paper in the Bible
Greek: χάρτης —transliteration: chartés (chartes)
also known as: papyrus —meaning: a sheet of paper (made of papyrus strips)
In 2 John 1:12, the word is used in its proper sense. The material so referred to was manufactured from the papyrus, and hence its name.
The papyrus (Hebrew: gome) was a kind of bulrush. It is mentioned by Job (8:11) and Isaiah (35:7).
Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?… —Job (Job 8:11a NKJV
…grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. Isaiah (Isaiah 35:7b NIV
Papyrus was used for many purposes: paper, material for woven mats, coverings for huts, etc.
Cyperus papyrus grows in full sun, in wet swamps and on lake margins throughout Africa, Madagascar and the Mediterranean countries. —Cyperus papyrus, plantzafrica.com
In Israel, the marshes at the northern end of Lake Merom were known for their papyrus reeds. The lake is now dry and is located in the Hula Valley.
This plant (Cyperus papyrus) became extinct in Egypt and later reintroduced in the late 1800s). The unaccountable disappearance of this plant from Egypt was foretold by Isaiah (Isaiah 19:6-7) as a part of the divine judgment on that land.
The papyrus reeds [“bulrushes” —NASB] by the River, by the mouth of the River,
And everything sown by the River,
Will wither, be driven away, and be no more. —Isaiah 19:6-7 NKJV
The expression in the King James Version (Isaiah 19:7), “the paper reeds by the brooks,” is more correctly translated in the New King James Version (NKJV) and the New American Standard Bible (NASB)…
“The papyrus reeds by the River…” —NKJV
More information
- bulrush
- rush
- writing
- handwriting
- ink horn
- scroll, roll
- recorder
- scribes
- plants of the Bible
- parchment
- cuneiform
- book
- epistles—letters
- Greek
- Hebrew language
- post
- Scripture
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