(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to סָפַר; a book; book, roll.
Transliteration:çᵉphar
Pronunciation:sef-ar'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word סְפַר (çᵉphar, `{{H5609}}`) is a masculine noun derived from a root corresponding to the Hebrew verb סָפַר (sāphar, `{{H5608}}`), which generally means "to count, recount, relate, tell, or write." While the Hebrew root emphasizes the action of writing or enumerating, the Aramaic noun סְפַר specifically denotes the *product* of that action: a written document. Its core meaning is "a book" or "a roll," referring to a physical scroll or codex containing written information. The semantic range is quite narrow, consistently pointing to official records, decrees, or any significant textual compilation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word סְפַר (çᵉphar, `{{H5609}}`) appears exclusively in the Aramaic sections of the Old Testament, specifically in the books of Ezra and Daniel. Its usage consistently highlights the importance of written records in both secular and divine contexts.
In Ezra, the term refers to official state documents and archives:
* [[Ezra 4:15]]: "search in the book of the records of your fathers" (referring to royal archives or chronicles).
* [[Ezra 4:18]]: "The letter which you sent us has been plainly read before me" (here, a formal letter is treated as a binding document).
* [[Ezra 5:17]]: "let a search be made in the king's treasure house... whether it be so, that a decree was made by King Cyrus" (referring to a royal decree or edict).
* [[Ezra 6:2]]: "And there was found at Achmetha... a roll, and therein was a record thus written" (clearly denoting a physical scroll containing an official record).
In Daniel, the word is used in two distinct, yet related, contexts:
* [[Daniel 5:7]], [[Daniel 5:8]], [[Daniel 5:9]], [[Daniel 5:15]], [[Daniel 5:16]], [[Daniel 5:17]], [[Daniel 5:24]]: Here, סְפַר refers to the mysterious "writing" on the wall during Belshazzar's feast. It signifies a text, a message, or an inscription, emphasizing its legibility and interpretive significance.
* [[Daniel 7:10]]: "The judgment was set, and the books were opened." This is a pivotal theological usage, where "books" represent divine records of judgment or divine decrees, central to the apocalyptic vision.
Across these occurrences, סְפַר consistently denotes a written medium that carries authority, records history, or conveys significant information, whether human or divine in origin.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct linguistic relative is the Hebrew noun סֵפֶר (sēpher, `{{H5612}}`), which is the precise Hebrew equivalent of the Aramaic סְפַר, also meaning "book, scroll, document, or letter." Both words stem from the common Semitic root *s-p-r*, emphasizing the act of writing and counting.
Conceptually, סְפַר is related to:
* **Records and Archives:** As seen in Ezra, it speaks to the meticulous keeping of official documents, royal decrees, and historical chronicles.
* **Divine Revelation:** The concept of written texts as a medium for conveying God's will or judgment (e.g., the Torah, prophetic scrolls).
* **Accountability:** The "books" opened in [[Daniel 7:10]] are inextricably linked to divine judgment and human accountability, echoing the broader biblical theme of God's omniscience and justice.
* **Literacy and Knowledge:** The existence and consultation of "books" imply a culture of literacy and the transmission of knowledge through written means.
In the Greek New Testament, the corresponding terms for "book" or "scroll" are βίβλος (biblos, `{{G975}}`) and βιβλίον (biblion, `{{G976}}`), which carry similar semantic weight regarding written documents, including the "book of life" and the "books" of judgment in Revelation.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of סְפַר (çᵉphar, `{{H5609}}`) is most profoundly expressed in [[Daniel 7:10]], where "the books were opened" in the heavenly court. This imagery is foundational for understanding:
* **Divine Record-Keeping:** It portrays God as meticulously keeping records of human deeds, divine decrees, and the destinies of individuals. This speaks to His perfect knowledge, omniscience, and sovereign control over history.
* **Ultimate Accountability:** The opening of the books signifies a moment of divine judgment, where actions are weighed against divine standards. It underscores the biblical truth that all will give an account before God.
* **Divine Authority and Decrees:** Just as earthly kings issue authoritative decrees recorded in "books" (as in Ezra), God's decrees are eternally recorded and unalterable. The "books" symbolize the unyielding nature of God's justice and His established order.
* **Preservation of Truth:** The concept of written records, whether human chronicles or divine decrees, highlights the enduring nature of truth and the preservation of God's redemptive plan throughout history.
Even in its more mundane uses in Ezra, referring to royal documents, סְפַר subtly points to the authority inherent in the written word, a principle deeply resonant with the authority accorded to God's own written revelation (Scripture).
### Summary
The Aramaic word סְפַר (çᵉphar, `{{H5609}}`) denotes a "book," "roll," or "written document." Found exclusively in the Aramaic portions of Ezra and Daniel, its usage consistently points to significant written materials, ranging from official royal decrees and historical chronicles in Ezra to a mysterious inscription and, most powerfully, the divine "books" of judgment in Daniel. The term underscores the authority, permanence, and revelatory power of written communication. Its theological import culminates in [[Daniel 7:10]], where the "books opened" symbolize God's meticulous record-keeping, His ultimate sovereignty, and the certainty of divine judgment, reinforcing themes of divine omniscience, accountability, and the immutable nature of God's decrees.
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