מִכְתָּב (mikh.tav)
mikh.tav
writing
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mikh.tav refers to something that has been written down, whether it is the act of writing itself or the physical document produced. In the Old Testament, this word appears in eight verses, often highlighting the authority and permanence of a recorded decree or letter. It serves as a tangible proof of an agreement or command, moving beyond oral tradition into fixed text.
Its usage ranges from describing the handwriting on a wall in Daniel to the written laws given in Exodus. The term emphasizes the material reality of the message; it is not just an idea but something inscribed and preserved. This distinction matters because it underscores how ancient Israelites valued documented evidence for legal and religious matters.
Translators typically render mikh.tav as "writing" or "document," depending on context. The word carries weight in narratives where written records settle disputes or confirm divine instructions. Its presence in texts like Isaiah and Chronicles often signals the importance of preserving truth in a stable form for future generations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mikh.tav reminds us that God’s promises are not fleeting thoughts but fixed realities. When Scripture speaks of writing, it points to something tangible and enduring. In Exodus, the tablets bear the direct handwriting of God, establishing a covenant that cannot be erased by human forgetfulness or changing circumstances.
This permanence offers comfort in our own lives. Just as ancient kings issued decrees to ensure their orders were followed, God’s Word remains stable across generations. We can trust that what He has spoken is reliable, whether it appears as a royal decree in Chronicles or a personal prayer recorded by Isaiah.
Knowing that faith is grounded in written truth helps us navigate uncertainty. The Bible preserves these records so we might find assurance today. It invites us to rest in the certainty of God’s character, which is revealed clearly and permanently in His Word.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ writing2×
- a writing2×
- like the/ writing1×
- and/ the/ writing1×
- and/ by/ [the] writing of1×
- an inscription of1×
- [was] [the] writing of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/מִכְתָּ֖ב2×
- מִכְתָּ֖ב1×
- מִכְתָּ֔ב1×
- מִכְתַּב֙1×
- מִכְתַּ֤ב1×
- כַּ/מִּכְתָּ֣ב1×
- וּ/בְ/מִכְתַּ֖ב1×
- וְ/הַ/מִּכְתָּ֗ב1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 32:16
The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.
This verse highlights the divine origin of the law, emphasizing that the writing itself was God’s work, not merely human effort.
-
II Chronicles 21:12
A letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Yahweh, the God of David your father, says, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
Here, a written letter from Elijah serves as a formal prophetic warning, showing how mikh.tav carried authoritative weight in royal matters.
-
Isaiah 38:9
The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered of his sickness:
Hezekiah’s personal writing demonstrates that individual experiences of God’s deliverance were also preserved as part of the sacred record.