hebrew bible: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Academic, Religious, Specialized
Quick answer
What does “hebrew bible” mean?
The canonical collection of scriptures sacred in Judaism, comprising the Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The canonical collection of scriptures sacred in Judaism, comprising the Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.
The Old Testament as recognized in Christian tradition, though the term is primarily used in Jewish and academic contexts to refer to the scriptures in their original Hebrew (and Aramaic) form, distinct from Christian theological interpretations or canonical order.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Usage is identical across both varieties, being a highly specific, formal term.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties: scholarly, religious, historical.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both regions, found primarily in theological, historical, and comparative religion contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hebrew bible” in a Sentence
[Subject] studies/analyses/translates the Hebrew Bible.The Hebrew Bible contains [Object].A passage from the Hebrew Bible [Verb].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hebrew bible” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He bible-bashes using quotes from the Hebrew Bible. (informal, rare)
American English
- She bible-thumps passages from the Hebrew Bible. (informal, rare)
adjective
British English
- The Hebrew-Biblical tradition is central to his analysis.
American English
- He has a Hebrew Bible studies background.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
"Her research focuses on the redaction history of the Hebrew Bible."
Everyday
"He's taking a university course on the Hebrew Bible."
Technical
"The critical apparatus compares Masoretic Text variants of the Hebrew Bible."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hebrew bible”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hebrew bible”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hebrew bible”
- Using lower case ('hebrew bible').
- Confusing it with the 'Old Testament' without acknowledging the different theological and canonical implications.
- Omitting the definite article 'the' (incorrect: 'study Hebrew Bible'; correct: 'study the Hebrew Bible').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They contain largely the same texts, but 'Hebrew Bible' refers to them as the complete scripture of Judaism (arranged as Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim), while 'Old Testament' views them as the first part of the Christian Bible, often in a different order and with theological interpretations.
Primarily in Biblical Hebrew, with some portions (notably in Daniel and Ezra) in Biblical Aramaic.
Because its original language is Hebrew. This distinguishes it from, for example, the Greek Septuagint translation or the Latin Vulgate.
It is a formal, specialized term. In everyday conversation among English speakers, 'Old Testament' is more common, though it carries Christian connotations. In Jewish contexts, 'Tanakh' is the standard term.
The canonical collection of scriptures sacred in Judaism, comprising the Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.
Hebrew bible is usually academic, religious, specialized in register.
Hebrew bible: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhiːbruː ˈbaɪbl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhibru ˈbaɪbəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HEBREW' for the language it's written in, 'BIBLE' for its sacred book status. Combined, it's the foundational text of Judaism.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOUNDATION/SOURCE (e.g., 'the Hebrew Bible is the source of Judeo-Christian ethics').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason for using the term 'Hebrew Bible' in academic contexts?