
Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Scribes?
50 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Scribes in the Bible
Discover 50 Bible verses about scribes. This comprehensive collection of Scripture quotes reveals God's wisdom and guidance on scribes, with verses from across the Old and New Testaments.
Top 10 Verses About Scribes
- 1Judges 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. handle: Heb. draw with”
KJV - 22 Samuel 8:17
“And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; scribe: or, secretary”
KJV - 3
- 42 Kings 12:10
“And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD. scribe: or, secretary put: Heb. bound up”
KJV - 52 Kings 25:19
“And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city: officer: or, eunuch were in: Heb. saw the king's face principal: or, scribe of the captain of the host”
KJV - 61 Chronicles 2:55
“And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.”
KJV - 71 Chronicles 24:6
“And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar. principal: Heb. house of the father”
KJV - 81 Chronicles 27:32
“Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons: scribe: or, secretary son: or, Hachmonite”
KJV - 92 Chronicles 26:11
“Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.”
KJV - 102 Chronicles 34:13
“Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.”
KJV
Subtopics of Scribes
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Scribes? (25 Verses)
“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. handle: Heb. draw with”
“And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; scribe: or, secretary”
“And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:”
“And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD. scribe: or, secretary put: Heb. bound up”
“And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city: officer: or, eunuch were in: Heb. saw the king's face principal: or, scribe of the captain of the host”
“And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.”
“And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar. principal: Heb. house of the father”
“Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons: scribe: or, secretary son: or, Hachmonite”
“Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.”
“Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.”
“This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.”
“And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. that: Heb. that understood in hearing”
“And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday , before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. from: Heb. from the light”
“And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. pulpit: Heb. tower of wood”
“And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: sight: Heb. eyes”
“And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”
“Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. scribes: or, secretaries”
“To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Maschil: or, of instruction is inditing: Heb. boileth, or, bubbleth up”
“So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:”
“And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.”
“And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:”
“But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them. of Hammelech: or, of the king”
“He took also out of the city an eunuch, which had the charge of the men of war; and seven men of them that were near the king's person, which were found in the city; and the principal scribe of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the midst of the city. were near: Heb. saw the face of the king principal: or, scribe of the captain of the host”
“And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar. which lieth: Heb. which is turned a slaughter: Heb. a weapon of his breaking in pieces by his: Heb. upon his loins”
“And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Scribes? (25 Verses)
“And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.”
“For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
“Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”
“And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?”
“And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,”
“Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,”
“Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:”
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
“Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,”
“And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.”
“But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,”
“Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?”
“And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?”
“And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.”
“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?”
“And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?”
“And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,”
“And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:”
“And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.”
“And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,”
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,”
“And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,”
“But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.”
“And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”
“Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Scribes
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about scribes. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about scribes and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about scribes is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on scribes needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about scribes with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about scribes, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Scribes?
You have studied 50 verses about scribes. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.