| Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A feather. 2. (n.) A wing. 3. (n.) An instrument used for writing with ink, formerly made of a reed, or of the quill of a goose or other bird, but now also of other materials, as of steel, gold, etc. Also, originally, a stylus or other instrument for scratching or graving. 4. (n.) Fig.: A writer, or his style; as, he has a sharp pen. 5. (n.) The internal shell of a squid. 6. (n.) A female swan. 7. (v. t.) To write; to compose and commit to paper; to compose; as, to pen a sonnet. 8. (n. & v.) To shut up, as in a pen or cage; to confine in a small enclosure or narrow space; to coop up, or shut in; to enclose. 9. (n.) A small enclosure; as, a pen for sheep or for pigs. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia PEN (`et, cheret; kalamos): The first writing was done on clay, wax, lead or stone tablets by scratching into the material with some hard pointed instrument. For this purpose bodkins of bronze, iron, bone or ivory were used (Job 19:24 Isaiah 8:1 Jeremiah 17:1). In Jeremiah 17:1 a diamond is also mentioned as being used for the same purpose. In Jeremiah 36 Baruch, the son of Neriah, declares that he recorded the words of the prophet with ink in the book. In Jeremiah 36:23 it says that the king cut the roll with the penknife (literally, the scribe's knife). This whole scene can best be explained if we consider that Baruch and the king's scribes were in the habit of using reed pens. These pens are made from the hollow jointed stalks of a coarse grass growing in marshy places. The dried reed is cut diagonally with the penknife and the point thus formed is carefully shaved thin to make it flexible and the nib split as in the modern pen. The last operation is the clipping off of the very point so that it becomes a stub pen. The Arab scribe does this by resting the nib on his thumb nail while cutting, so that the cut will be clean and the pen will not scratch. The whole procedure requires considerable skill. The pupil in Hebrew or Arabic writing learns to make a pen as his first lesson. A scribe carries a sharp knife around with him for keeping his pen in good condition, hence, the name penknife. The word used in 3 John 1:13 is kalamos, "reed," indicating that the pen described above was used in John's time (compare qalam, the common Arabic name for pen).
See INK; INK-HORN; WRITING.
Figurative: "Written with a pen of iron," i.e. indelibly (Jeremiah 17:1). "My tongue is the pen of a ready writer" (Psalm 45:1; compare Jeremiah 36:18). As the trained writer records a speech, so the Psalmist's tongue impresses or engraves on his hearers' minds what he has conceived.
James A. Patch |  | Multi-Version Concordance Pen (16 Occurrences) Matthew 5:18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. (WEB NIV) Luke 16:17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall. (WEB NIV) John 10:1 "Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn't enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (See NIV) John 10:16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. (See NIV) 3 John 1:13 I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen; (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 5:14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer. (KJV WBS) 1 Samuel 6:7 "Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart, and two milk cows, on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them; (See NIV) 2 Samuel 7:8 Now therefore you shall tell my servant David this,'Thus says Yahweh of Armies, "I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people, over Israel. (WEB) 1 Chronicles 17:7 "Now therefore, you shall tell my servant David,'Thus says Yahweh of Armies, "I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. (WEB) Job 19:24 That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT RSV) Psalms 45:1 For the Chief Musician. Set to "The Lilies." A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song. My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer. (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 8:1 Yahweh said to me, "Take a large tablet, and write on it with a man's pen,' For Maher Shalal Hash Baz;' (WEB KJV ASV WBS NIV) Jeremiah 8:8 How do you say, We are wise, and the law of Yahweh is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes has worked falsely. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Jeremiah 17:1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT RSV) Micah 2:12 I will surely assemble, Jacob, all of you; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as a flock in the midst of their pasture; they will swarm with people. (See NIV) Habakkuk 3:17 For though the fig tree doesn't flourish, nor fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food; the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls: (See NIV) |
