μεμβράνα (membrana)
membrana
parchment
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun membrana refers to parchment, a writing material made from treated animal skins. It is a loanword from Latin, reflecting the practical reality of ancient book production where this durable surface replaced papyrus in many contexts.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in 2 Timothy 4:13. Paul asks Timothy to bring him his cloak and scrolls, specifically mentioning the parchments. This detail highlights the personal nature of his request and the value placed on portable written records during his imprisonment.
Its rarity in Scripture underscores its role as a specific material reference rather than a theological concept. The term points to the tangible tools used to preserve and transmit the early Christian message, grounding the spiritual text in everyday historical reality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word membrana refers to parchment, a durable writing surface made from treated animal skins. In the ancient world, this material was prized for its longevity and portability compared to papyrus. When Paul mentions these items in his final letter to Timothy, he is not speaking of abstract theology but of tangible objects that carried the weight of his ministry.
This detail invites us to consider how God uses ordinary materials to preserve His message. The physical scrolls and parchments were essential tools for transmitting the Gospel across distances and generations. They remind us that faith is not detached from history or material reality, but grounded in real people using real resources.
For your own life, this can be a comforting thought. Just as these durable sheets preserved Paul’s words, God cares about the practical means by which His truth is shared. Whether through books, digital files, or personal letters, He uses everyday tools to sustain His church. You can trust that He values the tangible ways you engage with Scripture and community.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- parchments.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μεμβράνας.¶1×
Key Verses
-
II Timothy 4:13
Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where Paul specifically requests parchments to preserve his writings during imprisonment.