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How did the name Tanakh originate from the Hebrew Bible's three divisions?
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Hebrew Bible
Portion of the Aleppo Codex, a manuscript of the Hebrew Bible written in the Hebrew language in the 10th century ce; in the Shrine of the Book, Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
The name Tanakh is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the three distinct divisions of the Hebrew Bible:1
- Torah: Meaning "Instruction" or "Law," this division is also known as the Pentateuch.12
- Nevi'im: Meaning "Prophets," this section includes both historical works and oracular discourses.1
- Ketuvim: Meaning "Writings," this collection consists of religious poetry, wisdom literature, and other historical books.1
By combining the first letters of these three terms—Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim—the acronym "Tanakh" serves as a collective title for the Jewish scriptures.13