Original Word: כָּתַב
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kathab
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-thab')
Definition: to writeWord Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to write
NASB Translation
decreed (1), describe (3), described (1), inscribed (1), prescribed (2), record (3), recorded (7), registered (3), registers (1), sign (1), signed (2), write (31), write them down (1), write down (1), write...down (1), writes (2), writing (1), written (126), written down (4), wrote (27), wrote down (2).

כָּתַב₂₂₃ verb write (Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician כתב; Aramaic כְּתַב, Nabataean כתב, see especially Nö in Eut^{Nab. p. 43}; thence Arabic Ethiopic book, Di^{Lex. 852} (as loan-words, Frä²⁴⁹ DHM^{VOJ i (1887), 29}); MV Buhl compare Arabic draw or sew together, conjoin (letters), etc., compare Fl^{ZMG 1873, 427}) —

Qal Perfect ׳כ Joshua 8:32 +, כָּתַבְתָּ Jeremiah 36:6 +, suffix וּכְתַבְתָּם consecutive Deuteronomy 6:9; Deuteronomy 11:20, etc. (Perfect 27 t.); Imperfect יִכְתֹּב Isaiah 44:5, וַיִּכְתֹּב Exodus 24:4 +, etc. (Imperfect 39 t.); Imperative כְּתֹב Isaiah 8:1 5t., כְּתָבֿ Exodus 34:27 2t.; suffix כָּתְבָהּ Isaiah 30:8, כָּתְבֵם Proverbs 3:3; Proverbs 7:3; plural כִּתְבוּ Deuteronomy 31:9 3t .; Infinitive absolute כָּתוֺכ Jeremiah 32:44; cstr כְּתוֺב Psalm 87:8, לִכְתֹּב Deuteronomy 31:24; Joshua 18:8; suffix כָּתְבוֺ Jeremiah 45:1; Participle active כֹּתֵב Jeremiah 36:18, plural כֹּתְבִים Jeremiah 32:12; Nehemiah 10:1; passive (113 t.), כָּתוּב Joshua 1:8 +, feminine כְּתוּבָה 2 Samuel 1:18 +, plural כְּתוּבִים 1 Kings 15:7 +, כְּתֻבִים 1 Kings 11:41 +; feminine plural כְּתוּבוֺת2Chronicles 34:24; —

1 write:

a. with accusative, words Exodus 34:27, commandments Exodus 24:12, etc.; accusative of congnate meaning with verb מכתב Exodus 39:30, compare כַּמִּכְתָּב Deuteronomy 10:4; with כְּ, giving purport of writing, also Esther 8:8; but object also a book, סֵפֶר Exodus 32:32; Deuteronomy 24:1; מְגִלָּה Jeremiah 38:6, compare participle pass, וְהִיא כְּתוּבָה מָּנִים וְאָחוֺר Ezekiel 2:10 ( of מגלה; i.e. written on both sides); a letter, סֵפָר 2 Samuel 11:14; 2 Kings 10:1 4t., אִגֶּרֶת2Chronicles 30:1; a divorce-certificate סֵפֶר כְּרִיתֻת Deuteronomy 24:1, etc.; even לֻחֹת כְּתֻבִים tablets inscribed by the finger of God Exodus 31:18 compare Deuteronomy 9:10; מִשְּׁנֵי עֶבְרֵיהֶם ׳כ ׳ל Exodus 32:15 tables inscribed on both sides (compare Ezekiel 2:10 above) Here belongs (probably) ׳וְזֶה יִכְתֹּב יָדוֺ לי Isaiah 44:5 and this one shall inscribe his hand, 'Yahweh's', so ᵐ5 Hi Kn Che Br Du Di, Ges Ew De, shall sign (with) his hand unto ׳י.

b. more often write something on, or in (עַלֿ85t., בְ44t., אֶלֿ3t.) a tablet, roll, book, etc. (object various, as above): — (I) עַלֿ ׳כ followed by סֵפֶר = book Deuteronomy 17:18 55t., especially in phrase ׳כתובים עלסֿפר דברי וגו 1 Kings 11:41 + often Kings Chronicles; עַלמְֿגִּלָּה ׳כ Jeremiah 36:2; Jeremiah 36:28; Jeremiah 36:32; Jeremiah 38:29; עַללֿוּח(ותׅ ׳כ Exodus 34:1 7t., עַלאֶֿבֶן Deuteronomy 27:3 2t., עַלגּֿלָּיוֺן Isaiah 8:1; עַלמְֿזֻזוֺת בַּיִת Deuteronomy 6:9; Deuteronomy 11:20; עַלמַֿטֶּה on a rod Numbers 17:17; Numbers 17:18; עַלעֵֿץ Ezekiel 37:16 (twice in verse), עַלצִֿיץ (high priest's plate) Exodus 39:30; even (only Chronicles) עַלֿ followed by name of book or its contents: — עַלדִּֿבְרֵי נָתָן ׳כ2Chronicles 9:29; compare 2 Chronicles 33:19; ׳עַלמִֿדְרַשׁ וגו2Chronicles 24:27; עַלהַֿקִּינוֺת2Chronicles 35:25; figurative, עַללִֿבָּם ׳כ Jeremiah 31:83 I will write them upon their heart; compare עַללֿוּחַ לִבֶּ֑ךָ ׳כ Proverbs 3:3. (2) אֶלֿ ׳כ appears for עַלֿ ׳כ only Jeremiah 36:2 compare Ezekiel 2:10; Jeremiah 51:60. (3) בְּ ׳כ followed by ספר = book Joshua 24:26 (E) + 35 t.; = letter, bill, deed, 1 Kings 21:9 5t.; בִּמְגִלַּת סֵפֶר כָּתוּב עָלָ֑י Psalm 40:8 it is prescribed to me, על as 2 Kings 22:13 (N.B. עלֿ ׳כ not used with סֵפֶר = letter, and בְּ ׳כ not used with לוּחַ, אבן or עֵץ).

c. other uses of perp. with ׳כ are: — בְּ instrumental, בְּחֶרֶט אֱנוֺשׁ ׳כ Isaiah 8:1, בְּעֵט בַּרְזֶל ׳כ Jeremiah 17:1; כְּתֻבִים בְּאֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים Deuteronomy 9:10; Exodus 31:18; אֶלֿ ׳כ unto, of person to whom letter, etc., is addressed 2 Samuel 11:14; 2 Kings 10:6; Esther 9:13; עַלֿ substantive for אֶלֿ (late) 2 Chronicles 30:1; Ezra 4:7; Esther 8:8; the fuller construction is ספר וישׁלח (אֶלֿׅ ׳כ 2 Kings 10:1; Esther 8:10; Esther 9:20 +; אֶלֿ ׳כ write down for the benefit or use of some one, Judges 8:14; לְ to or for, Deuteronomy 17:18; Deuteronomy 24:1 +; note especially אֶכְתָּו֯בלֿוֺ רֻבֵּו֯ תּוֺרָתִי Hosea 8:12, i.e. either, I write (keep writing) for them ever so many (We, רֹב, compare Ew and most רִבּוֺ(אׅ a myriad) of my directions, or 'Though I write,' 'Were I to write,' etc.; ׳כ followed by ל with infinitive of purpose 2 Chronicles 32:17; Esther 8:5; with מִן in phrase ׳מִמִּי פ ׳כ write from the mouth of any one i.e. from dictation, Jeremiah 36:2,32; Jeremiah 38:6,17,27; Jeremiah 45:1.

2 = write down describe in writing, אֶתהָֿאָרֶץ ׳כ Judges 18:4,6,8 (3 t. in verse); Judges 18:9.

3 = register enroll Isaiah 10:19 (= record the number), 1 Chronicles 24:6; especially passive הַכְּתוּבִים Numbers 11:26 those enrolled compare Nehemiah 12:22; בְּשֵׁמוֺת ׳הַכּ 1 Chronicles 4:41 those recorded by name; in prediction, אֶתהָֿאִישׁ ׳כ הַזֶּה עֲרִירִי Jeremiah 22:30 register this man as childless; with eschatological reference, כָּלהַֿכָּתוּב לַחַיִּים Isaiah 4:3 all those enrolled (i.e. appointed) unto life; and, more explicitly, כָּלהַֿנִּמְצָא כָּתוּב בַּסֵּפֶר Daniel 12:1; יִסְמֹּר בִּכְתוֺבּ עַמִּים ׳י Psalm 87:6 ׳י shall reckon, when he registers (note absence of suffix) the peoples, etc.

4 = decree, תִּכְתֹּב עָלַי מְרֹרוֺת Job 13:26 thou (׳י) decrest against me bitter things.

Niph`al (chiefly late, especially Esther), Imperfect יִכָּתֵב Esther 1:19 +, 3 feminine singular תִּכָּ֫תֶב זֹאת Psalm 102:19; 3masculine plural יִכָּתֵ֑בוּ Jeremiah 17:13 3t., יִכָּֽתְבוּן Job 19:23; Participle נִכְתָּב Esther 3:12 2t.; —

1 be written, subject words Job 19:23, book Malachi 3:16; be written בְּסֵפֶר Esther 2:23; Esther 9:23, in, or among ב the laws Esther 1:19; once, with עַלֿ, עַלסִֿפְרְךָ כֻּלָּם יִכָּתֵ֑בוּ Psalm 139:16 in thy ׳י's book all of them (my members) are written, i.e. written down, recorded (see below); absolute כְּתָב אֲשֶׁר נִכְתָּב בְּשֵׁם הַמֶּלֶךְ Esther 8:8 a writing which is written in the king's name, compare (impersonal) Esther 3:12; impersonal also וַיִּכָּתֵב כְּכָלאֲֿשֶׁר צִוָּה Esther 3:12; Esther 8:9; ׳יִכָּ followed by לְ = for Psalm 102:19; followed by לְ + infinitive (really = a subject-cl., — the contents of the letter) Esther 3:9; Esther 8:5.

2 be written down, recorded, Ezra 8:34; enrolled, בִּכְתָב בית ישׂראל לֹא יִכָּתֵ֑בוּ Ezekiel 13:9 in the enrolement of the house of Israel they are not enrolled (eschatolog.); וְעִםצַֿדִּיקִים אַליִֿכָּתֵ֑בוּ Psalm 69:29 ("" חַיִּים יִמָּחוּ מִסֵּפֶר) — בָּאָרֶץ יִכָּתֵ֑בוּ Jeremiah 17:13 is difficult; Gie reads, plausibly, מֵאֶרֶץ יִכָּרֵ֑תוּ (compare Psalm 34:17; Psalm 101:8, etc.)

Pi`el frequently, Perfect and Participle, only כִּתֵּ֑בוּוּמְכַתְּבִים עָמָל Isaiah 10:1 and busy writers that make a business of writing oppression (i.e. register unjust sentences, compare Qal 4; "" הַחֹקֲקִים חִקֲקֵיאָֿוֶן).

כְּתַב verb write (see Biblical Hebrew); —

Pe`al Perfect3masculine singular ׳כ Daniel 6:26 ל person + oratio recta [direct speech], Daniel 7:1 accusative of thing; 3 masculine plural כְּתַ֫בוּ Ezra 4:8 accusative אִגְּרָה; 1 plural נִכְתּוּב Ezra 5:10, accusative of thing; Participle active absolute feminine singular כָּֽתְבָה Daniel 5:5, subject יְדָא, feminine plural כָּֽתְבָן Daniel 5:5, subject אֶצְבְּעָן.

Pe`il (W^{CG 224}) Perfect3masculine singular כִּדְנָה כְּ תִּיבEzra 5:7 thus (it) was written, so ׳כֵּן כ Ezra 6:2.

describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, writing,

A primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe) -- describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten).

אֶ֨כְתָּב־ אֶכְתֲּבֶ֑נָּה אכתב־ אכתבנה בְּכָתְבוֹ֩ בִּכְת֣וֹב בַּכְּתֻבִ֔ים בכתבו בכתבים בכתוב הַכְּתֻבִ֖ים הַכְּתֻבִ֣ים הַכְּתוּב֣וֹת הַכְּתוּבִ֖ים הַכְּתוּבִ֨ים הַכְּתוּבָ֕ה הַכְּתוּבָ֖ה הַכָּת֔וּב הַכָּת֖וּב הַכָּת֥וּב הַכָּתוּב֙ הַכֹּתְבִ֖ים הכתבים הכתוב הכתובה הכתובות הכתובים וְ֠כָתַב וְאֶכְתֹּב֙ וְיִכְתְּב֥וּ וְיִכָּתְב֣וּן וְיִכָּתֵ֛ב וְכִתְב֤וּ וְכָ֨תַב וְכָת֣וּב וְכָת֥וּב וְכָת֨וֹב וְכָתַבְתִּי֙ וְכָתַבְתָּ֣ וְכֹתְבִ֑ים וְנִכְתָּ֖ב וַ֠יִּכָּתֵב וַ֠תִּכְתֹּב וַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֔ם וַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֗ם וַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֡ם וַיִּכְתְּב֣וּ וַיִּכְתְּב֧וּהָ וַיִּכְתָּב־ וַיִּכְתֹּ֗ב וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב וַיִּכְתֹּ֤ב וַיִּכְתֹּ֥ב וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב וַיִּכְתֹּב֩ וַיִּכָּתֵ֗ב וַיִּכָּתֵ֣ב וַיִּכָּתֵ֥ב וַתִּכְתֹּ֤ב וַתִּכְתֹּ֥ב וָאֶכְתֹּ֤ב וּֽמְכַתְּבִ֥ים וּכְת֣וֹב וּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם וּכְתֹ֖ב וּכְתֹ֣ב וּכְתֹ֤ב ואכתב ויכתב ויכתב־ ויכתבו ויכתבוה ויכתבון ויכתבם וכתב וכתבו וכתבים וכתבת וכתבתי וכתבתם וכתוב ומכתבים ונכתב ותכתב יִכְתְּבֵֽם׃ יִכְתֹּ֤ב יִכָּ֫תֵ֥בוּ יִכָּתֵ֔בוּ יִכָּתֵ֖ב יִכָּתֵ֞ב יִכָּתֵֽבוּ׃ יכתב יכתבו יכתבו׃ יכתבם׃ כְּת֣וֹב כְּתָב־ כְּתֹ֨ב כְּתֻבִ֔ים כְּתֻבִ֖ים כְּתֻבִ֗ים כְּתֻבִֽים׃ כְּתֻבִים֙ כְּתוּבִ֔ים כְּתוּבִ֕ים כְּתוּבִ֖ים כְּתוּבִ֗ים כְּתוּבִ֜ים כְּתוּבִים֙ כְּתוּבָ֛ה כְּתוּבָה֙ כְתוּבִ֗ים כְתוּבָ֖ה כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ כִּכְתָבָ֖ם כִּתְב֞וּ כִּתְב֤וּ כִּתְב֨וּ כִּתֵּֽבוּ׃ כַּכָּת֑וּב כַּכָּת֕וּב כַּכָּת֖וּב כַּכָּת֛וּב כַּכָּת֣וּב כַּכָּתֽוּב׃ כַּכָּתוּב֙ כַכָּת֑וּב כַכָּת֣וּב כָּ֝תְבֵ֗ם כָּ֝תַ֗ב כָּת֗וּב כָּת֣וּב כָּת֥וּב כָּתְב֣וּ כָּתַ֔ב כָּתַ֖בְתִּי כָּתַ֗ב כָּתַ֛ב כָּתַ֛בְתָּ כָּתַ֣ב כָּתַ֥ב כָּתַ֨ב כָּתַ֨בְתָּ כָּתַֽבְתָּ־ כָּתַב֙ כָּתָֽבְתָּ׃ כָּתוּב֙ כָת֔וּב כָת֗וּב כָתְבָ֥הּ כָתַ֣בְתִּי כֹּתֵ֥ב כְּתָב־ ככתבה ככתבם ככתוב ככתוב׃ כתב כתב־ כתבה כתבו כתבו׃ כתבים כתבים׃ כתבם כתבת כתבת־ כתבת׃ כתבתי כתוב כתובה כתובים ל֔וֹ לְךָ֙ לִכְתֹּ֛ב לִכְתֹּ֨ב לו לך לכתב נִכְתָּ֔ב נִכְתָּ֣ב נכתב תִּכְתְּב֤וּ תִּכְתֹּ֖ב תִּכְתֹּ֧ב תִּכָּ֣תֶב תִכְתֹּ֣ב תכתב תכתבו ’eḵ·tă·ḇen·nāh ’eḵ·tāḇ- ’eḵtāḇ- ’eḵtăḇennāh bak·kə·ṯu·ḇîm bakkəṯuḇîm bakketuVim bə·ḵā·ṯə·ḇōw bechateVo bəḵāṯəḇōw bichTov biḵ·ṯō·wḇ biḵṯōwḇ chakkaTuv chaTavti chateVah chaTuv chetuVah chetuVim echtaVennah Echtov hak·kā·ṯūḇ hak·kə·ṯū·ḇāh hak·kə·ṯu·ḇîm hak·kə·ṯū·ḇîm hak·kə·ṯū·ḇō·wṯ hak·kō·ṯə·ḇîm hakkāṯūḇ hakkaTuv hakkəṯūḇāh hakkəṯuḇîm hakkəṯūḇîm hakkəṯūḇōwṯ hakketuVah hakketuVim hakketuVot hakkōṯəḇîm hakkoteVim kā·ṯā·ḇə·tā kā·ṯaḇ kā·ṯaḇ·tā kā·ṯaḇ·tā- kā·ṯaḇ·tî ḵā·ṯaḇ·tî ḵā·ṯə·ḇāh kā·ṯə·ḇêm kā·ṯə·ḇū kā·ṯūḇ ḵā·ṯūḇ kak·kā·ṯūḇ ḵak·kā·ṯūḇ kakkāṯūḇ ḵakkāṯūḇ kakkaTuv kāṯaḇ kāṯāḇətā kāṯaḇtā kāṯaḇtā- kāṯaḇtî ḵāṯaḇtî kaTav kaTaveta katavta kaTavti ḵāṯəḇāh kāṯəḇêm kāṯəḇū kateVem kateVu kāṯūḇ ḵāṯūḇ kaTuv kə·ṯāḇ- kə·ṯō·wḇ kə·ṯōḇ kə·ṯū·ḇāh ḵə·ṯū·ḇāh kə·ṯu·ḇîm kə·ṯū·ḇîm ḵə·ṯū·ḇîm kəṯāḇ- keTo kəṯōḇ ketov kəṯōwḇ kəṯūḇāh ḵəṯūḇāh kəṯuḇîm kəṯūḇîm ḵəṯūḇîm ketuVah ketuVim kichtaVah kichtaVam kiḵ·ṯā·ḇāh kiḵ·ṯā·ḇām kiḵṯāḇāh kiḵṯāḇām kiṯ·ḇū kit·tê·ḇū kiṯḇū kittêḇū kitTevu kitVu kō·ṯêḇ kōṯêḇ koTev lə·ḵā leCha ləḵā lichTo liḵ·tōḇ liḵtōḇ lo lōw nichTav niḵ·tāḇ niḵtāḇ tichteVu tichTo tik·kā·ṯeḇ tiḵ·tə·ḇū tiḵ·tōḇ ṯiḵ·tōḇ tikkāṯeḇ tikKatev tiḵtəḇū tiḵtōḇ ṯiḵtōḇ ū·ḵə·ṯaḇ·tām ū·ḵə·ṯō·wḇ ū·ḵə·ṯōḇ ū·mə·ḵat·tə·ḇîm uchetavTam ucheTo ucheTov ūḵəṯaḇtām ūḵəṯōḇ ūḵəṯōwḇ umechatteVim ūməḵattəḇîm vaechTo vaiyichteVem vaiyichteVu vaiyichteVuha vaiyichTo vaiyichtov vaiyikkaTev vattichTo Vechatav vechatavTa vechatavTi vechaTov vechaTuv vechitVu vechoteVim veechTo venichTav veyichteVu veyikkaTev veyikkateVun wā’eḵtōḇ wā·’eḵ·tōḇ wat·tiḵ·tōḇ wattiḵtōḇ way·yik·kā·ṯêḇ way·yiḵ·tāḇ- way·yiḵ·tə·ḇêm way·yiḵ·tə·ḇū way·yiḵ·tə·ḇū·hā way·yiḵ·tōḇ wayyikkāṯêḇ wayyiḵtāḇ- wayyiḵtəḇêm wayyiḵtəḇū wayyiḵtəḇūhā wayyiḵtōḇ wə’eḵtōḇ wə·’eḵ·tōḇ wə·ḵā·ṯaḇ wə·ḵā·ṯaḇ·tā wə·ḵā·ṯaḇ·tî wə·ḵā·ṯō·wḇ wə·ḵā·ṯūḇ wə·ḵiṯ·ḇū wə·ḵō·ṯə·ḇîm wə·niḵ·tāḇ wə·yik·kā·ṯə·ḇūn wə·yik·kā·ṯêḇ wə·yiḵ·tə·ḇū wəḵāṯaḇ wəḵāṯaḇtā wəḵāṯaḇtî wəḵāṯōwḇ wəḵāṯūḇ wəḵiṯḇū wəḵōṯəḇîm wəniḵtāḇ wəyikkāṯêḇ wəyikkāṯəḇūn wəyiḵtəḇū yichteVem yichTo yik·kā·ṯê·ḇū yik·kā·ṯêḇ yiḵ·tə·ḇêm yiḵ·tōḇ yikkāṯêḇ yikkāṯêḇū yikkaTev yikkaTevu yiḵtəḇêm yiḵtōḇInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts