Volume
Definition and Etymology
The word "volume" in biblical usage does not refer to the modern sense of a book's bulk or loudness of sound, but to a scroll — a rolled-up document. The English word comes from the Latin volvere, meaning "to roll," and originally designated the rolled papyrus or parchment scrolls that served as the primary form of written documents in the ancient world. Modern translations replace "volume" with "scroll" or "roll" to avoid confusion with the contemporary meaning of the word.
Psalm 40:7 — The Volume of the Book
The word appears in the KJV of Psalm 40:7: "Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me." The Hebrew word here is megillah, meaning "scroll" or "roll." The psalmist expresses his eager willingness to do God's will, declaring that this commitment is recorded in God's written purposes. The "volume of the book" refers to the scroll of God's law or the record of His divine will.
Hebrews 10:7 — The Messianic Application
The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 40:7 directly in Hebrews 10:7, applying it to Christ: "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God." This quotation is part of a larger argument (Hebrews 10:1-10) demonstrating that the Old Testament sacrificial system was always pointing toward Christ's ultimate sacrifice. The "volume" — the scroll of Scripture — testified to Christ's mission to fulfill God's will through His obedience unto death.
Ancient Scrolls
In the ancient world, documents were written on scrolls made of papyrus or parchment, which were rolled around one or two rods for storage and reading. A reader would unroll one end while rolling up the other as they progressed through the text. Scrolls could vary greatly in size — the Great Isaiah Scroll from the Dead Sea, for example, is over 24 feet long. This was the dominant form of written documentation from ancient Egypt through the Roman period, only gradually being replaced by the codex (bound book) format beginning in the early centuries AD.
The Scroll in Biblical Imagery
Scrolls appear throughout the Bible as powerful symbols of divine authority and purpose. God commanded Jeremiah to write His words on a scroll (Jeremiah 36:2). Ezekiel was commanded to eat a scroll as a sign of receiving God's message (Ezekiel 3:1-3). In Revelation, the scroll sealed with seven seals represents God's sovereign plan for history, which only the Lamb is worthy to open (Revelation 5:1-5). In each case, the scroll represents God's authoritative and purposeful communication.
Significance of the Passage
The phrase "in the volume of the book it is written of me" carries profound christological significance. It declares that the entire sweep of Scripture — from the Law through the Prophets — points to and finds its fulfillment in Christ. The "volume" is not merely a container of information but a testimony to God's redemptive plan, centered on the one who came to do God's will perfectly.
Biblical Context
Volume appears in Psalm 40:7 and Hebrews 10:7 (KJV), translating the Hebrew 'megillah' (scroll). In both passages, it refers to the written record of God's will, with Hebrews applying the psalm's words to Christ's mission to fulfill divine purposes through His sacrificial obedience.
Theological Significance
The 'volume of the book' testifies that Scripture as a whole points to Christ. The phrase declares that God's written purposes are fulfilled in the one who comes to do His will. This connects the Old Testament's sacrificial system to Christ's ultimate sacrifice and affirms the unity of Scripture's witness to God's redemptive plan.
Historical Background
Ancient scrolls were made of papyrus or animal skin (parchment) and served as the primary writing medium throughout the biblical period. The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in 1947, provide the best-preserved examples of biblical scrolls from antiquity. The transition from scroll to codex (bound book) format began in the early Christian centuries, with Christians being among the earliest adopters of the codex format for their Scriptures.