Hebrew word · Strong's H3789

כָּתַב

kâthab · kaw-thab' · verb · “to write”

In a sentence

Katav means to write — used of God writing the commandments on stone, and prophets writing God's words. Behind every «it is written» stands this verb.

Katav is the verb of writing. God writes the law on tablets of stone with his own finger; later he promises to write it on hearts.

Habakkuk is told to «katav the vision and make it plain on tablets.» The Old Testament's high view of Scripture rests partly on this verb: words deliberately written down, then trusted.

Strong's reference

Definition: to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)

KJV usage: describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten).

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Exodus 31:18 “When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.” Jeremiah 31:33 ““But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.