The primary Jewish sacred text is the Tanakh, whose name is an acronym of Torah, Nebi'im and Ketuvim (Law, Prophets and Writings). Other names for the Tanakh include the Jewish Bible , Written Torah, or Hebrew Scriptures.
Tanakh vs. Old Testament
The Jewish Tanakh contains the same books as the Old Testament, although in a slightly different order and with other minor differences.
The Tanakh should not be referred to as the "Old Testament" in the context of Judaism, however. The term implies acceptance of a New Testament.
Torah/Pentateuch
The Torah ("Law") contains five books, which is why it is also known as the Pentateuch. The books of the Torah are named for their first words in Hebrew:
- Bereishith ("In the beginning") (Genesis)
- Shemoth ("The names") (Exodus)
- Vayiqra ("And He called") (Leviticus)
- Bamidbar ("In the wilderness") (Numbers)
- Devarim ("The words") (Deuteronomy)
Nebi'im (The Prophets)
The Prophets consist of eight books, if the Twelve Minor Prophets are counted together, as they usually are, or 21 books if they are counted separately.
- Yehoshua (Joshua)
- Shoftim (Judges)
- Shmuel (I &II Samuel)
- Melakhim (I & II Kings)
- Yeshayah (Isaiah)
- Yirmyah (Jeremiah)
- Yechezqel (Ezekiel)
- The Twelve
- Hoshea (Hosea)
- Yoel (Joel)
- Amos
- Ovadyah (Obadiah)
- Yonah (Jonah)
- Mikhah (Micah)
- Nachum
- Chavaqquq (Habbakkuk)
- Tzefanyah (Zephaniah)
- Chaggai
- Zekharyah (Zechariah)
- Malakhi
Ketuvim (The Writings)
- Tehillim (Psalms)
- Mishlei (Proverbs)
- Iyov (Job)
- Shir Ha-Shirim (Song of Songs)
- Ruth
- Eikhah (Lamentations)
- Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes)
- Esther
- Daniel
- Ezra & Nechemyah (Nehemiah) (treated as one book)
- Divrei Ha-Yamim ("The words of the days") (Chronicles)