γραπτός (graptos)
graptos
written
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective graptos simply means "written." In the New Testament, it appears only once in Romans 2:15, describing the work of the law that is inscribed on the hearts of Gentiles who do not have the written code. This usage highlights a contrast between external records and internal conviction.
Its root comes from the verb graphō, meaning to write or draw. While the word can occasionally refer to painting in classical contexts, its biblical sense focuses on the act of inscription. Here, it emphasizes that the moral requirements are not merely abstract ideas but have been definitively recorded, even if that record exists within a person's conscience rather than on parchment.
This single occurrence underscores a key theological point: divine truth is fixed and unchanging. Whether etched in stone or written on the heart, the standard remains the same. The term reminds readers that God’s moral order is not fluid but established, carrying the weight of authority because it has been set down by the Author Himself.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word graptos simply means written. In Romans 2:15, Paul uses it to describe how the moral law is inscribed on the hearts of those who do not have the written code. This creates a clear contrast between external records and internal conviction. It reminds us that divine truth is fixed and unchanging, whether etched in stone or written on the heart.
This single occurrence underscores a key theological point: God’s moral order is established and carries authority because it has been set down by the Author Himself. For your faith, this offers stability. You are not navigating a fluid standard but one that is definitively recorded. It invites you to trust in the consistency of God's character, known both through Scripture and the witness of conscience.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- written1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- γραπτὸν1×
Key Verses
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Romans 2:15
in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)
This verse uses graptos to contrast external written laws with the internal moral witness found in the Gentile conscience.