Definition

Proper noun: - Book of Tobit: An apocryphal book, meaning it is included in some versions of the Old Testament but not considered canonical by all religious traditions. It is a didactic narrative, or religious novel, that was widely read and popular for several centuries. The story centers on Tobit, a devout Israelite in exile, his son Tobias, and the angel Raphael, who guides them through trials involving a demon, a fish, and a healing.

Usage

• The Book of Tobit is valued for its themes of piety, family duty, and divine providence.
• Scholars study the Book of Tobit for its insights into Jewish life during the Diaspora.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Tobit" as shorthand: In academic or theological writing, "Tobit" is often used as a shortened reference to the Book of Tobit.
  • The angelology presented in Tobit is a key focus of the paper.

Variants and Related Words

• Tobit (Proper noun): The primary name for the book and its titular character.
• Tobias (Proper noun): The name of Tobit's son, the other main human character in the story.
• Apocrypha (Noun, plural): The collective term for books like the Book of Tobit that are of uncertain authenticity or not part of the core canon.

Synonyms

• The Story of Tobit
• Tobit (when referring to the book itself)

Notes on Meaning

This term refers specifically to a single, named text. It does not refer to a physical object (like a bound volume) but to the literary and religious work itself. Its primary meaning is as a title.

Noun

1. an Apocryphal book that was a popular novel for several centuries