Greek word · G1924

ἐπιγράφω

epigraphō

to write on

To write upon, to inscribe, to label. It is used for inscriptions on monuments, coins and tablets, and for the charge-notice on Jesus' cross (Mark 15:26, ἐπιγραφή).

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐπι-γράφω

[in LXX for כָּתַב, Numbers 17:2; fig., Jeremiah 31:33, al. ;]

to write upon, inscribe: Mark 15:26, Acts 17:23, Revelation 21:12; figuratively, Hebrews 8:10 (LXX) Hebrews 10:16.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Hebrews 8:10

Range of meaning

To write upon, to inscribe, to label. It is used for inscriptions on monuments, coins and tablets, and for the charge-notice on Jesus' cross (Mark 15:26, ἐπιγραφή).

Against the English

'Write' (KJV, WEB) loses the 'onto a surface' picture. BSB's 'inscribe' keeps it.

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint Jeremiah 38:33 has plain γράψω, 'I will write'. Hebrews (or the Greek text it used) has the compound ἐπιγράψω, 'write upon', here and again in 10:16. That strengthens the picture of a tablet. Exodus 31:18 and 32:15–16 describe the stone tablets 'written by the finger of God'.

From the study of Hebrews 10:16

Range of meaning

To write on, inscribe, engrave a title or inscription on a surface: monuments, coins, tablets, a placard. It suggests something permanent and visible.

Against the English

BSB's 'inscribe' captures the image. 'Write' (KJV, WEB) is accurate but flatter.

Used elsewhere in the period

Mark 15:26 (the inscription over the cross), Acts 17:23 (the altar inscribed 'to an unknown god'). The LXX of Jeremiah has plain graphō here, and Hebrews (in both 8:10 and 10:16) uses the compound epigraphō. Exod 31:18 and 32:15–16: the tablets 'written with the finger of God'. 2 Cor 3:3 uses the same contrast between tablets of stone and tablets of fleshly hearts.

Similar words

Where it appears

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 15:26 ἐπιγεγραμμένη· written:

    And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 17:23 ἐπεγέγραπτο· had been inscribed:

    For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.

    Here: Pluperfect, a past action whose result still stood: the words "had been inscribed" and remained there. A dedication carved in stone.

Hebrews · 2

  1. Hebrews 8:10 ἐπιγράψω I will inscribe

    For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

    Here: 'Write on' a surface, as with an inscription. It recalls the commandments carved on stone tablets at Sinai, and in Jeremiah 17:1 Judah's sin engraved on the tablet of their heart. Now God himself does the engraving inside.

  2. Hebrews 10:16 ἐπιγράψω I will inscribe

    “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.”

    Here: The future tense with God as subject: 'I will inscribe'. The word is used for inscriptions cut or written onto a surface, and it calls up the stone tablets of Sinai, which were 'written by the finger of God'.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 21:12 ἐπιγεγραμμένα, inscribed,

    The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates.

    Here: Perfect passive participle: written on and still standing written. It is the language of inscriptions cut into stone over a gate. The names are permanent features of the city.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.