King James Bible Dictionary

This word has a comprehensive meaning in Scripture. In the Old Testament it is the rendering of the Hebrew word sepher, which properly means a "writing," and then a "volume" (Exodus 17:14; Deuteronomy 28:58; 29:20; Job 19:23) or "roll of a book" (Jeremiah 36:2, 4).

Books were originally written on skins, on linen or cotton cloth, and on Egyptian papyrus, whence our word "paper." The leaves of the book were generally written in columns, designated by a Hebrew word properly meaning "doors" and "valves" (Jeremiah 36:23, R.V., marg. "columns").

Among the Hebrews books were generally rolled up like our maps, or if very long they were rolled from both ends, forming two rolls (Luke 4:17-20). Thus they were arranged when the writing was on flexible materials; but if the writing was on tablets of wood or brass or lead, then the several tablets were bound together by rings through which a rod was passed.

A sealed book is one whose contents are secret (Isaiah 29:11; Revelation 5:1-3). To "eat" a book (Jeremiah 15:16; Ezekiel 2:8-10; 3:1-3; Revelation 10:9) is to study its contents carefully.

The book of judgment (Daniel 7:10) refers to the method of human courts of justice as illustrating the proceedings which will take place at the day of God's final judgment.

The book of the wars of the Lord (Numbers 21:14), the book of Jasher (Joshua 10:13), and the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah and Israel (2 Chronicles 25:26), were probably ancient documents known to the Hebrews, but not forming a part of the canon.

The book of life (Psalms 69:28) suggests the idea that as the redeemed form a community or citizenship (Philippians 3:20; 4:3), a catalogue of the citizens' names is preserved (Luke 10:20; Revelation 20:15). Their names are registered in heaven (Luke 10:20; Revelation 3:5).

The book of the covenant (Exodus 24:7), containing Exodus 20:22-23:33, is the first book actually mentioned as a part of the written word. It contains a series of laws, civil, social, and religious, given to Moses at Sinai immediately after the delivery of the decalogue. These were written in this "book."

Genealogies kept in
Genesis 5:1

Law of Moses written in
Numbers 5:23; Deuteronomy 17:18; Deuteronomy 31:9; Deuteronomy 31:24; Deuteronomy 31:26; 2 Kings 22:8

Topography of Palestine, recorded in
Joshua 18:9

Chronicles of the times kept in:

By Jasher
Joshua 10:13; 2 Samuel 1:18

By Samuel, Nathan, and Gad
1 Samuel 10:25; 1 Chronicles 29:29

By Iddo
2 Chronicles 12:15; 2 Chronicles 13:22

By Isaiah
2 Chronicles 26:22; 2 Chronicles 32:32; Isaiah 8:1

Of the kings of Judah and Israel:

Of the kings of Judah and Israel:
1 Chronicles 27:24

Of Solomon
1 Kings 11:41

Of Jehu
2 Chronicles 20:34

Of other kings
2 Chronicles 24:27; 2 Chronicles 16:11; 2 Chronicles 25:26; 2 Chronicles 27:7; 2 Chronicles 28:26; 2 Chronicles 35:27; 2 Chronicles 36:8

Of the kings of Israel
1 Kings 14:19; 2 Chronicles 20:34; 2 Chronicles 33:18

Other records kept in
Ezra 4:15; Ezra 6:1-2; Esther 6:1; Esther 9:32; Jeremiah 32:12; Acts 19:19

Prophecies written in, by Jeremiah
Jeremiah 25:13; Jeremiah 30:2; Jeremiah 45:1; Jeremiah 51:60; Jeremiah 51:63; Daniel 9:2

Other prophecies written in
2 Chronicles 33:18-19

Lamentations written in
2 Chronicles 35:25

Numerous
Ecclesiastes 12:12

Eating of
Jeremiah 15:16; Ezekiel 2:8-10; Ezekiel 3:1-3; Revelation 10:2-10

Of magic
Acts 19:19

Paul's left at Troas
2 Timothy 4:13

Made in a roll
Jeremiah 36:4; Zech 5:1

Sealed
Isaiah 29:11; Daniel 12:4; Revelation 5:1-5

Kirjath-Jearim was called Kirjath-Sepher, which signifies a city of books
Joshua 15:15-16; Judges 1:11-12

Of life
Exodus 32:32-33; Psalms 69:28; Psalms 87:6; Daniel 12:1; Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:19

Of remembrance
Psalms 56:8; Psalms 139:16; Malachi 3:16

[WRITING]

BOOK, noun [Like the Latin liber, book signifies primarily bark and beech, the tree being probably named from its bark.]

A general name of every literary composition which is printed; but appropriately, a printed composition bound; a volume. The name is given also to any number of written sheets when bound or sewed together, and to a volume of blank paper, intended for any species of writing, as for memorandums, for accounts, or receipts.

1. A particular part of a literary composition; a division of a subject in the same volume.

2. A volume or collection of sheets in which accounts are kept; a register of debts and credits, receipts and expenditures, etc.

In books, in kind remembrance; in favor.

I was so much in his books, that at his decease he left me his lamp.

Without book by memory; without reading; without notes; as, a sermon was delivered without book This phrase is used also in the sense of without authority; as, a man asserts without book

BOOK, verb transitive To enter, write or register in a book

BOOK-ACCOUNT',noun [book and account.] An account or register of debt or credit in a book.

BOOK'BINDER, noun [book and bind.] One whose occupation is to bind books.

BOOK'BINDING,noun The art or practice of binding books; or of sewing

the sheets, and covering them with leather or other material.

BOOK'ED, participle passive Written in a book; registered.

BOOK'FUL, adjective [book and full.] Full of notions gleaned from books; crowded with undigested learning.

BOOK'ING, participle present tense Registering in a book.

BOOK'ISH, adjective Given to reading; fond of study; more acquainted with books than with men.

BOOK'ISHLY, adverb In the way of being addicted to books or much reading.

BOOK'ISHNESS, noun Addictedness to books; fondness for study.

BOOK'-KEEPER,noun [book and keep.] One who keeps accounts, or the accounts of another; the officer who has the charge of keeping the books and accounts in a public office.

BOOK'-KEEPING, noun [book and keep.] The art of recording mercantile transactions in a regular and systematic manner; the art of keeping accounts in such a manner, that a man may know the true state of his business and property, or of his debts and credits, by an inspection of his books.

The books for this purpose are, 1. a Waste Book, or blotter, in which are registered all accounts or transactions in the order in which they take place. 2. The Journal, which contains the accounts transferred from the waste book, in the same order, but expressed in a technical style; 3. the Leger, in which articles of the same kind are collected together, from the journal, and arranged under proper titles.

In addition to these, several others are used; as cash-book; book of charges of merchandize; book of house-expenses; invoice-book; sales-book; bill-book; receipt-book; letter-book; pocket-book; the use of which may be understood from the names.

BOOK'LAND

BOOK'LEARNED, adjective [book and learn.] Versed in books; acquainted with books and literature; a term sometimes implying an ignorance of men, or of the common concerns of life.

BOOK'LEARNING, noun Learning acquired by reading; acquaintance with books and literature; sometimes implying want of practical knowledge.

BOOK'LESS, adjective [book and less.] Without books; unlearned.

BOOK'MAKING, noun The practice of writing and publishing books.

BOOK'MAN, noun [book and man.] A man whose profession is the study of books.

BOOK'MATE,noun [book and mate.] A school-fellow.

BOOK'OATH, noun The oath made on the book, or Bible.

BOOK'SELLER, noun [book and sell.] One whose occupation is to see books.

BOOKSTORE, noun A shop where books are sold.

BOOK'WORM, noun [book and worm.] A worm or mite that eats holes in books.

1. A student closely attached to books, or addicted to study; also, a reader without judgment.