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Recorder

Culture & Society

What is the meaning of Recorder in the Bible?

A high-ranking administrative official in the ancient Judean monarchy, the recorder functioned as a chief scribe and minister of state, responsible for maintaining royal archives, drafting official documents, and assisting in governance.

SIGNIFICANCE

Understanding the recorder's role clarifies the bureaucratic structure of the Davidic monarchy and demonstrates how written documentation was central to state administration and the preservation of historical records in the biblical narrative.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Recorder. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Recorder in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Recorder clarify?

Source Attribution

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.

How to Cite This Entry

"Recorder." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/recorder/
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