Something written
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What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
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γράμμα (gramma) refers to something written, a letter or character, or learning associated with written texts. John uses the noun to press beyond possession of religious writings toward faithful reception of their witness.
Reader summary
Full entry for γράμμα (G1121) · Open the biblical lexicon
γράμμα (gramma) refers to something written, a letter or character, or learning associated with written texts. John uses the noun to press beyond possession of religious writings toward faithful reception of their witness.
The BSB source-word alignment has 14 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include bill (2), letters (2), [any] letters (1), [such] learning (1), [the] written code (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Luke 16:6. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Corinthians (3), Romans (3), Acts (2), John (2).
γράμμα (gramma) refers to something written, a letter or character, or learning associated with written texts. John uses the noun to press beyond possession of religious writings toward faithful reception of their witness. In John 5:47 Jesus says that disbelief toward Moses' writings exposes why His hearers refuse Jesus' own words. In John 7:15 the leaders marvel at Jesus' learning because He lacks the training route they expect.
Second Corinthians 3 uses the noun in a different covenantal contrast: ministry is not of the letter that kills but of the Spirit who gives life. Paul is not condemning Scripture or careful reading. He contrasts the old-covenant ministry engraved in letters with the Spirit's life-giving new-covenant work. The word helps readers honor written revelation, test claims of expertise, and refuse the illusion that literacy alone produces faith.
γράμμα moves from written witness and recognized learning in John to Paul's letter-Spirit contrast in new-covenant ministry. Written revelation matters, but neither possession nor expertise guarantees believing reception.
But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”
Moses' writings bear a witness that should lead hearers toward Jesus. Their refusal is moral unbelief, not a shortage of textual access.
The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”
The leaders recognize Jesus' command of written learning while measuring Him by expected credentials. John lets the question deepen the issue of His divine teaching authority.
And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Paul contrasts covenant ministries, not Scripture with spirituality. The Spirit gives the life the written code cannot produce in sinful hearts.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. The written letter or law contrasted with Spirit's direct influence in Paul's covenant theology.
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
15 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
a letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read versea letter, writings, learning
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 6 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 14 lexical occurrence verses.
γράμμα is built from this root:
Contrasts external regulation with inward renewal by the Spirit.2 Timothy 3:14-17
Paul emphasizes that Timothy’s knowledge of Scripture from childhood provided a foundation for understanding salvation.Romans 7:1-6
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
γράμμα exposes two inadequate forms of confidence. John 5 addresses people who possess Moses' writings but do not believe the One to whom Moses bears witness. The failure is not in the writings; it is in readers who seek honor and refuse the testimony God has given concerning His Son. John 7 then shows leaders surprised by Jesus' learning because He has not followed their expected educational path.
Their question cannot account for the Father's authority in His teaching. Second Corinthians 3 adds a covenantal distinction. The letter that kills is not a slogan against serious exegesis. Paul contrasts the ministry engraved on stone, which exposes sin and brings condemnation, with the new-covenant ministry of the Spirit, who gives life and transforms God's people.
Scripture study is therefore indispensable and insufficient by itself. Its faithful end is believing reception of Christ and life through the Spirit.
John.5.45-47
The noun can mean an individual letter, a written document, written learning, or the written code. John 7's plural form can refer to letters or learning, while 2 Corinthians 3 uses the singular in a covenantal contrast. The same English word should not flatten these settings.
Israel receives God's words in written covenant form, and those writings bear forward-looking testimony that Jesus says His hearers have failed to believe. Paul does not discard that revelation; he announces the promised new-covenant work in which the Spirit writes on hearts and gives life. The connection preserves both the authority of the text and the necessity of divine heart renewal.