Book

Book (סֵפֶר, se'her; Gr. βιβλίον, Lat. liber). This Heb. term is more comprehensive than the corresponding English word with us. It signifies properly a writing, either the art (Isa 29:11-12) or the form (Da 1:4); then whatever is written, e.g. a bill of sale (Jer 32:12), of accusation (Job 31:35), of divorce (De 24:1,3); hence a letter or epistle (2Sa 11:14; 2Ki 10:6; 2Ki 19:14, etc.); and finally a volume (Ex 17:14; De 28:58; De 29:20,26; 1Sa 10:25; Job 19:23, and often), i.e. a roll (Jer 36:2,4; Eze 2:9), often with reference to the contents (e.g. of the law, Jos 1:8; Jos 8:34; 2Ki 22:8; 2Ch 34:14; of the covenant, Ex 24:7; 2Ki 23:2,21; of the kings, 2Ch 16:11; 2Ch 24:27; of annals, or of an individual reign or personal history), especially and by way of eminence of the sacred Word or Law (q.v.).

Books are mentioned as known so early as the time of the patriarch Job (Job 19:23). They were written on skins, or linen, or cotton cloth, or the Egyptian papyrus; the latter is commonly supposed to be the oldest material for writing on, whence our word paper is derived. Tablets of wood, of lead, and of brass were also employed, the latter of which were considered the most durable. See WRITING.