Hebrew Bible facts for kids
The Hebrew Bible is a collection of ancient religious writings. It's also known as the Tanakh. These texts are mostly in the Hebrew language, with a few parts written in Aramaic.
This collection is very similar to the Jewish Tanakh and the Protestant Old Testament. However, the Hebrew Bible does not include certain books found in the Roman Catholic Old Testament. It focuses only on the text itself, not on how the books are named, numbered, or ordered.
The term Hebrew Bible is often used to talk about the parts of the Jewish scriptures and the Christian scriptures that are the same. In its Latin form, Biblia Hebraica, it is a common name for printed versions of the Masoretic Text, which is a very old and important Hebrew text.
Contents
What is the Hebrew Bible?
The Hebrew Bible is a set of books that are very important to both Jewish and Christian faiths. It contains stories, laws, poems, and prophecies that tell about the history and beliefs of the ancient Israelites.
Books of the Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is usually divided into three main sections:
- The Torah: This means "teaching" or "law." It includes the first five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books tell the story of creation, the early history of humanity, and the laws given to the Israelites.
- The Nevi'im: This means "prophets." This section includes books written by or about prophets, who were people believed to speak for God. They often shared messages about justice, faith, and the future.
- The Ketuvim: This means "writings." This section contains a variety of books, including poetry (like Psalms), wisdom literature (like Proverbs), and historical accounts (like Chronicles).
Who Uses the Term?
While people who follow Judaism or Christianity don't often use the exact term "Hebrew Bible" in their daily lives, it is very common in other areas.
Academic and Interfaith Use
The term "Hebrew Bible" is widely used in schools, universities, and discussions between different religions. Scholars and researchers use it to talk about these ancient texts in a neutral way. It helps them study the texts without focusing on how different religions might organize or interpret them.
Images for kids
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A Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) from 1962, part of the collection at the Jewish Museum of Switzerland.
See also
In Spanish: Biblia hebrea para niños
