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Lexicon :: Strong's H3789 - kāṯaḇ

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Dec 4, 2026 - 00:00
Dec 4, 2026 - 00:00
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כָּתַב
Transliteration
kāṯaḇ
Pronunciation
kaw-thab'
Part of Speech
verb
Root Word (Etymology)
A primitive root
Dictionary Aids

TWOT Reference: 1053

Strong’s Definitions

כָּתַב kâthab, kaw-thab'; a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe):—describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten).

KJV Translation Count — Total: 223x

The KJV translates Strong's H3789 in the following manner: write (210x), describe (7x), subscribe (4x), recorded (1x), write up (1x).

KJV Translation Count — Total: 223x
The KJV translates Strong's H3789 in the following manner: write (210x), describe (7x), subscribe (4x), recorded (1x), write up (1x).

  1. to write, record, enrol

    1. (Qal)

      1. to write, inscribe, engrave, write in, write on

      2. to write down, describe in writing

      3. to register, enrol, record

      4. to decree

    2. (Niphal)

      1. to be written

      2. to be written down, be recorded, be enrolled

    3. (Piel) to continue writing

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
כָּתַב kâthab, kaw-thab'; a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe):—describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten).
STRONGS H3789: Abbreviations
כָּתַב 223 verb write (Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician כתב; Aramaic כְּתַב, Nabataean כתב, see especially Nö in EutNab. p. 43; thence Arabic Ethiopic book, DiLex. 852 (as loan-words, Frä249 DHMVOJ i (1887), 29); MV Buhl compare Arabic draw or sew together, conjoin (letters), etc., compare FlZMG 1873, 427) —
Qal Perfect כ׳ Joshua 8:32 +, כָּתַבְתָּ Jeremiah 36:6 +, suffix וּכְתַבְתָּם consecutive Deuteronomy 6:9; Deuteronomy 11:20, etc. (Perfect + 27 times); Imperfect יִכְתֹּב Isaiah 44:5, וַיִּכְתֹּב Exodus 24:4 +, etc. (Imperfect + 39 times); Imperative כְּתֹב Isaiah 8:1 + 5 times, כְּתָבֿ Exodus 34:27 + 2 times; suffix כָּתְבָהּ Isaiah 30:8, כָּתְבֵם Proverbs 3:3; Proverbs 7:3; plural כִּתְבוּ Deuteronomy 31:9 + 3 times; 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 times), כָּתוּב Joshua 1:8 +, feminine כְּתוּבָה 2 Samuel 1:18 +, plural כְּתוּבִים 1 Kings 15:7 +, כְּתֻבִים 1 Kings 11:41 +; feminine plural כְּתוּבוֺת 2 Chronicles 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 + 4 times, אִגֶּרֶת 2 Chronicles 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 Hi Kn Che Br Du Di, Ges Ew De, shall sign (with) his hand unto י׳.
b. more often write something on, or in (עַלֿ + 85 times, בְ + 44 times, אֶלֿ + 3 times) a tablet, roll, book, etc. (object various, as above): —
(1) עַלֿ כ׳ followed by סֵפֶר = book Deuteronomy 17:18 + 55 times, 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 + 7 times, עַלאֶֿבֶן Deuteronomy 27:3 + 2 times, 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 כ׳ 2 Chronicles 9:29; compare 2 Chronicles 33:19; עַלמִֿדְרַשׁ וגו׳ 2 Chronicles 24:27; עַלהַֿקִּינוֺת 2 Chronicles 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 times; = letter, bill, deed, 1 Kings 21:9 + 5 times; 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 times 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; עַפִּים בִּכְתוֺב 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. (chiefly late, especially Esther), Imperfect יִכָּתֵב Esther 1:19 +, 3rd person feminine singular תִּכָּ֫תֶב זֹאת Psalm 102:19; 3rd person masculine plural יִכָּתֵ֑בוּ Jeremiah 17:13 + 3 times, יִכָּֽתְבוּן Job 19:23; Participle נִכְתָּב Esther 3:12 + 2 times; —
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 (eschatological); 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. 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).

See related Aramaic BDB entry H3790.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.
All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com

BLB Scripture Index of Brown-Driver-Briggs

Exodus

24:4; 24:12; 31:18; 31:18; 32:15; 32:32; 34:1; 34:27; 34:27; 39:30; 39:30

Numbers

11:26

Deuteronomy

6:9; 6:9; 9:10; 9:10; 10:4; 11:20; 11:20; 17:18; 17:18; 24:1; 24:1; 24:1; 27:3; 31:9; 31:24

Joshua

1:8; 8:32; 18:8; 24:26

Judges

8:14; 18:4; 18:6; 18:8; 18:9

2 Samuel

1:18; 11:14; 11:14

1 Kings

11:41; 11:41; 15:7; 21:9

2 Kings

10:1; 10:1; 10:6; 22:13

1 Chronicles

4:41; 24:6

2 Chronicles

9:29; 24:27; 30:1; 30:1; 32:17; 33:19; 34:24; 35:25

Ezra

4:7; 8:34

Nehemiah

10:1; 12:22

Esther

1:19; 1:19; 2:23; 3:9; 3:12; 3:12; 3:12; 8:5; 8:5; 8:8; 8:8; 8:8; 8:9; 8:10; 9:13; 9:20; 9:23

Job

13:26; 19:23; 19:23

Psalms

34:17; 40:8; 69:29; 87:6; 101:8; 102:19; 102:19; 139:16

Proverbs

3:3; 3:3; 7:3

Isaiah

4:3; 8:1; 8:1; 8:1; 10:1; 10:19; 30:8; 44:5; 44:5

Jeremiah

17:1; 17:13; 17:13; 22:30; 32:12; 32:44; 36:2; 36:2; 36:2; 36:6; 36:18; 36:28; 36:32; 36:32; 38:6; 38:6; 38:17; 38:27; 45:1; 45:1; 51:60

Ezekiel

2:10; 2:10; 2:10; 13:9; 37:16

Daniel

12:1

Hosea

8:12

Malachi

3:16

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