Bible

[ bahy-buhl ]

noun

1. the collection of sacred writings of the Christian religion, comprising the Old and New Testaments.
2. Hebrew Bible ( def ).
3. Often bi·ble. the sacred writings of any religion.
4. bible, any book, reference work, periodical, etc., accepted as authoritative, informative, or reliable:

   He regarded that particular bird book as the birdwatchers' bible.

Bible

/ ˈbaɪbəl /

noun

1. 1. the sacred writings of the Christian religion, comprising the Old and New Testaments and, in the Roman Catholic Church, the Apocrypha
   2. ( as modifier )

      a Bible reading

2. the English name for Tanach
3. often not capital any book containing the sacred writings of a religion
4. usually not capital a book regarded as authoritative

   the angler's bible

Bible

¹

1. The book sacred to Christians (see also Christian ), which they consider to be the inspired word of God. The Bible includes the Old Testament , which contains the sacred books of the Jews (see also Jews ), and the New Testament , which begins with the birth of Jesus . Thirty-nine books of the Old Testament are accepted as part of the Bible by Christians and Jews alike. Some Christians consider several books of the Old Testament, such as Judith, I and II Maccabees , and Ecclesiasticus, to be part of the Bible also, whereas other Christians, and Jews, call these the Old Testament Apocrypha . Christians are united in their acceptance of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament; Jews do not consider the writings of the New Testament inspired. The Bible is also called “the Book” ( bible means “book”).

Bible

²

1. The book sacred to Christians (see also Christian ), containing the Old Testament and the New Testament . The Old Testament contains the writings sacred to the Jews (see also Jews ).

Notes

By extension, any book considered an infallible or very reliable guide to some activity may be called a “bible.”

Other Words From

• an·ti-Bi·ble adjective
• pro-Bi·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bible¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bible, bibel, from Old French bible, from Medieval Latin biblia (feminine singular), from Greek, in tà biblía tà hagía (Septuagint) “the holy books,” plural of biblíon, byblíon “papyrus roll, strip of papyrus,” equivalent to býbl(os) “papyrus” (after Býblos, a Phoenician port where papyrus was prepared and exported) + -ion noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bible¹

C13: from Old French, from Medieval Latin biblia books, from Greek, plural of biblion book, diminutive of biblos papyrus, from Bublos Phoenician port from which Greece obtained Egyptian papyrus

Example Sentences

His idea of what makes someone a "Christian" is waving a Bible around, but never reading it.

From Salon

“The Bible says don’t put your faith in material possessions,” Cressy said.

From Los Angeles Times

The woman said Cox encouraged her to attend his Bible study class, “offering counseling for women who suffer from guilt following an abortion,” according to the medical board accusation filed in October.

From Los Angeles Times

A recovered video file showed Johnson adjusting the camera inside another bathroom at a junior high school Bible camp, where he worked as a chaperone.

From Los Angeles Times

But Father Gutiérrez maintained that his teachings were far from revolutionary but rather squarely rooted in the Bible.

From BBC