old testament
C1Formal, Academic, Religious
Definition
Meaning
The first major division of the Christian Bible, comprising the sacred scriptures of Judaism, containing the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings.
Can refer metaphorically to a set of established, traditional, or foundational principles, often perceived as strict or unyielding.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always capitalized. Primarily a proper noun referring to a specific canonical collection. Its content and canonical order differ between Christian denominations (e.g., Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox) and Judaism (where it is known as the Tanakh).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling of 'testament' is consistent.
Connotations
In both varieties, primary connotations are religious, historical, foundational, and literary. In secular metaphorical use, can imply something outdated, authoritative, or severe.
Frequency
Equally frequent in religious, academic, and general cultural discourse in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the Old Testamentthe Old Testament and the New Testamentin the Old Testamentfrom the Old TestamentOld Testament theologyVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a voice from the Old Testament”
- “(as) stern as an Old Testament prophet”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Potentially metaphorical: 'The CEO's management style is positively Old Testament.'
Academic
Common in Theology, Religious Studies, Literature, and History departments. E.g., 'Old Testament apocalyptic literature.'
Everyday
Used in general discussion of religion, history, or culture. E.g., 'That story is from the Old Testament.'
Technical
Specific in biblical scholarship, referencing textual criticism, canon formation, and historical context.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- An Old-Testament style of justice prevailed.
- He has an Old-Testament beard.
American English
- An Old Testament prophet would denounce this.
- It was an Old-Testament-level plague.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Old Testament is a big part of the Bible.
- We read a story from the Old Testament.
- Many famous stories, like Noah's Ark, are in the Old Testament.
- The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew.
- Theological interpretations of Old Testament law vary widely between denominations.
- Scholars compare Old Testament narratives with other ancient Near Eastern texts.
- Her thesis examines the reception of Old Testament wisdom literature in early modern Europe.
- The concept of covenant forms a central, unifying thread throughout the Old Testament.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think OLD = First. The Old Testament is the first, older part of the Christian Bible.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOUNDATION IS AN OLD TEXT (e.g., 'the Old Testament of constitutional law'), SEVERITY/LAW IS OLD TESTAMENT (contrasted with New Testament mercy).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- The direct translation 'Старый Завет' is correct but may be confused with the concept of an 'old covenant' rather than the named corpus. Ensure capitalization.
Common Mistakes
- Writing it in lower case ('old testament').
- Using it as a common adjective without hyphenation (should be 'Old-Testament prophet' or 'Old Testament prophet').
- Confusing the contents with the New Testament.
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'Old Testament' primarily known as in a Jewish context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They contain largely the same texts, but the order, number of books, and canonical status of some books differ between Jewish and Christian traditions.
'Testament' means 'covenant.' It is called 'Old' from a Christian perspective, distinguishing it from the 'New' covenant established by Jesus, as described in the New Testament.
The number varies: Protestant Bibles have 39, Roman Catholic Bibles include additional books (the Deuterocanon), bringing the total to 46, and Orthodox canons have more.
Yes, it is often used metaphorically to describe anything perceived as very traditional, strict, authoritative, or foundational, e.g., 'the old testament of rock and roll.'