(ספר חיּים , ṣēpher ḥayyı̄m ; ἡ βίβλος τῆς ζωῆς , hē bı́blos tḗs zōḗs , "book of life"): The phrase is derived from the custom of the ancients of keeping genealogical records (Nehemiah 7:5 , Nehemiah 7:64; Nehemiah 12:22 , Nehemiah 12:23 ) and of enrolling citizens for various purposes (Jeremiah 22:30; Ezekiel 13:9 ). So, God is represented as having a record of all who are under His special care and guardianship. To be blotted out of the Book of Life is to be cut off from God's favor, to suffer an untimely death, as when Moses pleads that he be blotted out of God's book - that he might die, rather than that Israel should be destroyed (Exodus 32:32; Psalm 69:28 ). In the New Testament it is the record of the righteous who are to inherit eternal life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8; Revelation 21:27 ). In the apocalyptic writings there is the conception of a book or of books, that are in God's keeping, and upon which the final judgment is to be based (Daniel 7:10; Daniel 12:1; Revelation 20:12 , Revelation 20:15; compare Book Jubilees 39:6; Revelation 19:9 ). See APOCALYPSE; BLOT; BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE; JUDGMENT , LAST .
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
WikipediaThe ISBE is a classic Bible reference compiled from nearly 10,000 entries written by over 200 different Bible scholars and teachers. In addition to the encyclopedia articles, all of the major words of the Bible are represented and defined.
The historical, cultural, and linguistic information in the ISBE can be of great value in Bible study and research.
But as with any writings of men, the careful student of the Bible must always compare them with Scripture. As you use this helpful study resource, remember that only God's word is pure.
Read More