מְגִלָּה (me.gil.lah)
me.gil.lah
scroll
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun megillah refers to a scroll, specifically one made by rolling up sheets of material such as papyrus or leather. In the Hebrew Bible, this term distinguishes written documents from tablets or scrolls that were unrolled for reading. It appears fourteen times in Scripture, with significant usage in the books of Jeremiah and Zechariah.
Its root relates to the action of rolling or unfolding, capturing the physical nature of ancient writing materials before the codex became standard. This word often denotes a formal record or decree, such as the scroll Jeremiah was commanded to write down (Jeremiah 36:2). The term also appears in Zechariah’s vision of a flying scroll measuring specific dimensions, symbolizing a curse going out over the land (Zechariah 5:1-4).
Translators typically render megillah as "scroll" or "book," depending on context. While similar to other Hebrew words for writing instruments, megillah emphasizes the rolled format rather than the content itself. This distinction helps readers visualize how ancient texts were stored and accessed in biblical times.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
A megillah was not just paper; it was a vessel for truth that required effort to handle. In ancient times, reading meant unrolling heavy sheets of papyrus or leather, column by column. This physical act reminds us that God’s words are substantial and enduring. They are not fleeting whispers but recorded realities that demand our attention and care.
When King Jehoiakim burned Jeremiah’s scroll, he tried to erase the message, yet God commanded a new one to be written with even more added (Jeremiah 36:32). This shows that human attempts to silence truth often fail. Your faith is built on these enduring records. When you read Scripture, you are holding the same kind of lasting witness that survived fire and time.
Consider Zechariah’s vision of a flying scroll measuring twenty by ten cubits (Zechariah 5:2). It represented a curse going out over the land, showing that God’s word carries weight and consequence. Whether it brings judgment or grace, the message remains intact. You can trust that what is written in Scripture will stand firm against every attempt to destroy it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ scroll9×
- a scroll4×
- a scroll of2×
- in the/ scroll1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְגִלָּ֣ה3×
- הַ/מְּגִלָּה֙3×
- מְגִלַּת\־2×
- הַ/מְּגִלָּ֔ה2×
- מְגִלָּ֥ה1×
- הַ/מְּגִלָּ֤ה1×
- הַ/מְּגִלָּ֣ה1×
- הַ/מְּגִלָּ֗ה1×
- הַ/מְּגִלָּ֑ה1×
- בַ/מְּגִלָּ֣ה1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 36:2
“Take a scroll of a book, and write in it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day.
This verse establishes the scroll as a formal instrument for recording divine judgment against nations, highlighting its role in preserving God's spoken word.
-
Jeremiah 36:23
When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.
The king’s act of cutting and burning the scroll demonstrates a human attempt to reject divine authority through physical destruction.
-
Zechariah 5:1
Then again I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll.
The flying scroll appears in a vision as a supernatural object, symbolizing how God's word actively moves across the land to enforce justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between megillah and other words for 'book' in Hebrew?
Why did Jeremiah need to write his message on a scroll?
What does the flying scroll in Zechariah 5 represent?
Every Occurrence (14 verses across 2 books)
Jeremiah 12 verses
“Take a scroll of a book, and write in it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and…
Jeremiah 36:4Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all Yahweh’s words, which he…
Jeremiah 36:6Therefore you go, and read from the scroll which you have written from my mouth, Yahweh’s words, in the ears of the…
Jeremiah 36:14Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying,…
Jeremiah 36:20They went in to the king into the court, but they had laid up the scroll in the room of Elishama the scribe. Then they…
Jeremiah 36:21So the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it out of the room of Elishama the scribe. Jehudi read it in the…
Jeremiah 36:23When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in…
Jeremiah 36:25Moreover Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the scroll; but he…
Jeremiah 36:27Then Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah, after the king had burned the scroll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the…
Jeremiah 36:28“Take again another scroll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the…
Jeremiah 36:29Concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, ‘Yahweh says: “You have burned this scroll, saying, ‘Why have you…
Jeremiah 36:32Then Jeremiah took another scroll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote therein from the…