What is the Tanakh or the Hebrew Bible?

“Not live on bread alone man, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God«
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 8:3

Tanakh (תנ״ך) it is the acronym formed by the three main sections of the Hebrew Bible:

• T: Torah, (תורה) – The Law or Teaching
• N: Nevi''im (נביאים) – The Prophets
• K: Ketuvim (כתובים) – The Writings

The term Tanakh it is used exclusively in judaism to designate the set of the 24 sacred books recognized by the Hebrew canon, written mostly in biblical Hebrew, with some portions in aramaic (notably in Daniel and Ezra).

2. Tripartite structure

A. Torah (The Law or Pentateuch)

This is the section most sacred. Contains the five books attributed to Mosesthat narrate the creation of the world, the patriarchs, the exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Law at Sinai and the organization of Israel as a nation.

Books:

1. Bereshit (Genesis) – Creation, the patriarchs, the origin of Israel.
2. Shemot (Exodus) – Deliverance from Egypt, Sinai covenant, the tabernacle.
3. Vayikrá (Leviticus) – Laws and priestly purity, sacrifices.
4. Bamidbar (Numbers) – Pilgrimages, census, rebellions.
5. Devarim (Deuteronomy) – Speeches the end of Moses, recapitulation of the Law.

Meaning:
The Torah is the legal, ethical, and theological of judaism. It is considered dictated by God to Moses, and his reading of the cyclic in the synagogues (whether annual or triennial) structure of the spiritual life jewish.

B. Nevi'im (The Prophets)

Recounts the history of Israel from the entrance to the Promised Land until the exile, along with the prophetic messages that encourage fidelity to the covenant.

Subdivision internal:

1. Previous prophets (historical):

1. R. Joshua (Joshua) – Conquest of Canaan.
2. Shoftim (Judges) – Cycles of apostasy and release.
3. Shmuel (Samuel) – Institution of the monarchy.
4. Melachim (Kings) – History of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

2. Later prophets (prophetic itself):

5. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) – Trial and messianic hope.
6. Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) – Warning about the exile, the new covenant promise.
7. Yechezkel (Ezekiel) – Exile, restoration, vision of the Temple and future.
8. Trei Asar (The Twelve minor Prophets):
   • Hoshea / Hosea (Oseas), Yoel (Joel), Amos, Ovadia (Obadiah), Yoná (Jonah), Mijá (Micah), Najum, Javakuk, Tzefania (Zephaniah), Jagai (Haggai), Zejaria (Zechariah), Malají (Malachi).

Meaning:
The Nevi'im show the spiritual life, politics and morality of Israeland the prophets are seen as spokespersons divine they interpret the story in the light of the covenant with God.

C. Ketuvim (The Writings)

This is the section most varied, which includes poetry, wisdom, narrative, and historical reflection.

Books:

1. Tehillim (Psalms) – Liturgical poetry and prayer.
2. Mishlei (Proverbs) – Practical wisdom.
3. Iyov (Job) – The problem of suffering.
4. Shir HaShirim (song of Songs) – Love and symbolism divine.
5. Ruth (Ruth) – Fidelity and davidic lineage.
6. Eijá (Lamentations) – Pain over the destruction of Jerusalem.
7. Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) – Vanity and sense of life.
8. Esther (Esther) – Divine providence in exile.
9. Daniel (Daniel) – The apocalyptic visions and faithfulness in Babylon.
10. Ezra–Nejemiá (Ezra-Nehemiah) – Return from exile and the rebuilding of the Temple.
11. Divrei Hayamim (Chronicles) – History theological from Adam to the return.

Meaning:
The Ketuvim reflect the human experience and spiritual individual, and show the relationship between God and Israel in different eras and genres.

3. Differences with the christian Bible

4. Formation of the canon

The canonization process was gradual:

• Torah: set in the fifth century.C. (time of Ezra).
• Nevi'im: consolidated into the third century.C.
• Ketuvim: closed between the first and second centuries d.C., probably in the environment rabbinic of Yavne (Jamnia)after the destruction of the Second Temple.

The Hebrew canon was then established and closed, and was faithfully transmitted by the masoretas (VI centuries–X d.C.), those who preserved the vocalization and the score text.

5. Language, transmission and texts

• Original texts: biblical Hebrew with sections aramaic (Daniel Ezra).
• Text base: Masoretic text (MT) – standardized version for the masoretas of Tiberias.
• Old versions: Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, Peshitta in syriac, Targumim in aramaic, Vulgate in Latin.

The Dead Sea scrolls (Qumran) confirm the antiquity and authenticity of the Hebrew text, traditional.

6. Function theological and liturgical

• Torah: read publicly each week; their study is central in judaism.
• Nevi'im: reading Haftará after each portion of the Torah.
• Ketuvim: used in festivities (for example, Ruth on Shavuot, Esther on Purim, Eijá in Tishá BeAv).

The Tanakh is both sacred text as a source of law, ethics, history and poetry. It is the heart of the spirituality, the law, and the national identity of the jewish people.

7. Historical and cultural relevance

The Tanakh:

• Profoundly influenced the universal literature, law, and moral western.
• Constitutes the basis of the Christian old Testament and part of the Quran islamic.
• It is the object of study, theological, philological, and archaeological continuous.
• Inspires spiritual movements, philosophical, and cultural for the last three millennia.

8. Final synthesis

The Tanakh it is not only a collection of old books: it is a corpus literary, spiritual, and historical framing the dialogue between God and the people of Israel. Its tripartite structure reflects the evolution of religious thought, Hebrewsince the revelation of the Law to the universal wisdom and the messianic hope.

In formal terms:

• Torah → Revelation
• Nevi'im → prophetic Interpretation of history
• Ketuvim → spiritual Reflection of the human soul