-20) Thus they were arranged when the writing was on
flexible materials; but if the writing was on tablets of wood or
brass or lead, then the several tablets were bound together by rings
through which a rod was passed. A sealed book is one whose contents
are secret
(Isaiah 29:11; Revelation 5:1-3) To "eat" a book
(Jeremiah 15:16)
(Ezekiel 2:8-10; 3:1-3; Revelation 10:9) is to study its contents carefully. The
book of judgment
(Daniel 7:10) refers to the method of human courts of
justice as illustrating the proceedings which will take place at the
day of God's final judgment. The book of the wars of the Lord
(Numbers 21:14) the book of Jasher
(Joshua 10:13) and the book of the
chronicles of the kings of Judah and Israel
(2 Chronicles 25:26) were
probably ancient documents known to the Hebrews, but not forming a
part of the canon. The book of life
(Psalms 69:28) suggests the idea
that as the redeemed form a community or citizenship
(Philippians 3:20; 4:3)
a catalogue of the citizens' names is preserved
(Luke 10:20; Revelation 20:15)
Their names are registered in heaven
(Luke 10:20; Revelation 3:5) The book of
the covenant
(Exodus 24:7) containing
(Exodus 20:22-Exodus 23:33) is the first
book actually mentioned as a part of the written word. It contains a
series of laws, civil, social, and religious, given to Moses at Sinai
immediately after the delivery of the decalogue. These were written
in this "book."
