What does כָּתָב (kātāb) mean in the Bible?
כָּתָב (kātāb): Writing as the inscribed, authoritative record that makes words legally binding and permanently authoritative
Hebrew · H3791
כָּתָב
כָּתָב (kātāb): Writing as the inscribed, authoritative record that makes words legally binding and permanently authoritative
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כָּתָבH3791
Pronunciationkātāb
What does כָּתָב (kātāb) mean in the Bible?
Full entry for כָּתָב (H3791) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3791?
The BSB source-word alignment has 17 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include of the text (2), their family records (2), - (1), . . . (1), according to the instructions written (1).
Where does כָּתָב (kātāb) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Chronicles 28:19. Its strongest book concentrations include Esther (9), 2 Chronicles (2), Ezra (2), 1 Chronicles (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itof the text2×Esther 3:14, Esther 8:13
their family records2×Ezra 2:62, Nehemiah 7:64
-1×Ezra 4:7
. . .1×Esther 8:9
according to the instructions written1×2 Chronicles 35:4
according to their regulation1×Esther 9:27
For a decree1×Esther 8:8
in its own script1×Esther 1:22
in the Book1×Daniel 10:21
in the register1×Ezekiel 13:9
in the script1×Esther 3:12
in their own script1×Esther 8:9
in writing1×1 Chronicles 28:19
of the written1×Esther 4:8
wrote a letter1×2 Chronicles 2:11
Show sample aligned rows
1 Chronicles 28:19בִּכְתָ֛בtoin writingPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singular2 Chronicles 2:11בִּכְתָ֔בtowrote a letterPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singular2 Chronicles 35:4בִּכְתָ֗בtoaccording to the instructions writtenPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructEzra 2:62כְתָבָ֛םtotheir family recordsNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralEzra 4:7וּכְתָב֙to-Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructNehemiah 7:64כְתָבָ֛םtotheir family recordsNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralEsther 1:22כִּכְתָבָ֔הּtoin its own scriptPreposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularEsther 3:12כִּכְתָבָ֔הּtoin the scriptPreposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularEsther 3:14הַכְּתָ֗בtoof the textArticle | Noun - masculine singularEsther 4:8כְּתָֽב־toof the writtenNoun - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row1 Chronicles 28:19
Aligned rows17
Books represented7
1 Chronicles12 Chronicles2Ezra2Nehemiah1Esther9Ezekiel1Daniel1
Source forms
כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ3xkiḵ·ṯā·ḇāhEsther 1:22, Esther 3:12, Esther 8:9
הַכְּתָ֗ב2xhak·kə·ṯāḇEsther 3:14, Esther 8:13
כִּכְתָבָ֖ם2xkiḵ·ṯā·ḇāmEsther 8:9, Esther 9:27
כְתָבָ֛ם2xḵə·ṯā·ḇāmEzra 2:62, Nehemiah 7:64
בִּכְתָ֛ב1xbiḵ·ṯāḇ1 Chronicles 28:19
בִּכְתָ֔ב1xbiḵ·ṯāḇ2 Chronicles 2:11
בִּכְתָ֗ב1xbiḵ·ṯāḇ2 Chronicles 35:4
בִּכְתָ֖ב1xbiḵ·ṯāḇDaniel 10:21
Parsing patterns
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular3xEsther 1:22, Esther 3:12, Esther 8:9
Article | Noun - masculine singular2xEsther 3:14, Esther 8:13
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural2xEzra 2:62, Nehemiah 7:64
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular2x1 Chronicles 28:19, 2 Chronicles 2:11
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct2x2 Chronicles 35:4, Daniel 10:21
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural2xEsther 8:9, Esther 9:27
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct1xEzra 4:7
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct1xEzekiel 13:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Writing as the inscribed, authoritative record that makes words legally binding and permanently authoritative
Source Gloss
something written , i.e. a writing , record or book
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Writing as the inscribed, authoritative record that makes words legally binding and permanently authoritative
something written, i.e. a writing, record or book BDB: writing Usage: register, scripture, writing.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
כָּתָב is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.