Book of Life — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Term used to refer to a heavenly record. The phrase appears seven times in the NT: Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15 OET REV 20:12 · OET REV 20:15; 21:27. The Christian understanding of the phrase, however, is rooted in the OT. Passages such as Exodus 32:32; Psalm 87:6; Daniel 7:10; 12:1; and Malachi 3:16 imply or affirm a record kept by God. God is seen as keeping account of his people’s faithfulness and disobedience—and possibly that of other nations as well (e.g., Ps 87:6). Psalm 69:28 uses the phrase “book of the living”; parallel poetic lines refer to physical living.

Show passage in OET: PHP 4:3

OET-RV PHP 4:3

3 and yes, I’m asking you, my true companion, to help those two women who worked hard with me to share the good message, along with Klemes and the others who also worked with me and whose names are written in the book of life.

OET-LV PHP 4:3

3 Yes, I _am _asking also you, genuine companion, be _giving _help to _them, who in the good _message contended _together with _me, with both Klaʸmaʸs and the rest of_the_fellow-workers of _me, whose the names are in the_scroll of _life.

Show passage in OET: REV 3:5

OET-RV REV 3:5

5 So anyone who conquers will be dressed like that in pure white, and I certainly won’t erase their names from the Book of Life, but I’ll declare their names to my father and to his messengers.

OET-LV REV 3:5

5 The one overcoming, thus will _be _being _clothed in clothes white, and by _no _means not I _will _be _wiping _out the name of _him from the scroll of_ the _life, and I _will _be _confessing the name of _him before the father of _me, and before the messengers of _him.

Show passage in OET: REV 13:8

OET-RV REV 13:8

8 All the people living on the earth will worship it—all of those whose names have never been written in the lamb’s book of life since the creation of the world—the lamb who was slaughtered.

OET-LV REV 13:8

8 And will _be _prostrating it all the ones dwelling on the earth, whom not has _been _written the name of _him in scroll of_ the _life of _the lamb, which having _been _slain from the_foundation of_the_earth.

Show passage in OET: REV 17:8

OET-RV REV 17:8

8 The wild animal that you saw used to be here and isn’t anymore but is about to come up from the abyss. Then it’s going to destruction, and the ones living on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will wonder, seeing the creature that used to be here and isn’t anymore but will come back.

OET-LV REV 17:8

8 The wild _animal that you _saw was, and not is, and is _going to _be _going _up out _of the abyss, and into destruction to _be _going.
And will _be _marvelling the ones dwelling on the earth, whose not has _been _written the names in the scroll of_ the _life from the_foundation of_the_earth, seeing the wild _animal, that it _was and not is and _yet will _be _being _present.

Show passage in OET: REV 20:12; REV 20:15

OET-RV REV 20:12

12 Then I saw the dead—both prominent people and the lowly—standing before the throne, and some books were opened and then another book was opened—the book of life. Then the dead were judged from the things written in the books according to what they’d done.

OET-RV REV 20:15

15 and anyone whose name couldn’t be found in the book of life was thrown into that lake of fire.

OET-LV REV 20:12

12 And I _saw the dead, the great and the small, having _stood before the throne, and scrolls were _opened _up, and another scroll was _opened _up, which is of _the scroll of _life.
And were _judged the dead out _of the things having _been _written in the scrolls according _to the works of _them.

OET-LV REV 20:15

15 And if anyone not was _found in the scroll of_ the _life having _been _written, he _was _thrown into the lake of_ the _fire.

Show passage in OET: REV 21:27

OET-RV REV 21:27

27 However, nothing that’s ‘unclean’ will ever enter the city, and nor will those with shameful or dishonest behaviour—only those whose names have been written in the lamb’s book of life.

OET-LV REV 21:27

27 And by _no _means not may _come _in into it any unclean thing, and the one practicing abomination and a_falsehood, except not/lest the ones having _been _written in the scroll of_ the _life of _the lamb.

Show passage in OET: EXO 32:32

OET-RV EXO 32:32

32 But now, maybe you’ll forgive their sin, but if not, please blot me out of your book that you’ve written.”

OET-LV EXO 32:32

32 And_now if you _will _forgive sin _of_their and_if not wipe_me _out please from_book _of_your which you _have _written.

Show passage in OET: PSA 87:6

OET-RV PSA 87:6

6 Yahweh writes in the census book of the nations,
⇔ “That one was born there.” (Instrumental break.)

OET-LV PSA 87:6

6 YHWH he _will _count when_records peoples this _one he _was _born there Şelāh.

Show passage in OET: DAN 7:10

OET-RV DAN 7:10

10 A river of fire was coming out and flowing along in front of him. Thousands and thousands served him, and myriads upon myriads were standing in front of him. The court sat in session and the documents were opened.

OET-LV DAN 7:10

10 A _river of fire was_flowing and_coming _out from before_him a _thousand _of thousands they_were _ministering _to _him and_a _myriad _of myriads before_him they _were _standing the_court it _sat and_books they _were _opened.

Show passage in OET: DAN 12:1

OET-RV DAN 12:1

12 The one who looked like a human also told me: At that time Mika’el (Michael), the powerful prince who stands guard over your people, will become active. There’ll be a time of distress such as never has been since there was a nation until that time, but at that time your people will be rescued—everyone whose name is found written in the book.

OET-LV DAN 12:1

12 And_at_time (the)_that Mīkā^ʼēl the_prince (the)_great who_stands over the _sons _of your _people _of_your he _will _arise and_it _will _be a _time _of distress which not it _has _happened from_when _was a _nation until the_time (the)_that and_at_time (the)_that people _of_your every _of (the)_one_who _is_found written in_scroll it _will _escape.

Show passage in OET: MAL 3:16

OET-RV MAL 3:16

16 Then those who still respected Yahweh spoke with one another. Yahweh paid attention and listened, and while he watched, a book of remembrance was written about those who respected Yahweh and honoured his name.

OET-LV MAL 3:16

16 Then those_fearing _of (of)_YHWH they _spoke _together each with his/its_neighbour and_ YHWH _he _paid _attention and_he _listened and_ a _document _of remembrance _it _was _written before_him of_those_fearing _of (of)_YHWH and_of_those _who_esteemed _of his/its_name.

Show passage in OET: PSA 69:28

OET-RV PSA 69:28

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of life
⇔ ≈ and not have their names written down along with the names of the godly.

OET-LV PSA 69:29

29  May _they _be _wiped _out from_the_scroll _of life and_with righteous_people not may _they _be _written _down.

Jump to OET PHP 4:3 section.

Jump to OET REV 3:5 section.

Jump to OET REV 13:8 section.

Jump to OET REV 17:8 section.

Jump to OET REV 20:12 section. · OET REV 20:15 section.

Jump to OET REV 21:27 section.

Jump to OET EXO 32:32 section.

Jump to OET PSA 87:6 section.

Jump to OET DAN 7:10 section.

Jump to OET DAN 12:1 section.

Jump to OET MAL 3:16 section.

Jump to OET PSA 69:28 section.

In Daniel 7:10; 12:1; and Malachi 3:16 references are linked with descriptions of final judgment and events of the end times. Names and deeds from the divine records are evidence set before a judge. Luke 10:20 and Hebrews 12:23 reflect similar thought; no concrete mention of a “book” is made but a heavenly record is assumed. In Philippians 4:3 Paul uses “Book of Life” to encourage his fellow workers in a lively hope for the future.

Show passage in OET: LUK 10:20

OET-RV LUK 10:20

20 However, don’t get excited that the evil spirits obeyed you, but rather be happy that your names have been written down in the heavens.”

OET-LV LUK 10:20

20 However in this be_ not _rejoicing that the spirits is _being _subjected to _you _all, but be _rejoicing that the names of _you _all has _been _inscribed in the heavens.

Show passage in OET: HEB 12:23

OET-RV HEB 12:23

23 and to the assembly of the eldest sons who have been registered in the heavens, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the people who’ve been declared innocent and who’ve been made perfect,

OET-LV HEB 12:23

23 and to_the_assembly of_the_firstborn, having _been _registered in the_heavens, and to_the_judge god of _all, and to_the_spirits of_the_righteous ones having _been _perfected,

Jump to OET LUK 10:20 section.

Jump to OET HEB 12:23 section.

“Book of Life” in the book of Revelation refers to a heavenly record with the names of persecuted Christians who remain faithful. It is used first in the letter to Sardis (3:5) where the risen Lord, identified as “the Lamb” is keeper of the book (13:8; 21:7). If a person’s name is found in the book, admittance is granted to new Jerusalem (20:15; 21:27). If one’s name is not written there, the judgment is final destruction. Absolute confidence in God’s care for his own is affirmed by the words “written before the foundation of the world” (13:8; 17:8).