What is the Difference Between Torah and Old Testament

The main difference between Torah and Old Testament is that Torah comprises the first five books of the Hebrew bible, whereas the Old Testament comprises thirty-nine books, including the five books of the Torah.

The Torah and the Old Testament are two important religious books in Christianity. The Old Testament is the first part of the Christian bible, while Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Torah  
     – Definition, Features
2. What is Old Testament
     – Definition, Features
3. Difference Between Torah and Old Testament
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Torah, Old Testament

Difference Between Torah and Old Testament - Comparison Summary

What is Torah

Torah is the collection of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible: books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It’s also known as the Five Books of Moses or the Pentateuch. It contains the  613 commandments and the Ten Commandments, and also the first five books of the Christian Bible. The term “Torah” means “to teach” in Hebrew. According to Jewish and Christian traditional teachings, the Torah is said to contain the revelation of God, written down by Moses. But modern scholars suggest that it was put together from a collection of authors from different sources over hundreds of years. In addition, the Torah comprises all the rules by which the Jewish people structure their spiritual lives.

The names of the five books of the Torah are derived from the first unique word that appears in the book. Moreover, the books commence with the creation of the world and end with Moses’ death.

Compare Torah and Old Testament - What's the difference?

The Five Books of Torah

Genesis – Named for the Hebrew word for “in the beginning,” it describes the creation of the world, the birth of Adam and Eve, the fall of mankind, and the generations of Adam. Finally, it ends with Joseph’s sale into slavery in Egypt.

Exodus – This book narrates the story of the Israelites’ suffering in Egypt, their liberation by Moses, their journey to Mount Sinai, and their wanderings in the wilderness.

Leviticus – This book mainly focuses on priestly matters, offering instructions for rituals, sacrifices, and atonement, but not on the history of the Jewish people.

Numbers – This book depicts the wanderings of Israelites in the wilderness as they journey toward the promised land in Canaan.

Deuteronomy – The final book narrates the end of the journey and ends with Moses’ death just before they enter the promised land.

What is Old Testament

The Old Testament is the first division of the Christian bible comprising thirty-nine books. It also corresponds approximately to the Hebrew Bible. In fact, most of the books were written in Hebrew between 1200 and 100 BC. They contain the main texts of law, prophecy, history, and wisdom literature of ancient Israelites. Moreover, the second division of the bible is the New Testament. It is written in Koine Greek language.

The Old Testament comprises many books by numerous authors. Furthermore, the Old Testament traditionally has four sections: Pentateuch (Torah), the historical books (history of the Israelites, from their occupation of Canaan to their exile in Babylon), the “wisdom” books (questions of good and evil in the world) and the biblical prophets

Difference Between Torah and Old Testament

Definition

Torah is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, while Old Testament is the first division of the Christian bible.

Author

Moreover, Torah is believed to be written by Moses, whereas the Old Testament has various authors.

Language

While Torah is written in Hebrew, the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.

Content

Moreover, Torah comprises the five books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy and describes the history of the Jewish people and the rules by which the Jewish people structure their spiritual lives. The Old Testament, on the other hand, contains thirty-nine books, including the five books of the Torah.

Conclusion

The main difference between Torah and Old Testament is that Torah comprises the first five books of the Hebrew bible, whereas the Old Testament comprises thirty-nine books, including the five books of the Torah.

Reference:

1. “Old Testament.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2. “Torah.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.

Image Courtesy:

1. “ReadingOfTheTorah” By Roy Lindman – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia 

About the Author: Hasa

Hasanthi is a seasoned content writer and editor with over 8 years of experience. Armed with a BA degree in English and a knack for digital marketing, she explores her passions for literature, history, culture, and food through her engaging and informative writing.

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