I'm a beginner to the Bible and I want to know what is a scribe?

The root meaning of the name "scribe" is "one who writes" (compare to "scribble" or "inscribe"). The original occupation of a scribe was to make copies of official documents in the age before printing. They would also write letters, decrees and other documents. Jeremiah 8:8How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
See All... speaks of "the pen of the scribes." In Esther 8:9Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
See All..., the king's scribes were called and "it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews." Because the scribe could write, he could also keep financial records and he would sometimes be used in that area (2Kings 12:10And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD.
See All...). Since the scribes often worked closely with the king, some scribes gained authority beyond that of simply copying documents. In 2Kings 25:19And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city:
See All..., "the principal scribe of the host" actually "mustered the people of the land" and prepared them for battle. The scribes were often considered to be wise by reason of their learning. An uncle of king David named Jonathan was "a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe."

However, these uses for scribe are mostly found in the Old Testament. The New Testament scribes are a special group among the Jewish religious leaders. Their primary duties were to study the law of Moses, teach it to the people, and even to help settle disputes involving the questions of the law. The New Testament scribes traced their origin back to Ezra who is variously called "a ready scribe in the law of Moses" (Ezra 7:6This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
See All...), "a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel" (Ezra 7:11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
See All...), and "the scribe of the law of the God of heaven" (Ezra 7:21And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
See All...). Ezra received these titles because he "had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments" (Ezra 7:10For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
See All...). Ezra was therefore the ideal type for the New Testament scribe.

Unfortunately, the scribes we see in the New Testament did not approach unto this standard. Though the scribes were highly regarded by the people, Jesus saw the harm they were doing and often reproved them. In their study of the law, the scribes got caught in the intricate web of arguments over technical details that kills the spirit of God. The Jewish people found the teachings of Jesus so refreshing because "he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matthew 7:29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
See All...). In the passage in Matthew 23 where Jesus vehemently condemned the Jewish religious leaders, the scribes are specifically mentioned by name eight times. However, toward the end of the chapter (Matthew 23:34Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
See All...), Jesus tells the people that scribes had been sent by the Lord to encourage them to repent but only received persecution. It was not the position of the scribe that was evil, but rather their misuse of that position.

Jesus warned the people of the scribes who through their love of recognition and pretense brought upon themselves "greater damnation" (Mark 12:38-40 [38] And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, [39] And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: [40] Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
See All...). Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the scribes were involved in the condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. They had an honorable position and worked with the highest of subjects--the word of God. Yet, through pettiness and pride they led others to destruction and brought damnation on themselves. These scribes should ever be a warning to us while the ready scribe, Ezra, should ever be an example to follow.