Home/Topics/Scribe

What the Bible Says About Scribe

Overview

The Bible addresses scribe across 49 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 2 Kings, Matthew and 2 Samuel. Closely related themes include Secretary, Scribes, Temple, the First and Treasure-Houses. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Abiathar, Zadok, David and Jesus.

Key Bible verses about scribe

Old Testament

2 Kings

2 Kings 12:10

And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD. scribe: or, secretary put: Heb. bound up

2 Kings 12:11

And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD, laid: Heb. brought it forth

2 Kings 12:12

And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it. was: Heb. went forth

2 Kings 18:37

Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

2 Kings 19:2

And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

2 Kings 22:1

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.

2 Kings 22:2

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

2 Kings 22:3

And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,

2 Kings 22:4

Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people: door: Heb. threshold

2 Kings 22:5

And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,

2 Kings 22:6

Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.

2 Kings 22:7

Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.

2 Kings 22:8

And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

2 Kings 22:9

And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD. gathered: Heb. melted

2 Kings 22:10

And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

2 Kings 22:11

And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.

2 Kings 22:12

And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,

2 Kings 22:13

Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.

2 Kings 22:14

So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. wardrobe: Heb. garments in the: or, in the second part

2 Kings 25:19

And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city: officer: or, eunuch were in: Heb. saw the king's face principal: or, scribe of the captain of the host

Esther

Esther 3:12

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. scribes: or, secretaries

Esther 8:9

Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

New Testament

Matthew

Matthew 2:4

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Matthew 5:20

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:29

For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Matthew 9:3

And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

Matthew 12:38

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Matthew 13:52

Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Matthew 15:1

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

Matthew 16:21

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Matthew 17:10

And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

Matthew 20:18

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

Matthew 21:15

And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

Matthew 23:2

Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

Matthew 23:3

All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Matthew 26:3

Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

Matthew 26:57

And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Matthew 27:41

Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

People in the Bible and scribe

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying scribe for yourself

  • Begin with 2 Samuel 8:17, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how 2 Kings, Matthew and 2 Samuel each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Abiathar, Zadok and David and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Secretary, Scribes, Temple, the First and Treasure-Houses.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about scribe?

The Bible addresses scribe across 49 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 2 Kings, Matthew and 2 Samuel. Closely related themes include Secretary, Scribes, Temple, the First and Treasure-Houses. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Abiathar, Zadok, David and Jesus.

How many Bible verses are about scribe?

The Bible references scribe in 49 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention scribe?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is 2 Samuel 8:17: “And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; scribe: or, secretary”

Which people in the Bible are associated with scribe?

Abiathar, Zadok, David, Jesus and Ahimelech.

Preach & teach

Outline a sermon or build a study series on scribe.

Preach a series on Scribe