### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term `{{G974}}` (bibliarídion) is a diminutive form derived from `{{G975}}` (biblíon), which signifies a "book," "scroll," or "document." The suffix "-idion" consistently conveys the idea of smallness, tenderness, or sometimes endearment or contempt. In the context of `{{G974}}`, it unambiguously denotes a "small book" or "booklet." This suggests a written document that is compact, perhaps less extensive, or specifically focused in its content, distinguishing it from a larger `{{G975}}` or `{{G976}}` (bíblos). The core meaning emphasizes a physical object, a written record, but its diminutive nature points to a specific, perhaps contained, revelation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{G974}}` appears exclusively in the book of Revelation, specifically in chapter 10. Its four occurrences are central to a significant prophetic vision:
* **[[Revelation 10:2]]**: John sees a mighty angel descending from heaven, holding an "open little book" (bibliarídion) in his hand. The open nature suggests its contents are accessible or about to be revealed. The angel's posture, with one foot on the sea and one on the land, indicates a universal authority, implying the message of the `{{G974}}` has global implications.
* **[[Revelation 10:8]]**: A voice from heaven commands John to "go and take the little book" from the angel's hand. This direct command signifies John's active participation in the unfolding divine drama and his commission to receive and transmit the message.
* **[[Revelation 10:9]]**: John approaches the angel and asks for the `{{G974}}`. He is instructed to "take it and eat it." The angel warns that while it will be "sweet as honey in your mouth," it will make his "stomach bitter." This act of consumption is symbolic, indicating the internalization of the divine message.
* **[[Revelation 10:10]]**: John obeys, taking and eating the `{{G974}}`. He experiences the predicted duality: it is indeed sweet in his mouth but becomes bitter in his stomach. Immediately following this, he is told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings." The consumption and subsequent physical reaction are directly linked to his renewed prophetic mandate.
The diminutive size of the `{{G974}}` in this context may emphasize that it contains a specific, perhaps concentrated, segment of God's overall prophetic plan, rather than the entire divine counsel. Its contents are revealed to be both delightful (the inherent truth and goodness of God's word) and difficult (the judgments or suffering it portends) for the prophet to bear and proclaim.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct linguistic relation is to `{{G975}}` (biblíon), the root word for "book" or "scroll," from which `{{G974}}` is a diminutive. Other related terms include `{{G976}}` (bíblos), also meaning "book," often used to refer to the Scriptures.
The concept of a written document conveying divine revelation is central, linking to `{{G1125}}` (graphō), "to write." The `{{G974}}` is a tangible form of `{{G602}}` (apokalypsis), "revelation."
The act of "eating" a scroll or book is a powerful prophetic motif with clear Old Testament precedents:
* **[[Ezekiel 2:9-10]]** and **[[Ezekiel 3:1-3]]**: The prophet Ezekiel is commanded by God to eat a scroll filled with lamentations, mourning, and woe. Like John, Ezekiel finds the scroll "sweet as honey" in his mouth. This parallel highlights a continuity in the divine method of commissioning prophets and the nature of the message they are to embody.
* **[[Jeremiah 15:16]]**: Jeremiah proclaims, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart." This emphasizes the profound personal impact of internalizing God's word.
These connections underscore that the incident in Revelation 10 is not an isolated event but draws upon established biblical patterns of prophetic commissioning and the assimilation of divine truth.
### Theological Significance
The `{{G974}}` (bibliarídion) in Revelation 10 carries profound theological significance:
* **Divine Revelation and Prophetic Mandate:** The `{{G974}}` is a direct vehicle of God's revealed truth, specifically given to John as a prophet. It signifies that God actively communicates His will and future plans to humanity, often through chosen individuals. The command to "eat" the book underscores that divine truth is not merely to be intellectually apprehended but deeply internalized and assimilated into the very being of the prophet.
* **The Dual Nature of God's Word:** The experience of the `{{G974}}` being sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach is a powerful metaphor for the multifaceted nature of God's word, particularly prophetic truth. It is "sweet" because it originates from God, is inherently true, and contains promises of ultimate victory and justice. Yet, it is "bitter" because it often involves difficult truths, pronouncements of judgment, calls to repentance, or foreknowledge of suffering and tribulation that must be proclaimed, even when painful or unpopular. This duality reflects the reality of prophetic ministry, which often entails both comfort and confrontation.
* **The Cost of Prophetic Ministry:** The bitterness experienced by John after consuming the `{{G974}}` symbolizes the personal cost and burden of bearing God's message. To truly internalize God's word means to feel the weight of its judgments and the sorrow of its warnings, even as one delights in its ultimate hope. This prepares the prophet for the challenging task of proclaiming truth to a world that may resist or suffer from it.
* **Continuity of Prophetic Tradition:** The clear echo of Ezekiel's experience emphasizes the enduring nature of God's commissioning of prophets throughout salvation history. It suggests that the prophetic office in the New Testament era, particularly in the context of apocalyptic revelation, stands in continuity with the Old Testament prophetic tradition.
### Summary
The Greek word `{{G974}}` (bibliarídion) precisely means "little book" or "booklet," functioning as a diminutive of `{{G975}}` (biblíon). Its exclusive appearances in the New Testament are within Revelation 10, where it is central to John's prophetic vision and commissioning. A mighty angel holds this open `{{G974}}`, and John is commanded to take and consume it. This act of eating the book, deeply rooted in Old Testament prophetic imagery (e.g., Ezekiel), symbolizes the profound internalization of divine revelation. John's subsequent experience of the `{{G974}}` being sweet in his mouth yet bitter in his stomach powerfully illustrates the dual nature of God's prophetic word: inherently delightful and true in its divine origin, but often challenging, painful, or burdensome in its content, particularly when it concerns judgment or tribulation. The `{{G974}}` thus represents a specific, divinely imparted message that must be fully assimilated by the prophet, preparing him for the weighty and often difficult task of proclaiming God's truth to all peoples.
TRV