There are so many scriptures because there are so many religions. Hebrew Bible and Torah are two terms with totally different meanings.
Hebrew Bible refers to the whole set or collection of scriptures, including the Torah. Whereas Torah relates to teaching, it includes the first five books that come under Hebrew Bible.
Hebrew Bible, also called Tanakh, is a collection of holy books of Jewish peoples. It is a little bit similar to Christian Bible.
The Hebrew Bible is structured into three important divisions: the Torah, Nevi’im, and the Ketuvim. Each of them has further divisions.
The Torah is a section of the Hebrew Bible, and it is divided into five parts: Numbers, Exodus, Leviticus, Genesis, and Deuteronomy.
Key Takeaways
- The Hebrew Bible refers to the collection of Jewish scriptures written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, while the Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
- The Hebrew Bible contains historical accounts, poetry, and prophetic books. At the same time, the Torah focuses on the narrative of the world’s creation, the Jewish people’s history, and the Ten Commandments.
- While the Torah is the most sacred text in Judaism, the Hebrew Bible includes additional religious texts such as the Talmud and the Midrash.
Hebrew Bible vs Torah
Hebrew bible is the holy scripture of the Jews that is also compared to the Bible. It consists of twenty-four books that is also called Tanakh or the Old Testament. Torah is a section of the Hebrew Bible that is divided into five sections which are Numbers, Exodus, Leviticus, Genesis, and Deuteronomy.
The Hebrew Bible is counted in as the primary holy scripture of the Jews, and it is comparable to the Bible. Hebrew Bible is a set of twenty-four books, all of which are antique.
Hebrew Bible is structured into three important divisions that are the Torah or “sayings”, the Nevi’im, or the “messengers,” and the Ketuvim or “scribbles”.
The Torah is one of the sections of the Hebrew Bible, and it is again divided into five divisions. The Torah contains Numbers, Exodus, Leviticus, Genesis, and Deuteronomy.
These five divisions are customarily credited to Moses. Sayings in Torah are an essential part of Jewish people’s culture.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Hebrew Bible | Torah |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The Hebrew Bible is a collection of 24 books and is an essential holy scripture of the Jews. | The Torah is one of the main sections of the Hebrew Bible and is further divided into five books. |
| Collection of | It has a complete set of twenty-four books. | Torah is divided into five books. |
| Followed by | Jewish people follow the Hebrew Bible. | Jewish people also follow it. |
| Main Divisions | Hebrew Bible has three main divisions the Torah, the Nevi’im, and the Ketuvim. | Torah has five divisions: Numbers, Exodus, Leviticus, Genesis, and Deuteronomy. |
| Public reading started | 2nd century CE. | 4th century CE. |
What is Hebrew Bible?
Hebrew Bible is the first sacred book followed by the Jewish people. It is the collection of old writings or scriptures, including the Torah.
Hebrew Bible is a set of a total of twenty-four books, and it has three main sections the Torah or “sayings,” the Nevi’im, or the “messengers,” and the Ketuvim or “scribbles.”
Hebrew Bible is somewhat similar to the Bible, obeyed by Christians. In the Hebrew Bible, Jews are declared as God’s selected people. The initial six books of the Hebrew Bible contain the past and the study of the Israeli people.
The following seven books in the Hebrew bible continue the life story of the Israeli people. And the final eleven books contain verses, creed, and more about the past.
The new testament contains twenty-four books, similar to the old testament, which includes a collection of thirty-nine books. The Hebrew Bible is also referred to as Tanakh, the first alphabet of the three divisions.
What is Torah?
The Torah is one of the essential parts of the Hebrew bible. Torah is subdivided into five books: Numbers, Exodus, Leviticus, Genesis, and Deuteronomy.
These five divisions are customarily credited to Moses.
Teachings given in Torah are essential in the culture of Jewish people.
People believe that Torah was in paradise before it was given to Moses. Torah teaches about human living and traditions or cultures.
Torah is also referred to as Chumash or the books of Moses.
This book contains all the laws ordered by God related to Jewish custom in written and oral form. The public reading of the Torah started during the 4th century CE.
Torah contains a total of six hundred thirteen orders of god. It is written in the Hebrew language.
Main Differences Between the Hebrew Bible and Torah
- The Hebrew bible is one of the holy scripture of the Jewish people, and the Torah is one of the sections of the Hebrew bible.
- The Hebrew bible is a set of twenty-four books, and the Torah is subdivided into five books: Numbers, Exodus, Leviticus, Genesis, and Deuteronomy.
- The Hebrew Bible is also called Tanakh, and the Torah is called Chumash or the books of Moses.
- The Hebrew Bible has three central units or divisions the Torah, or “sayings,” the Nevi’im, or the “messengers,” and the Ketuvim, or “scribbles.” And Torah is a part of the Hebrew Bible, and it is divided into five books.
- The Hebrew Bible contains all the teachings related to the culture and traditions of the religion, while the Torah contains sayings or teachings of human life and the way a person must spend their life.
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
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