Biblion
/ˈbɪbli.ɒn/noun
A Greek word meaning a book, scroll, or written document.
Did you know?The English word Bible ultimately comes from Greek *ta biblia* (“the books”), which began as a plural phrase built from *biblion*, the common word for a scroll or book.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
βιβλίον (*biblion*)
“A scroll, book, or written tablet”
Ancient Greek
Greek
βύβλος (*byblos*)
“Papyrus, and by extension a writing material or scroll”
Late Antiquity
Greek
τὰ βιβλία (*ta biblia*)
“The books; the sacred writings”
Medieval Latin
Latin
biblia
“The Bible, understood as a singular sacred book”
Old French
Old French
bible
“The Bible”
Middle English
English
bible
“The Christian scriptures”
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