Hebrew Scriptures

Hebrew Scriptures

pl.n.

The Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings, forming the covenant between God and the Jewish people that is the foundation and Bible of Judaism while constituting for Christians the Old Testament. Also called Hebrew Bible, Tanakh. See Table at Bible.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Bi•ble

(ˈbaɪ bəl)

n.

1. the collection of sacred writings of the Christian religion, comprising the Old and New Testaments.

2. Also called Hebrew Scriptures. the collection of sacred writings of the Jewish religion: known to Christians as the Old Testament.

3. (often l.c.) the sacred writings of any religion.

4. (l.c.) a reference publication esteemed for its usefulness and authority: a bird-watchers' bible.

[1300–50; Middle English < Old French < Medieval Latin biblia (feminine singular) < Greek, in tà biblía tà hagía the holy books; biblíon, byblíon papyrus roll, derivative of býblos papyrus, after Býblos, a Phoenician port from where papyrus was exported]

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