What Does “Deuterocanonical books” Mean in the Bible?
Seven books of the Old Testament that are in the Catholic Bible: Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch.
It can mean
- What it means: “of the second canon.” They are as much the Word of God as the other books of the Bible.
- Two examples: Tobit advises sharing your bread with the hungry. The Book of Wisdom asks God for the spirit of wisdom.
Today
That is why the Catholic Bible has 73 books.
Where it appears in the Bible
Tobit 4:16; Wisdom 7:7
What the Bible says
Tobit 4:16
Eat thy bread with the hungry and the needy, and with thy garments cover the naked.
Wisdom 7:7
Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Catechism 105, 120 and 138; RAE, “deuterocanónico”