Quick Definition
a scribe, town-clerk, man of learning
Strong's Definition
Derivation: from G1121 (γράμμα). a writer, i.e. (professionally) scribe or secretary
KJV Usage: scribe, town-clerk
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
γραμματεύς, γραμματέως (accusative plural γραμματεῖς, Winers Grammar, § 9, 2; (Buttmann, 14 (13))), ὁ (γράμμα), the Sept. for ρΙτΕψ and ωΙΡθΕψ;
1. in secular authors and here and there in the O. T. (e. g. 2Sa_8:17; 2Sa_20:25; 2Ki_19:2; 2Ki_25:19; Psa_44:2 (), a clerk, scribe, especially a public scribe, secretary, recorder, whose office and influence differed in different states: Act_19:35 (Sir_10:5); (cf. Lightfoot in The Contemporary Review for 1878, p. 294; Wood, Discoveries at Ephesus, Appendix, Inscriptions from the Great Theatre, p. 49 n.),
2. in the Bible, a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter, teacher: Mat_23:34; 1Co_1:20 (called also νομικός in Luk_10:25, and νομοδιδάσκαλος in Luk_5:17; (Meyer (on Mat_22:35), while denying any essential different between γραμματεύς and νομικός (cf. Luk_11:52-53 yet see critical texts), regards the latter name as the more specific (a jurisconsult) and Classic, γραμματεύς as the more general (a learned man) and Hebraistic; it is also the more common in the Apocrypha, where νομικός occurs only 4Ma_5:3. As teachers they were called νομοδιδάσκαλοι. Cf. B. D. under the word , also under the word I. 1 note)); Jer_8:8 (cf. 2:8); Neh_8:1; Neh_12:26; Neh_12:36; 2Es_7:6; 2Es_7:11, and especially Sir_38:24; Sir_38:31 ff Sir_39:1-11. The γραμματεῖς explained the meaning of the sacred oracles, Mat_2:4 (γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ, Jos_1:10; 1Ma_5:42; cf. Sir_44:4); ; Mar_9:11; Mar_12:35; examined into the more difficult and subtile questions of the law, Mat_9:3; Mar_2:6; Mar_12:28; added to the Mosaic law decisions of various kinds thought to elucidate its meaning and scope, and did this to the detriment of religion, Mat_5:20; Mat_15:1 ff; Mat_23:2 ff; Mar_7:1 ff; cf. Luk_11:46. Since the advice of men skilled in the law was needed in the examination of causes and the solution of difficult questions, they were enrolled in the Sanhedrin; and accordingly in the N. T. they are often mentioned in connection with the priests and elders of the people: Mat_21:15; Mat_26:3 R G; Mar_11:18; Mar_11:27; Mar_14:1; Mar_15:1; Luk_19:47; Luk_20:1; Luk_22:2. Cf. Schürer, Neutest. Zeitgesch. § 25 ii.; Klöpper in Schenkel v. 247ff; (and thorough articles in BB. DD. under the word ; cf. Winer's Grammar, Robertson Smith, The O. T. in the Jewish Ch., Lect. iii.):
3. universally, a religious teacher: γραμματεύς μαθητευθείς εἰς τήν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν a teacher so instructed that from his learning and ability to teach advantage may redound to the kingdom of heaven, Mat_13:52 (but G T Tr WH read μαθητευθείς τῇ βασιλεία (L ἐν τῇ βασιλείαν); and many interpret made a disciple unto the kingdom of heaven (which is personified); see μαθητεύω, at the end).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
γραμματεύς grammateus 63x
a scribe; a clerk, town-clerk, registrar, recorder, Act_19:35 ; one skilled in the Jewish law, a teacher or interpreter of the law, Mat_2:4 ; Mat_5:20 , et al. freq.; genr. a religious teacher, Mat_13:52 ; by synec. any one distinguished for learning or wisdom, 1Co_1:20 scribe; teacher of the law.
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
γραμματεύς , -έως
( acc pl ., -εῖς , v. B1., § 8, 2), ὁ
( <γράμμα ),
[in LXX always for H7860 in Hex., elsewhere chiefly for H5608 ;]
1. a secretary; γ . τ . πόλεως , a state-clerk: Act_19:35 .
2. In Papyri, of a military officer ( Deiss., BS , 110 f .). So Jdg_5:14 , 2Ki_25:19 ( H5608 ), al.
3. a scribe, a biblical scholar, teacher of the law (so first in 1Es_8:3 , Ezr_7:6 ; in Luk_5:17 , νομοδιδάσκαλος ; in Luk_10:25 , νομικός ): Mat_7:29 , Mar_1:22 , and freq . in Gosp. γ . καὶ ἀρχιερεῖς , Mat_2:4 , et. ; γ . κ . Φαρισαῖοι , Mat_5:20 , et. ; γ . μαθητευθεὶς τῇ βασιλείᾳ τ . οὐρ ., Mat_13:52 ; ποῦ σοφός ; ποῦ γ ., 1Co_1:20 ( Cremer , 167; DB , iv, 420, 800).
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
γραμματεύς [page 131]
In the LXX γραμματεῖς first occur in connexion with the Egyptian ἐργοδιῶκται , and are rendered officers ( Exo_5:6 , AV, RV) : cf. Deu_20:5 , where the word again denotes subordinate military officials, presumably those who kept the register of the army (Driver ad l. ). Deissmann ( BS , p. 110 ff.) has shown how readily this technical usage of the word would be adopted by the Alexandrian translators in view of the practice of Egyptian Greek. Thus in P Par 63 .145 (B.C. 165) we hear of a certain Eumelus τοῦ γραμματέως τῶν μαχίμων , the registrar of the μάχιμοι (Mahaffy, P Petr III. p. 31), and in P Lond 23 .95 (B.C. 158 7) (= I. p. 41) of a γραμματέα τῶν δ [υ ]ναμέων . See also Archiv iv. p. 33 f. for the office of γραμματεὺς τῶν κατοίκων ἱππέων . The word is very common to denote the official who had to supply returns to the central authority on the number of inhabitants in a village, on their holdings in land, etc. In Syll 790 .21 (i/B.C.) τὸν γραμματέα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὸν προφήτην we have an example of the word used with reference to a religious office; cf. lines 32, 46, and Magn 197 .11 (time of Caracalla) οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ γρ [αμ ]ματεῖς ἀνέστη [σαν (see Nδgeli, p. 35). In P Petr III. 59 ( b ) we have a census for poll-tax, where in some community numbering 2108 males there are exempted 92 ἱερεῖς and 10 ἱερογραμματεῖς . It is unnecessary to illustrate the large and varied use of γρ . to denote public officials, and especially town clerks : e.g. P Lond 1159 .1 (A.D. 145 7) (= III. p. 112) παρὰ γραμματέων Πόλεως ( sc. Hermopolis) αἰτούμενοι ὑπὸ σοῦ these officials proceed to furnish a return of well-to-do citizens on the liturgy list. The importance of the office at Ephesus, to which Act_19:35 points, is now abundantly confirmed by the inscrr. : cf. e.g. OGIS 493 .11 (Ephesus ii/A.D.) Λούκιος . . . ἀποδε [δει ]γμένος γραμματεὺ [ς τοῦ ] δήμου , also .28, .34 , and for a similar use of the verb ib. 480 .11 (A.D. 104), 510 .11 (A.D. 138 61) γραμματεύοντος Ποπλίου Οὐηδίου Ἀντ (ω )νείνου ἀσιάρχου : see further Hicks Greek Inscrr. in the Brit. Museum iii. p. 154, Ramsay St Paul , pp. 281, 305, and art. Ephesus in Hastings D.B. i. p. 723. It may be added that the word had as large a range as our clerk or secretary. Thus P Giss I. 45 .4 (Hadrian s reign) εἰ ] δοκ [ε ]ῖ , πέμψον ἐνθάδε ἢ τὸν [κω ]μο̣γραμματέα ἢ γραμματέα [αὐ ]τ̣ο̣[ῦ , the clerk of the village council, or his clerk : BGU IV. 1096 .3 (i//ii A.D.) ἐπεὶ Σαραπίων [α ] ἔσχον γραμματέα , ὃν πρότερον εἶχον , ὑπὲρ οὗ [κ ]αὶ ἄλλοτέ σοι ἔγραψα an official writes to a subordinate to hand over papers to his newly engaged secretary, whom he had employed previously, and not to have dealings with his successor. A new astrological fragment, in PSI III. 158 .67 (? iii/A.D.), tells us that there are secretaries and secretaries, the planets differentiating them ἐὰν δὲ ὁ τοῦ Κρόνου συνπροσγένηται τῷ τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ , αὐτὸς [μ ]ε̣̣ν ὁ τοῦ Κρόνου προάγων ποιεῖ γραμματεῖς αὐστηροὺς [καὶ ] δ̣ι̣κ̣ογράφους ἢ δικολόγους ἤτοι τούτων παραπλ [η ]σίους [. ἐ ]ὰν δὲ ὁ τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ αὐτὸς προάγῃ τοῦ Κρόνου , ν̣[ω ]χελε̣ι̣ͅς̣ δυσπράξου [ς ἀ ]τυχεῖς ἐν τοῖς πράγμασι . Another configuration (l. .53 ) γραμματεῖς μεγ [ά ]λους ποιεῖ καὶ κριτηρίων ἄρχοντας .
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
γραμματεύς [Etym: γράμμα] "a secretary, clerk", Lat. scriba, Thuc. , etc.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
γραμματεύς, -έως (accusative pl., -εῖς, see Bl., §8, 2), ὁ
(γράμμα), [in LXX always for שׁטר in Hex., elsewhere chiefly for ספר ;]
__1. a secretary; γ. τ. πόλεως, a state-clerk: Act.19:35.
__2. In π., of a military officer (Deiss., BS, 110f.). So Jdg.5:14, 4Ki.25:19 (ספר), al.
__3. a scribe, a biblical scholar, teacher of the law (so first in I Est.8:3, II Est.7:6; in Luk.5:17, νομοδιδάσκαλος; in Luk.10:25, νομικός): Mat.7:29, Mrk.1:22, and frequently in Gosp. γ. καὶ ἀρχιερεῖς, Mat.2:4, and al.; γ. κ. Φαρισαῖοι, Mat.5:20, and al.; γ. μαθητευθεὶς τῇ βασιλείᾳ τ. οὐρ., Mat.13:52; ποῦ σοφός; ποῦ γ., 1Co.1:20 (Cremer, 167; DB, iv, 420, 800).
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Scribes (1122) grammateus
Scribes (1122) (grammateus from grápho = write) literally is a writer (town clerk - Acts 19:35) and was the word used to describe a clerk, a scribe, especially a public scribe, a secretary, a recorder, whose office and influence differed in different states.
See multiple dictionary articles on Scribes - Click Here
Grammateus is used 67 times in the NT (Matt 2:4; 5:20; 7:29; 8:19; 9:3; 12:38; 13:52; 15:1; 16:21; 17:10; 20:18; 21:15; 23:2, 13-14, 23, 25, 27, 29, 34; 26:3, 57; 27:41; Mark 1:22; 2:6, 16; 3:22; 7:1, 5; 8:31; 9:11, 14, 16; 10:33; 11:18, 27; 12:28, 32, 35, 38; 14:1, 43, 53; 15:1, 31; Luke 5:21, 30; 6:7; 9:22; 11:44, 53; 15:2; 19:47; 20:1, 19, 39, 46; 22:2, 66; 23:10; John 8:3; Acts 4:5; 6:12; 19:35; 23:9; 1Cor 1:20)
Grammateus is found 69 times in the Septuagint - Exod. 5:6, 10, 14f, 19; Num. 11:16; Deut. 20:5, 8f; Jos. 1:10; 3:2; 8:30; 23:2; 24:1; Jdg. 5:14; 2 Sam. 8:17; 20:25; 1 Ki. 4:3, 20; 2 Ki. 12:10; 18:18, 37; 19:2; 22:3, 8, 10, 12; 25:19; 1 Chr. 2:55; 5:12; 18:16; 23:4; 24:6; 27:1, 32; 2 Chr. 19:11; 24:11; 26:11; 34:13, 15, 18, 20; Ezr. 4:8f, 17, 23; 7:6, 11f, 21, 25; Neh. 8:1, 4, 9, 13; 12:26, 36; 13:13; Est. 3:12; 8:9; 9:3; Job 37:20; Ps. 45:1; Isa. 36:3, 22; 37:2; Jer. 8:8; 36:10, 12, 23; 37:15, 20; 52:25
Nave's Topical entry on Scribes...
A writer and transcriber of the law, 2Sa 8:17; 20:25; 1Kin. 4:3; 2Kin. 12:10; 18:37; 19:2; 1Chr. 24:6; 27:32; Neh. 13:13; Jer. 36:12.
King's secretary, 2Kin. 12:10, 11, 12; 22:1-14; Esther 3:12; 8:9.
Officer in charge of conscription of the army, 2Ki 25:19; 2Chr. 26:11.
Instructors in the law, Mt. 7:29; 13:52; 17:10; 23:2, 3.
Test Jesus with questions, bringing to Jesus a woman taken in adultery, John 8:3.
Members of the council, Matt. 2:4.
Conspire against Jesus, Matt. 26:3, 57; 27:41; Mark 14:1; Luke 22:66.
Hypocrisy of, reproved by Jesus, Matt. 5:20; 9:3; 12:38; 15:1; 16:21; 20:18; 21:15.
The grammateus was a recognized expert in Jewish law including both Scripture and traditional laws and regulations. They were members of a learned class in ancient Israel through New Testament times who studied the Scriptures and served as copyists, editors, and teachers. Thus they were considered to be experts in matters relating to divine revelation, especially in regard to the law of Moses. (click Bible dictionary discussion)
Thayer notes that grammateus in the Bible was...
a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter, teacher. Scribes examined the more difficult and subtle questions of the law; added to the Mosaic law decisions of various kinds thought to elucidate its meaning and scope, and did this to the detriment of religion. Since the advice of men skilled in the law was needed in the examination in the causes and the solution of the difficult questions, they were enrolled in the Sanhedrin; and are mentioned in connection with the priests and elders of the people.
Vine says that grammateus is
from gramma, a writing, denotes a scribe, a man of letters, a teacher of the law; the scribes are mentioned frequently in the Synoptists, especially in connection with the Pharisees, with whom they virtually formed one party (see Luke 5:21), sometimes with the chief priests, e.g., Matt. 2:4; Mark 8:31; 10:33; 11:18, 27; Luke 9:22. They are mentioned only once in John’s Gospel, 8:3, three times in the Acts, 4:5; 6:12; 23:9; elsewhere only in 1 Cor. 1:20, in the singular. They were considered naturally qualified to teach in the Synagogues, Mark 1:22. They were ambitious of honour, e.g., Matt. 23:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, which they demanded especially from their pupils, and which was readily granted them, as well as by the people generally. Like Ezra (Ezra 7:12), the scribes were found originally among the priests and Levites. The priests being the official interpreters of the Law, the scribes ere long became an independent company; though they though they never held political power, they became leaders of the people. Their functions regarding the Law were to teach it, develop it, and use it in connection with the Sanhedrin and various local courts. They also occupied themselves with the sacred writings both historical and didactic. They attached the utmost importance to ascetic elements, by which the nation was especially separated from the Gentiles. In their régime piety was reduced to external formalism. Only that was of value which was governed by external precept. Life under them became a burden; they themselves sought to evade certain of their own precepts, Mt 23:16f; Lk 11:46; by their traditions the Law, instead of being a help in moral and spiritual life, became an instrument for preventing true access to God, Luke 11:52. Hence the Lord’s stern denunciations of them and the Pharisees. (Vine, W E: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. 1996. Nelson)
C. S. Lewis gives an illustration from his own life of the attitude of many who hear the gospel and fail to act upon it writing...
When I was a child I often had toothache, and I knew that if I went to my mother she would give me something which would deaden the pain for that night and let me get to sleep. But I did not go to my mother-at least, not till the pain became very bad. And the reason I did not go was this. I did not doubt she would give me the aspirin: but I knew she would also do something else. I knew she would take me to the dentist next morning. I could not get what I wanted out of her without getting something more, which I did not want. I wanted immediate relief from pain: but I could not get it without having my teeth set permanently right. And I knew those dentists; I knew they started fiddling about with all sorts of other teeth which had not yet begun to ache. They would not let sleeping dogs lie. (Mere Christianity 2001 Harper)
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