scripture

scripture — noun

1. the texts or books that a particular religion treats as sacred and as the highes

1.nounB2
Definition

the texts or books that a particular religion treats as sacred and as the highest authority for its beliefs and practices — for example, the Bible for Christians, the Quran for Muslims, or the Vedas for Hindus

Example

Every Sunday, Tara reads a passage from scripture before dinner with her family.

read from scripture — common collocation for daily religious practice

The Buddhist scriptures that Samir studies were written in ancient languages over two thousand years ago.

[religion] + scriptures — names the specific tradition's holy texts

Common collocations
  • read scripture
  • study scripture
  • according to scripture
  • scripture passage
  • passage from scripture
  • holy scripture
  • sacred scripture
  • Buddhist / Hindu / Christian scripture(s)
  • Hebrew scripture
  • ancient scripture(s)
Synonyms
  • sacred text

    A broader, more neutral term that includes any writing a community treats as holy, not limited to a canon

  • holy book

    More conversational and less formal than 'scripture'; often used in everyday speech across faith traditions

  • religious canon

    Emphasises the official, closed list of accepted books, especially in formal theological discussion

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

[religion] + scripture(s)

according to + scripture

read/study + scripture

Usage Note

Capitalization signals specificity: 'Scripture' (capital S) often refers to the Christian Bible, while 'scripture' (lowercase) can refer to any religion's sacred writings. This sense is most commonly uncountable ('according to scripture'), but the plural form 'scriptures' is also widely used, especially when referring to the individual books or texts of a tradition.

Common Mistakes

I read a scripture about kindness at church.
I read a passage from scripture about kindness at church.
'scripture' refers to the whole body of writings, not a single excerpt; use 'passage from scripture' or 'scripture passage' for a specific part.
The scripture of Buddhism teaches non-violence.
Buddhist scripture teaches non-violence.
Use the religion as an adjective before 'scripture' rather than 'of [religion]'.

Word family

  • scriptural
    adjectiveC1
  • scripturally
    adverbC2
  • scriptures
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Scripture' refers broadly to a body of writings a religion treats as sacred and divinely inspired — the Bible for Christians, the Quran for Muslims, the Vedas for Hindus. 'Sacred text' is a more neutral, academic term that can include any writing a community holds holy, even if it is not part of an official canon. 'Holy book' is the most conversational option, common in everyday speech across all faiths but less precise in scholarly contexts. 'Religious canon' is the narrowest and most formal, emphasising that the list of books has been officially closed and accepted by religious authorities. For example, a university library might have a section for 'sacred texts' that includes both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, but only the Bible is part of the Christian 'canon,' and most Christians simply call it 'Scripture.'

sacred textholy bookreligious canon

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'scriptura' (a writing), derived from 'scribere' (to write). The word entered English through Old French in the 13th century, originally meaning 'the Bible' (the Christian writings). By the 19th century, its meaning had expanded to include the sacred writings of any religion.