Ancient Writing Tools

A stylus in Jesus’ day was a writing tool made of metal, ivory, or bone. The writer would press the pointed end of the stylus down on a waxed-surface tablet. However, a more permanent method of documentation was used for the Bible.

The Hebrew Scriptures were written with an iron pen-like object, possibly on stone or lead (Job 19:24). Clay and leather parchments were also used.

New Testament manuscripts probably were written originally with reed pens on pressed sheets of papyrus fibers. Papyrus was common and inexpensive. A dry reed stalk was cut to a small pen size, sharpened to a point on one end, and slit to dip into ink. The ink was made of lamp-black and gum dissolved in water.

7 thoughts on “Ancient Writing Tools

  1. Thank you for the research,
    I am in a project to write an exact duplicate of the 23rd Psalm.
    I have the Papyrus, now I need the ink and “pen” hence my interest in your article, I will use A4 sheets, light, then a template to set each symbol in perfect location on the line.

    Kind regards
    David

  2. In Jerimiah 17 it mentions a diamond tipped pen of iron…not common surely..and except for the figurative language…was this used for something? Pretty hi tech?

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