Original Word: γράφω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: graphó
Pronunciation: GRAH-fo
Phonetic Spelling: (graf'-o)
KJV: describe, write(-ing, -ten)
NASB: written, write, wrote, writing, read, sent this letter, writes
Word Origin: [a primary verb]

1. to "grave", especially to write
2. (figuratively) to describe

describe, write.

A primary verb; to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe -- describe, write(-ing, -ten).

Word Origin
a prim. verb
Definition
to write
NASB Translation
read (1), sent this letter (1), write (37), writes (1), writing (14), written (117), wrote (20).

STRONGS NT 1125: γράφω

γράφω; (imperfect ἔγραφον); future γράψω; 1 aorist ἔγραψα; perfect γέγραφα; passive (present γράφομαι); perfect γεγραμμαι; (pluperfect 3 person singular ἐγέγραπτο, Revelation 17:8 Lachmann); 2 aorist ἐγράφην; (properly, to grave, scrape, scratch, engrave; cf. German graben,eingraben; γραψεν δέ οἱ ὀστέον ἄχρις αἰχμή, Homer, Iliad 17, 599; σηματα γράψας ἐν πίνακι, ibid. 6, 169; hence, to draw letters), to write;

1. with reference to the form of the letters; to delineate (or form) letters on a tablet, parchment, paper, or other material: τῷ δακτύλῳ ἔγραφεν εἰς τήν γῆν made figures on the ground, John 8:6 Rec.; οὕτω γράφω so I am accustomed to form my letters, 2 Thessalonians 3:17; πηλίκοις γραμμασι ἔγραψα with how large (and so, ill-formed (?)) letters I have written, Galatians 6:11; cf. Winer, Rückert, Hilgenfeld at the passage (for the views of those who regard ἔγραψα as covering the close of the Epistle only, see Lightfoot and Meyer; cf. Winers Grammar, 278 (261); Buttmann, 198 (171f)).

2. with reference to the contents of the writing;

a. to express in written characters, followed by the words expressed: ἔγραψε λέγων. Ἰωάννης ἐστι τό ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, Luke 1:63; μή γράφε. ὁ βασιλεύς τῶν Ἰουδαίων κτλ., John 19:21; γράψον μακάριοι κτλ., Revelation 14:13. γράφω τί, John 19:22; passive Revelation 1:3; ἐπί τί, Revelation 2:17; Revelation 19:16; τί ἐπί τινα, Revelation 3:12; ἐπί τίνος, Revelation 14:1.

b. to commit to writing (things not to be forgotten), write dozen, record: Revelation 1:19 (γράψον ἅ εἶδες); Revelation 10:4; γράφειν εἰς βιβλίον, Revelation 1:11; ἐπί τό βιβλίον τῆς ζωῆς, Revelation 17:8; γεγραμμένων ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ (or τῇ βίβλῳ), ἐν τοῖς βιβλίοις, Revelation 13:8; Revelation 20:12, 15; Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:18, 19; τά ὀνόματα ὑμῶν ἐγράφη (ἐγγραφή (ἐγγραφή Tr see Nu) γεγραμμένον T Tr WH) ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, i. e. that ye have been enrolled with those for whom eternal blessedness has been prepared, Luke 10:20; γράφειν τί τίνι, to record something for someone's use, Luke 1:3.

c. ἐγράφη and γέγραπται (in the Synoptists and Paul), and γεγραμμένον ἐστι (in John), are used of those things which stand written in the sacred books (of the O. T.); absolutely γέγραπται, followed by the quotation from the sacred vol.: Matthew 4:4, 6f, 10; Matthew 21:13; Mark 7:6; Mark 11:17; Mark 14:27; Luke 4:8; Luke 19:46; καθώς γέγραπται, Acts 15:15, very often in Paul, as Romans 1:17; Romans 2:24; Romans 3:4 (see below); 1 Corinthians 1:31; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 8:15; 2 Corinthians 9:9; καθάπερ γεγραμμένον, Romans 11:8 T Tr WH; (Romans 3:4 T Tr WH); γέγραπται γάρ, Matthew 26:31; Luke 4:10; Acts 23:5; Romans 12:19; Romans 14:11; 1 Corinthians 3:19; Galatians 3:10, 13 Rec.; ; ὁ λόγος ὁ γεγραμμένος, 1 Corinthians 15:54; κατά τό γεγραμμένον, 2 Corinthians 4:13; γεγραμμένον ἐστι, John 2:17; John 6:31; John 12:14; ἐγράφη δέ πρός νουθεσίαν ἡμῶν, 1 Corinthians 10:11; ἐγράφη δἰ ἡμᾶς for our sake, Romans 4:24; 1 Corinthians 9:10; with the name of the author of the written words or of the books in which they are found: γέγραπται ἐν βίβλῳ ψαλμῶν, Acts 1:20; ἐν βίβλῳ τῶν προφητῶν, Acts 7:42; ἐν τῷ πρώτῳ (R WH δευτέρῳ) ψαλμῷ, Acts 13:33; ἐν Ἠσαΐᾳ, Mark 1:2 (not Rec.), etc. τινα or τί to write of, i. e. in writing to mention or refer to a person or a thing: ὅν ἔγραψε Μωϋσῆς whom Moses had in mind in writing of the Messiah, or whose likeness Moses delineated, John 1:45 (46); Μωϋσῆς γράφει τήν δικαιοσύνην τήν ἐκ νόμου, Moses, writing the words ὅτι ὁ ποιήσας αὐτά κτλ., points out the righteousness which is of the law, Romans 10:5. γέγραπται, γράφειν, etc. περί τίνος, concerning one: Matthew 26:24; Mark 14:21; John 5:46; Acts 13:29; ἐπί τόν υἱόν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, that it should find fulfilment in him, Mark 9:12f (cf. ἵνα, II. 2b.); ἐπ' αὐτῷ, on him i. e. of him (cf. Winer's Grammar, 393 (368) (and ἐπί, Buttmann, 2f. β.)), John 12:16; τά γεγραμμένα τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου written for him, allotted to him in Scripture, i. e. to be accomplished in his career, Luke 18:31; cf. Winers Grammar, § 31, 4; (yet cf. Buttmann, 178 (154)); Μωϋσῆς ἔγραψεν ὑμῖν ἵνα etc. Moses in the Scripture commanded us that etc. (cf. Buttmann, 237 (204)), Mark 12:19; Luke 20:28.

d. γράφειν τίνι to write to one, i. e. by writing (in a written epistle) to give information, directions, etc. to one: Romans 15:15; 2 Corinthians 2:4, 9 (dative implied); ; Philemon 1:21; 2 Peter 3:15; 1 John 2:12ff; δἰ ὀλίγων, 1 Peter 5:12; διά μέλανος καί καλάμου, 3 John 1:13; followed by the words written or to be written in the letter: Acts 15:23; Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18; Revelation 3:1, 7, 14; γράφειν τίνι τί, 1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Corinthians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 2:3 (L T Tr WH omit the dative); Galatians 1:20; 1 Timothy 3:14; 1 John 1:4 (R G L); ; περί τίνος, 1 John 2:26; Acts 25:23; 2 Corinthians 9:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:1; Jude 1:3; διά χειρός τίνος, to send a letter by one, Acts 15:23 (see χείρ); γράφειν τίνι, followed by an infinitive, by letter to bid one do a thing, Acts 18:27; followed by μή with an infinitive (to forbid, write one not to etc.), 1 Corinthians 5:9, 11.

3. to fill with writing (German beschreiben): βιβλίον γεγραμμένον ἔσωθεν καί ὄπισθεν a volume written within and behind, on the back, hence, on both sides, Revelation 5:1 (Ezekiel 2:10); cf. Düsterdieck (Alford, others) at the passage

4. to draw up in writing, compose: βιβλίον, Mark 10:4; John 21:25 (Tdf. omit the verse; see WH's Appendix at the passage); τίτλον, John 19:19; ἐπιστολήν, Acts 23:25; 2 Peter 3:1; ἐντολήν τίνι to write a commandment to one, Mark 10:5; 1 John 2:7; 2 John 1:5. (Compare: ἀπογράφω, ἐγγράφω, ἐπιγράφω, καταγράφω, προ(γράφω.)

STRONGS NT 1125: καταγράφωκαταγράφω: imperfect 3 person singular κατέγραφεν; to draw (forms or figures), to delineate: John 8:6 manuscript D etc. which T Tr WH (txt.) would substitute for R G ἔγραφεν. (Pausanias 1, 28, 2. Differently in other Greek writings) (Perhaps it may be taken in John, the passage cited in a more general sense: to mark (cf. Pollux 9, 7, 104, etc.).)

Scope and Range of Usage

The verb γράφω and its compounds appear one hundred ninety-two times in the Greek New Testament, covering every aspect of “writing,” from the simple act of forming letters to the enduring authority of the inspired text. Forms span the indicative (“he wrote,” “it has been written”), the imperative (“write!”), and participles (“having been written”), embracing acts of writing in the past, present instruction, and permanent inscription. The term is applied to divine revelation, civil documentation, personal correspondence, and prophetic record, revealing the central place of the written word in the redemptive story.

“It Is Written” – The Foundational Formula

More than sixty occurrences employ the perfect γέγραπται, the fixed proclamation that God’s word stands accomplished. Jesus wields the formula in His wilderness temptation: “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone’” (Matthew 4:4). Paul anchors doctrine the same way: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed… as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:17). The perfect tense underscores a completed inscription whose validity continues: Scripture, once penned, retains binding force.

Old Testament Citation and Canonical Unity

Every major New Testament author cites the Law, Prophets, and Writings with γέγραπται or its cognates, affirming the unity of the two Testaments. Examples include:
• Jesus—Law (Matthew 4:4), Prophets (Matthew 11:10), Psalms (Luke 24:44)
• Peter—Prophets (1 Peter 1:16)
• Paul—Pentateuch (Romans 10:5), Prophets (Romans 9:33), Psalms (Romans 3:10)

The breadth of usage demonstrates confidence that the same God who once spoke by Moses and David now speaks through the Gospel.

Prophetic Fulfillment

Fourteen occurrences attach γεγραμμένον/γεγραμμένα to events in Christ’s passion and resurrection, marking fulfilled prophecy. Luke 24:46 records, “Thus it is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.” The written prophecy becomes historical fact, reinforcing the reliability of both promise and fulfillment.

Apostolic Authorship and Authority (ἔγραψα / γράφω)

Paul, Peter, John, and others use the aorist “I wrote” (ἔγραψα) to refer to an earlier letter or immediate context, underscoring personal accountability for inspired instruction (e.g., 2 Corinthians 2:3-9; 1 John 2:13-26). The present “I write” (γράφω) signals living pastoral care (1 Timothy 3:14; 2 Peter 3:1). Thus the same root verb bears both eternal authority and pastoral warmth.

Pastoral and Disciplinary Letters

Paul’s phrase “I wrote to you in my letter” (1 Corinthians 5:9) reveals how writing served church discipline. John writes “so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13), displaying the edifying intent of apostolic letters. Through γράφω the Spirit provides enduring counsel beyond the apostles’ lifetimes.

Imperatives to Record Revelation

In Revelation, the glorified Christ repeatedly commands John, “Write” (γράψον), thirteen times (Revelation 1:11; 2:1; etc.). The imperative elevates the written record to covenant document status, ensuring transmission of eschatological truth to the churches.

Divine and Royal Inscriptions

Pilate “wrote” the superscription on the cross (John 19:19), and John notes it was “written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek,” highlighting public proclamation. The heavenly scroll “written inside and out” (Revelation 5:1) and the names “written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27) display divine authorship over destiny.

The Unique Gesture of Jesus Writing

John 8:6-8 records Jesus stooping to write on the ground. While the content is unstated, the act itself underlines His authority to inscribe judgment or mercy. It is the only Gospel instance of Jesus physically writing, an acted parable of the incarnate Word validating written revelation.

Civil and Administrative Writing

Claudius Lysias “wrote” an official report (Acts 23:25). Festus must “write” charges against Paul (Acts 25:26). Even secular bureaucracy shares the linguistic field, yet the New Testament consistently distinguishes God-breathed Scripture from ordinary documents.

Writing and Worship

“It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’” (Matthew 21:13). The formula enforces liturgical reform by appealing to Scripture’s sovereign reach over temple practice, modeling how worship must continually align with the written word.

Ministry Application for Today

1. Preaching: Like Jesus and Paul, effective proclamation anchors points in “It is written,” treating Scripture as self-authenticating.
2. Counseling: The aorist “I wrote” reveals pastoral concern that combines truth and tears (2 Corinthians 2:4). Written encouragement remains an indispensable tool.
3. Apologetics: The perfect tense demonstrates Scripture’s settled authority against shifting cultural claims.
4. Discipleship: Commands to “write” show the value of journaling and transmitting testimony to future generations.

Theological Implications

• Inspiration: Repeated divine commands to write, and the Lord’s own use of the written word, establish the doctrine that Scripture originates in God’s will, not human initiative (2 Peter 1:21 implicit).
• Preservation: The perfect γέγραπται assumes God’s intention to preserve what He inspired.
• Sufficiency: Christ answers Satan exclusively with written Scripture, illustrating its adequacy for spiritual warfare.
• Canon: Apostolic self-identification as writers underlines why their letters are part of the New Testament collection.

Historical Context of Writing

Papyrus scrolls, ink, and stylus were commonplace, yet literacy rates were limited. The Spirit’s decision to inscribe revelation ensured accuracy through public reading (Revelation 1:3) and communal memorization. Early churches copied letters (Colossians 4:16) so the verb γράφω became a vehicle of missionary expansion.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1125 portrays Scripture as an unbreakable written authority, a shepherd’s pen for nurturing the flock, and a divine directive securing prophetic hope. From the tablets at Sinai echoed in “It is written,” to John’s scrolls of the apocalypse, γράφω weaves through the New Testament as the Spirit’s chosen instrument for revelation, preservation, and transformation.

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