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βιβλίον

biblíon

G975 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Book, scroll, written document. Refers primarily to a written work or text, typically in the form of a papyrus roll or, later, a codex. The semantic range includes both general documents (legal, administrative, literary texts) and sacred writings, depending on context. May designate anything from a formal official document, certificate, or decree to a literary or religious work.

Semantic Range

book, papyrus roll, scroll, written document, certificate, letter, decree, sacred writing

Root / Etymology

Diminutive of βίβλος (bíblos), which itself likely derives from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos, a major source and trade center of papyrus; thus originally connected with papyrus material, and by extension, a written text. βιβλίον (biblíon) became the standard Koine Greek word for book or scroll.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, βιβλίον was uncommon but occurs as early as the 4th century BCE in Aristotle for a small book or writing, gaining broader use in Hellenistic and Roman periods. In the Septuagint and New Testament, βιβλίον signifies a variety of textual forms, including legal documents (such as certificates of divorce: cf. Deut 24:1; Matt 19:7), prophetic writings, letters, and scriptural texts (cf. Luke 4:17, 'the scroll of the prophet Isaiah'). In most NT and LXX contexts, it does not necessarily carry the sense of a bound book, but rather of a rolled scroll, the common format for writings of the period. The diminutive form originally signified 'little book' or 'papyrus roll', but by the Roman era the diminutive nuance had largely faded, and βιβλίον became the default term for any book or literary document. English Bible translations often render βιβλίον as 'book', 'scroll', 'document', or 'writing', depending on context; however, 'book' can sometimes be anachronistic for 1st-century usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "book" 34 occurrences

Most common and natural rendering across occurrences and contexts. βιβλίον primarily denotes a written work or text (sacred or secular), and “book” cleanly covers scrolls, written documents, letters, and literary works in natural English. It is more general and readable than alternatives like “scroll” or “document,” ensuring consistent, idiomatic translation across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a diminutive of βίβλος; a roll:--bill, book, scroll, writing.

Root Family

βιβλίον (biblion) — writing, document, book, scroll

Root βιβλ- writing, document, book, scroll

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G975-04 βιβλίον biblion N ACC N SG book written document a book 18
G975-02 βιβλίῳ biblio N DAT N SG book to a scroll book 6
G975-05 βιβλίου bibliou N GEN N SG book of a scroll of a book 6
G975-01 βιβλία biblia N ACC N PL books written documents books 3
G975-03 βιβλίοις bibliois N DAT N PL books to books books 1

Occurrences in Scripture

34 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G975-04 Matthew 19:7 βιβλίον biblion N ACC N SG a certificate written document a book
G975-04 Mark 10:4 βιβλίον biblion N ACC N SG a certificate written document a book
G975-04 Luke 4:17 βιβλίον biblion N NOM N SG the book written document a book
G975-04 Luke 4:17 βιβλίον biblion-2 N ACC N SG book written document a book
G975-04 Luke 4:20 βιβλίον biblion N ACC N SG book written document a book
G975-02 John 20:30 βιβλίῳ biblio N DAT N SG book to a scroll book
G975-01 John 21:25 βιβλία biblia N ACC N PL books written documents books
G975-02 Galatians 3:10 βιβλίῳ biblio N DAT N SG book to a scroll book
G975-01 2 Timothy 4:13 βιβλία biblia N ACC N PL books written documents books
G975-04 Hebrews 9:19 βιβλίον biblion N ACC N SG book written document a book
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