Directory | Site Map | NT Studies Torah in NT (Alef) | Torah in NT (Beit) Torah in the New Testament (Dalet) Three Divisions of the Tanakh

Traditionally, the Hebrew Bible or “Jewish” Bible has been divided into three sections: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. Christian Bibles, on the other hand, have traditionally followed the book order of the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible called the “Septuagint” or Translation of the Seventy. This was done by Jewish scholars in Alexandria, Egypt, beginning around 250 BC/E. The tri-fold order of the Hebrew Bible is reflected in statements in the New Testament. [See below or Three Divisions of the Tanakh] "Now he [Yeshua] said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures." (Luke 24:44-45) [The book of Psalms is first in the section called The Writings, thus it represents the whole. See table below.] In Luke 24:27 the narrator says, “Beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, he [Yeshua] explained the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.” This is an abbreviated reference to the whole Hebrew Bible: “Moses” refers to the Law (of Moses), and “all the prophets” refers not only to the Prophets portion of the Bible, but also the “prophets” found in the Writings portion, including King David and Daniel. In his letter to the Romans, Paul cites biblical support for his teaching, using texts from the three sections of the Hebrew Bible: "But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets . . . "... just as David [the author of many psalms] also speaks of the blessing upon the the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works." (Romans 3:21; 4:6) Elsewhere in Romans, in his extended arguments Paul cites proof-texts from the Law, Prophets, and Writings:

Romans	Quoted Text	Bible Portion
10:11	Isa 28:16	Prophets
10:13	Joel 3:5	Prophets
10:15	Isa 52:7	Prophets
10:16	Isa 53:1	Prophets
10:18	Psalm 19:4	Writings
10:19	Deut 32:21	Law
10:20-21	Isa 65-1-2	Prophets
15:9	Psalm 18:49 (=2 Sam 22:50)	Writings (Prophets)
15:10	Deut 32:43	Law
15:11	Psalm 117:1	Writings
15:12	Isa 11:10	Prophets

Torah	Prophets	Writings
Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy	Joshua Judges 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel The Twelve Minor Prophets: Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi	Psalms Proverbs Job The Five Megillot: The Song of Songs Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Esther Daniel Ezra Nehemiah 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles