Answers about
scrolls in the Bible

also known as: rolls

Scrolls are a common form of ancient books. The Bible mentions scrolls (Hebrew: megillah, often translated “roll” or “scroll”; Greek: biblion) as the main form of written documents in ancient times.

The Hebrew word megillah appears in Ezra 6:2; Psalm 40:7; Jeremiah 36:2, 6, 23, 28-29; Ezek. 2:9; 3:1-3; Zechariah 5:1-2, etc.

• Jeremiah dictates God's words to Baruch, who writes them on a scroll; King Jehoiakim burns it. (Jeremiah 36)

• Ezekiel receives a scroll with writing on both sides (lamentation, mourning, woe) and eats it (sweet as honey). (Ezekiel 2:9–3:3)

• Memorial scroll/book

  Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this in a book [sepher] as a memorial and recite it in Joshua’s hearing, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” —Exodus 17:14 LSB

• Jesus (The Messiah) reads from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue, then rolls it up. (Luke 4:17–20)

• A scroll sealed with seven seals in God’s hand; only the Lamb (Jesus) can open it. (Revelation 5:1–5)

• The Lamb opens the seals, unleashing judgments. (Revelation 6)

• The Apostle John eats a little open scroll (sweet in mouth, bitter in stomach). (Revelation 10)

• Sky rolled up like a scroll (Isaiah 34:4; Revelation 6:14)

• Law copies (megillah) for kings

  Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. —Deuteronomy 17:18

• Book of remembrance / Written memorials (Exodus 17:14; Psalm 40:7)

  Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book [megillah] of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name. —Malachi 3:16

“Rolls” (Chaldee plural of sephar, corresponding to Hebrew sepher) appears in Ezra 6:1 KJV and is translated as “archives” in the New King James Version and almost all other modern translations.

In the New Testament the word “volume” appears in the King James Version and NKJV of Hebrews 10:7. The Greek word is kephalis, meaning the head or top of the stick or cylinder on which the manuscript was rolled, and hence the manuscript itself. Almost all modern translations render the Greek word here as “scroll” or “roll”.

Hebrew and Greek words

Hebrew: מְגִלָּה —transliteration: megillah —meaning: scroll

Hebrew: סֵפֶר —transliteration: sepher —meaning: book or scroll or evidence

Greek: βίβλος —transliteration: biblos —meaning: the inner bark of the papyrus plant, and by implication: a scroll or sheet of writing paper

Greek: βιβλίον —transliteration: biblion —meaning: scroll, book, certificate

More information

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• Answers about the Ancient Hebrew language