The Tanakh vs. the Christian Bible: What Is the Difference?
Quick answer
The Tanakh is the Jewish Bible: 24 books in three parts, Torah, Nevi'im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings). It contains the same text as the Protestant Old Testament, which divides it into 39 books and orders them differently. The Christian Bible also adds the 27-book New Testament. The Book of Psalms is treasured in both traditions.
What is the Tanakh?
TaNaKh is an acronym from the first letters of its three parts:
- Torah (Law): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
- Nevi'im (Prophets): Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the Twelve
- Ketuvim (Writings): Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles
It was written mostly in Hebrew, with some Aramaic.
Tanakh vs. Christian Old Testament
| Tanakh | Protestant Old Testament | Catholic Old Testament | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book count | 24 | 39 | 46 |
| Arrangement | Torah, Prophets, Writings | Law, History, Wisdom, Prophets | Law, History, Wisdom, Prophets |
| Last book | 2 Chronicles | Malachi | Malachi |
| Extra books | None | None | Tobit, Judith, 1-2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch |
The Protestant count is higher only because books are split: Samuel, Kings and Chronicles become two books each, Ezra and Nehemiah are separated, and the Twelve become twelve books.
How the Christian Bible differs
The Christian Bible adds the New Testament, 27 books about Jesus and the early church. The order matters too: the Tanakh ends with Chronicles and the return from exile, while the Christian Old Testament ends with the prophets looking ahead, leading into the Gospels.
Both traditions treasure the Shema: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD" (Deuteronomy 6:4, KJV). Jesus called the command that follows it the greatest commandment (Mark 12:29-30).
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Covenant Pairing: Genesis & Exodus
Genesis and Exodus, the first two books of the Torah, together as two softcovers.
Shop nowReading the shared Scriptures
Because Jews and Christians share these writings, reading books like Genesis, Psalms and Isaiah closely helps you understand both faiths. Many Christians find the Old Testament richer when they notice how often Jesus and the apostles quoted it.
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The Book of Psalms Journal Bible
The complete text of Psalms with dotted-grid margins for notes, prayers and sketches.
Shop nowKeep reading: What language was the Old Testament written in? · What is the Shema? · Old Testament vs. New Testament.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tanakh the same as the Old Testament?
It has the same content as the Protestant Old Testament, but it is counted as 24 books and arranged in a different order. Catholic and Orthodox Old Testaments include additional books.
What does Tanakh mean?
It is an acronym formed from Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim, the three sections of the Hebrew Bible.
Is the Torah the whole Tanakh?
No. The Torah is the first five books. The word is also used more broadly for Jewish teaching as a whole.
Do Jews read the New Testament?
The New Testament is not part of Jewish Scripture. Judaism's sacred texts are the Tanakh, with the Talmud and other writings as authoritative commentary.
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