Bible Encyclopedia: Print

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

PRINT; PRINTING; PRINTED

print, prin'-ting, prin'-ted: Printing is the art of multiplying records-the "art of writing with many pens" (Jewish Encyclopedia, XII, 295), or wholesale writing.

The art of making original records is writing. This, however, is a slow process. It involves tracing each letter and part of a letter through from beginning to end by the moving point of chisel, pen, or other instrument, and this process must be repeated with every copy. As soon, therefore, as occasion arose for frequently repeating the record, many ways were devised to save the labor of forming each symbol separately. All these ways involve making a character or a series of characters on a single surface and transferring as a whole to another surface. Neither "pressure," as some say, nor "ink," as others, is essential to the process, for printing from a photographic negative takes no pressure, and printing for the blind takes no ink. Any process which transfers a whole surface is printing.

The earliest use of printing seems to have been for painting the face or body with ownership, tribal, trophy, or ceremonial marks for worship, war, mourning, etc. This paint might be temporary or pricked in by the tattoo process. Tattooing itself is rather a writing than a printing process, but may be either, according as the color is laid on by drawing or by the "pintadera." The "pintadera" or "stamp used to impress patterns upon the skin" is best known from the Mexican and South American examples, but in recent years it has been found in deposits all over the Mediterranean region (North Italy, Austria, Hungary, Mycenae, Crete, Egypt) and in Borneo at least. Many of these specimens are from the Neolithic or Copper age. Both in South America and in Neolithic Liguria, some of these stamps were cylindrical and "were used like a printer's roller" (Mosso, The Dawn of Mediterranean Civilization, 254-61, with many illustrations, and Frobenius, Childhood of Man, figure 31, "Dayak block for painting the body").

The injunction of Leviticus 19:28, which is translated "print," is commonly, and probably rightly, in view of the Hebrew word, supposed to refer to the permanent marks of tattooing which may or may not have been made by this printing process. Job 13:27 the King James Version, which speaks of printing upon the heels or soles of the feet, has been quite changed in the Revised Version (British and American), and, if the idea is one of printing at all, it refers rather to branding than stamping with color.

The use of the inkhorn in setting the mark upon the forehead (Ezekiel 9:3, 4, 6) certainly points to marking with color rather than branding. See INK-HORN. This may, of course, have been drawing rather than printing, but, on the other hand, the sealing of the servants of God on their foreheads (Revelation 7:4; Revelation 9:4) necessarily means printing rather than drawing, and probably printing rather than branding, for the use of the seal with color had long been common. The marks of the beast upon the forehead and upon the hand in Revelation 13; Revelation 14; Revelation 14 15; 16; 19; 20, more likely refer to branding, as the Greek word points more or less in this direction, while the stigmata of Galatians 6:17 may also point to branding. Branding was at all events also a common method of printing characters on the flesh in Biblical times (Isaiah 3:24; perhaps Exodus 21:25; a branding on the forehead, Code of Hammurabi section 127; branding of a slave sections 226, 227). The reference in John 20:25 is, of course, to the clearly visible marks or scars left by the nails in the hands.

See MARK.

The use of seals is a true printing process, whether they are used with color, as they were both in Crete and Egypt almost from the beginning of history, or impressed on clay, wax, or other plastic substances. Mention of seals is frequent in the Bible (see SEAL). A new interest has been given to this aspect of the matter by the sealings discovered in Ahab's palace and other excavations throughout Palestine, which are forming one of the most useful classes of modern inscriptions.

Both stamp and seal were used throughout the Middle Ages, the latter abundantly, and the stamp at least occasionally, for stamping the capital letters in Biblical and other manuscripts, as well as for various other purposes.

Modern printing begins with the carving of whole pages and books on blocks of wood (xylography), or metal plates for printing (chalcography). This method was quite early practiced by the Chinese, and began to be common in Europe in the early 15th century, most of the books printed by it having to do with Biblical topics (Biblia pauperum, etc.).

It was only with the invention of movable type about the middle of the 15th century that the multiplying of books by writing began to come to an end. The printing with movable type is also closely associated with Biblical study, the Gutenberg Psalter and the Gutenberg Bible standing with most for the very beginning of modern printing.

For the printed editions of the Hebrew and Greek originals, and the various versions, see articles on TEXTUAL CRITICISM and allied topics in this encyclopedia, with their literature. The article on "Typography" in Jewish Encyclopedia is of unusual excellence, and the general literature of printing given in Encyclopedia Britannica (11th edition), at the end of the first part of the article on "Typography," is full and good. Compare also Book in this encyclopedia and its literature, especially Hortzschansky, supplementing the bibliography of Encyclopedia Britannica (11th edition). E. C. Richardson

Greek

5179. tupos -- typically
... resemblance; specially, a sampler ("type"), ie A model (for imitation) or instance
(for warning) -- en-(ex-)ample, fashion, figure, form, manner, pattern, print ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5179.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

2710. chaqaq -- to cut in, inscribe, decree
... appoint, decree, governor, grave, lawgiver, note, portray, print,. A primitive
root; properly, to hack, ie Engrave (Judges 5:14, to ...
/hebrew/2710.htm - 6k

2707. chaqah -- to cut in, carve
... carved work, portrayed, set a print. A primitive root; to carve; by implication,
to delineate; also to entrench -- carved work, portrayed, set a print. ...
/hebrew/2707.htm - 6k

5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up,
make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull ...
/hebrew/5414.htm - 9k

Library

Index of Pages of the Print Edition
Anti-Pelagian Writings. <. Anti-Pelagian Writings St. Augustine.
Index of Pages of the Print Edition. [5249]iii [5250]v ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/index of pages of the.htm

Grace Flooding.
... It reads in this way: "Of His skimpiness have we all received." I never found
that in common print; only in the larger print of men's lives. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/grace flooding.htm

Thomas' Test.
... But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and
put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/xxiii thomas test.htm

To the Rev. J. Jowett
... determined to take a bold step, and directly and without further feeling my way
to petition the Government in my own name for permission to print the Mandchou ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev j jowett 7.htm

The Evidence of Our Lord's Wounds
... To put his finger into the print of the nails, and thrust his hand into his side,
was much more than any disciple had a right to ask of his divine Master; and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/the evidence of our lords.htm

And I Joseph Begged the Body of Jesus, and Put it in a New Tomb...
... the garden of paradise, make the following statement through the robber who was
crucified along with Thee, by Thy arrangement: When we saw the print of the ...
/.../unknown/the narrative of joseph of arimathaea/chapter 4 and i joseph.htm

After the Resurrection Day.
... But he said unto them, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails,
and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his last week/after the resurrection day.htm

Selection
... Vols. I., II., and III., (all out of print.). Church and State as seen in the
Formation of Christendom, 8vo, pp.472, cloth (out of print.). ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/selection.htm

Introduction
... Luther's first literary works to appear in print were also occasioned by the work
of his calling and of his office in the Wittenberg congregation. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/a treatise on good works/introduction.htm

This Text was Translated in 1994 and Revised in 2002 for Project ...
... You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or
suggestions to Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at. ...
/.../luther/luthers little instruction book/this text was translated in.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. t.) To fix or impress, as a stamp, mark, character, idea, etc., into or upon something.

2. (v. t.) To stamp something in or upon; to make an impression or mark upon by pressure, or as by pressure.

3. (v. t.) To strike off an impression or impressions of, from type, or from stereotype, electrotype, or engraved plates, or the like; in a wider sense, to do the typesetting, presswork, etc., of (a book or other publication); as, to print books, newspapers, pictures; to print an edition of a book.

4. (v. t.) To stamp or impress with colored figures or patterns; as, to print calico.

5. (v. t.) To take (a copy, a positive picture, etc.), from a negative, a transparent drawing, or the like, by the action of light upon a sensitized surface.

6. (v. i.) To use or practice the art of typography; to take impressions of letters, figures, or electrotypes, engraved plates, or the like.

7. (v. i.) To publish a book or an article.

8. (n.) A mark made by impression; a line, character, figure, or indentation, made by the pressure of one thing on another; as, the print of teeth or nails in flesh; the print of the foot in sand or snow.

9. (n.) A stamp or die for molding or impressing an ornamental design upon an object; as, a butter print.

10. (n.) That which receives an impression, as from a stamp or mold; as, a print of butter.

11. (n.) Printed letters; the impression taken from type, as to excellence, form, size, etc.; as, small print; large print; this line is in print.

12. (n.) That which is produced by printing.

13. (n.) An impression taken from anything, as from an engraved plate.

14. (n.) A printed publication, more especially a newspaper or other periodical.

15. (n.) A printed cloth; a fabric figured by stamping, especially calico or cotton cloth.

16. (n.) A photographic copy, or positive picture, on prepared paper, as from a negative, or from a drawing on transparent paper.

17. (n.) A core print. See under Core.

Thesaurus

Print (3 Occurrences)
... or engraved plates, or the like; in a wider sense, to do the typesetting, presswork,
etc., of (a book or other publication); as, to print books, newspapers ...
/p/print.htm - 15k

Printed (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Print. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. PRINT; PRINTING; PRINTED. print, prin'-ting, prin ...
/p/printed.htm - 13k

Printing
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Print. 2. (n ... Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. PRINT; PRINTING; PRINTED. print, prin ...
/p/printing.htm - 13k

Imprint (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To stamp or mark, as letters on paper, by means of type, plates, stamps,
or the like; to print the mark (figures, letters, etc., upon something). ...
/i/imprint.htm - 7k

Type (12 Occurrences)
... The Greek word tupos is rendered "print" (John 20:25), "figure" (Acts 7:43; Romans
5:14), "fashion" (Acts 7:44), "manner" (Acts 23:25), "form" (Romans 6:17 ...
/t/type.htm - 23k

Thrust (92 Occurrences)
... But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and
put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side ...
/t/thrust.htm - 35k

Finger (35 Occurrences)
... But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and
put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side ...
/f/finger.htm - 22k

Belief (61 Occurrences)
... But he said to them, If I do not see in his hands the print of the nails and put
my finger into the print of the nails, and if I do not put my hand into his ...
/b/belief.htm - 23k

Principles (11 Occurrences)

/p/principles.htm - 10k

Except (236 Occurrences)
... But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and
put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side ...
/e/except.htm - 35k

Bible Concordance

Print (3 Occurrences)

John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV)

Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
(KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS)

Job 13:27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Related Terms

Printed (2 Occurrences)

Printing

Imprint (2 Occurrences)

Type (12 Occurrences)

Thrust (92 Occurrences)

Finger (35 Occurrences)

Belief (61 Occurrences)

Principles (11 Occurrences)

Except (236 Occurrences)

Yoke-fellow (1 Occurrence)