Greek Form Guide

βιβλίῳ (biblio) in Revelation 22:18: Noun Dative Singular Neuter

βιβλίῳ (biblio) in Revelation 22:18

Textual Witness

βιβλίῳ biblio Noun Dative Singular Neuter

The Textus Receptus reading at Revelation 22:18 has βιβλίῳ in the phrase ἐν βιβλίῳ τούτῳ, within a warning about adding to the words of this prophecy.

How The Form Affects Interpretation

The form helps readers hear the phrase as a location or reference point for the written judgments, not as an independent statement about the noun itself.

How To Communicate It

This form supports clear communication that the warning concerns the contents of the prophecy as written in this book, especially in the phrase in this book.

What Not To Say

  • Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
  • Dative case here suggests relation through ἐν, but it does not by itself settle every nuance beyond the local phrase.
  • Neuter gender is grammatical classification only and should not be turned into a theological or personal gender claim.

What Does The Label Mean?

Part of Speech

Noun: the word names a written document or roll, and here it refers to the book of this prophecy in the sentence.

Case

Dative: the form usually marks relation, sphere, or association, and here it follows ἐν to describe where the written judgments are found.

Number

Singular: the form is grammatically singular in this occurrence, pointing to one shared book or roll in the immediate context.

Gender

Neuter: the noun belongs to the neuter grammatical class, which is a language feature and does not by itself make a theological claim.

What The Form Does In This Verse

Attached To

ἐν βιβλίῳ τούτῳ

Governed By

The preposition ἐν governs the dative and frames the phrase as a locative or contextual reference, so the noun names the written place of the recorded plagues.

Role In The Phrase

It functions within the phrase as the object of the preposition, identifying the roll in which the written plagues are said to be recorded.

What It Is Not Doing

It is not the subject of the clause, and the form itself does not say that the book acts or receives the judgment.

How Much The Form Matters Here

Interpretive Weight

Moderate: The dative noun under the preposition locates the written plagues within the book in view.

Syntax Profile

Dative singular neuter noun. identifies the written location or reference point for the plagues named in the warning. Attached to the phrase in this book. Governed by the preposition en. The preposition governs the dative; the clause supplies the warning about adding to the prophecy.

Reader Question

Where are the named plagues written? The dative phrase points to this book as the written reference point.

Translation Effect

Direct: The dative with the preposition directly supports the English phrase in this book.

Where Caution Is Needed

The dative relation is governed by the preposition and should not be read apart from it. The noun names the written reference point, not an acting subject in the clause.

Fallacies To Avoid

Dative case carries the whole warning: The dative helps form the phrase; the surrounding warning supplies the claim. preposition ignored: The phrase should be read as preposition plus dative, not as dative case in isolation.

How The Interpretation Is Derived

Textual Witness

The Textus Receptus reading at Revelation 22:18 has βιβλίῳ in the phrase ἐν βιβλίῳ τούτῳ, within a warning about adding to the words of this prophecy.

Lexical Identity

The lemma βιβλίον denotes a roll, book, or written document, so the form continues that lexical idea without changing its basic meaning.

Grammar In Context

Because the noun follows ἐν and is linked to τούτῳ, the grammar points to the written record as the place or sphere where the plagues are described.

Passage Meaning

The verse warns hearers not to add to the prophetic words already written in this book, and the phrase marks the specific written source under discussion.

Canonical Fit

Within Revelation, the expression fits the recurring emphasis on the written testimony of this prophecy and its authority for readers and hearers.

Communication Use

In translation or teaching, the form supports wording like in this book or in this roll, while keeping the focus on the written prophecy itself.

Do Not Derive

Do not derive from the case or gender any extra theology about gender, rank, or agency, and do not make the form override the verse's warning.