What does סָפַר · מָהִיר mean in the Bible?
סָפַר · מָהִיר is a Hebrew phrase meaning "skillful scribe, quick writer".
Hebrew · H5608, H4106
סוֹפֵר מָהִיר
Properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe , and also to enumerate ; intensively, to recount , i.e. celebrate · quick ; hence, skilful
Reading a lexicon entry
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
סָפַרH5608properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe , and also to enumerate ; intensively, to recount , i.e. celebrate
Pronunciationsāpar
Moves from physical marking/tallying to verbal recounting and celebration of significant events or divine acts.
Open lexicon entry →מָהִירH4106quick ; hence, skilful
What does סוֹפֵר מָהִיר (sofer mahir) mean in the Bible?
סָפַר · מָהִיר is a Hebrew phrase meaning "skillful scribe, quick writer".
Full entry for סוֹפֵר מָהִיר (H5608, H4106) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H5608, H4106?
H5608, H4106 is connected to 165 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. skillful scribe, quick writer
Source Gloss
skillful scribe, quick writer
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms74
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action34×
ImperfectEzek 12:16 · Isa 43:21 · Jer 23:27 · Ps 59:13 · Ps 64:6 · Ps 69:27 · Job 38:37 · Ps 71:15 · Exod 10:2 · Ps 22:18 · Ps 48:14 · Ps 79:1312×
PerfectJudg 6:13 · Ps 44:2 · Ps 75:2 · Ps 78:3 · Ps 119:13 · Ps 119:266×
CohortativePs 2:7 · Ps 9:2 · Ps 9:15 · Ps 22:23 · Ps 73:155×
Sequential imperfect1Chr 16:24 · Gen 40:8 · Joel 1:3 · Ps 96:3 · Isa 43:265×
Participle active2Kgs 8:5 · Judg 7:13 · Ps 19:2 · Ps 78:44×
Infinitive constructExod 9:161×
JussiveJer 23:281×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action7×
Imperfect1Kgs 3:8 · Gen 16:10 · Gen 32:13 · Hos 2:1 · Jer 33:22 · 1Kgs 8:5 · 2Chr 5:67×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense14×
ImperfectDeut 16:9 · Job 14:16 · Job 39:2 · Job 31:4 · Ps 87:6 · Ezek 44:26 · Lev 23:167×
Perfect2Sam 24:10 · Isa 22:10 · Ps 56:93×
Sequential imperfect1Chr 21:2 · Ps 48:132×
Participle activeIsa 33:182×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject3×
ImperfectHab 1:5 · Ps 22:312×
PerfectIsa 52:151×
Word Origins
סוֹפֵר מָהִיר is a primitive root - no further derivation.