ἐπιγράφω (epigraphō)
epigraphō
to write on
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb epigraphō means to write on or inscribe something onto a surface. In its literal sense, it describes the physical act of engraving text, as seen when Pilate placed a notice on the cross in Mark 15:26 or when the altar in Athens bore an inscription "To an Unknown God" in Acts 17:23.
However, the word carries a significant figurative weight in the New Testament. The author of Hebrews uses it to describe God’s law being written on human hearts and minds (Hebrews 8:10; 10:16). This usage echoes the Old Testament promise of a new covenant, shifting the focus from external stone tablets to an internal, personal transformation.
Etymologically, the word combines the prefix ep- ("on") with graphō ("to write"). The sources highlight that this distinction between writing on an external object versus an internal organ is crucial. While translators often render it simply as "write," the Greek emphasizes the permanence and directness of the inscription, whether on metal, stone, or the human conscience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The verb epigraphō describes the act of writing on a surface, whether it is stone, metal, or something far more intimate. In Mark’s Gospel, we see Pilate ordering an inscription placed above Jesus’ head, a public declaration that remained fixed in place. Similarly, Paul notes an altar in Athens bearing a title to a god the Athenians did not yet know. These instances show how writing serves as a permanent record of identity or truth.
Yet the New Testament offers a deeper layer to this word. The writer to the Hebrews quotes God’s promise that He would write His laws on human hearts and minds. This shifts the focus from external tablets of stone to an internal transformation within the believer. It suggests that faith is not just about following rules, but about having God’s character shaped from the inside out.
This distinction invites us to consider where our own values are inscribed. While worldly notices fade or get removed, the spiritual reality described in Hebrews points to a lasting change in how we think and feel. It is an invitation to let divine truth take root deeply, rather than remaining on the surface of our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I will inscribe2×
- written:1×
- inscribed,1×
- had been inscribed:1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπιγράψω2×
- ἐπιγεγραμμένη·1×
- ἐπιγεγραμμένα,1×
- ἐπεγέγραπτο·1×
Key Verses
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Mark 15:26
The superscription of his accusation was written over him: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
This verse uses the word in its literal sense to describe the physical inscription placed above Jesus, identifying Him as 'The King of the Jews.'
-
Hebrews 8:10
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says the Lord: “I will put my laws into their mind; I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Here the word carries figurative weight, describing God’s promise to write His laws directly on the heart, marking the shift to a new covenant.
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Revelation of John 21:12
having a great and high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
The term appears in the vision of the New Jerusalem, where names are written on the gates, symbolizing the permanent identity of God’s people.