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
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
סָפַר H5608 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
Pronunciation sāpar
Moves from physical marking/tallying to verbal recounting and celebration of significant events or divine acts.
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מָהִיר H4106 quick ; 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 groups 4 Aligned forms 74
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 34×
Imperfect Ezek 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 79:13 12×
Perfect Judg 6:13 · Ps 44:2 · Ps 75:2 · Ps 78:3 · Ps 119:13 · Ps 119:26 6×
Cohortative Ps 2:7 · Ps 9:2 · Ps 9:15 · Ps 22:23 · Ps 73:15 5×
Sequential imperfect 1Chr 16:24 · Gen 40:8 · Joel 1:3 · Ps 96:3 · Isa 43:26 5×
Participle active 2Kgs 8:5 · Judg 7:13 · Ps 19:2 · Ps 78:4 4×
Infinitive construct Exod 9:16 1×
Jussive Jer 23:28 1×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 7×
Imperfect 1Kgs 3:8 · Gen 16:10 · Gen 32:13 · Hos 2:1 · Jer 33:22 · 1Kgs 8:5 · 2Chr 5:6 7×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 14×
Imperfect Deut 16:9 · Job 14:16 · Job 39:2 · Job 31:4 · Ps 87:6 · Ezek 44:26 · Lev 23:16 7×
Perfect 2Sam 24:10 · Isa 22:10 · Ps 56:9 3×
Sequential imperfect 1Chr 21:2 · Ps 48:13 2×
Participle active Isa 33:18 2×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 3×
Imperfect Hab 1:5 · Ps 22:31 2×
Perfect Isa 52:15 1×
Word Origins
סוֹפֵר מָהִיר is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain