How does Judaism understand the Hebrew Bible differently from Christianity?

In Judaism and Christianity, the Hebrew Bible is interpreted through fundamentally different theological lenses, shaping how each faith views its purpose and authority.12

Perspectives on the Text

• Judaism: The Hebrew Bible serves as the primary text for moral instruction and as the historical record of God’s covenant with Abraham, establishing the Jews as a chosen people. It is central to the concept of Torah, which functions as a continuing affirmation of the community's obligations and relationship with God.134
• Christianity: Christians refer to these scriptures as the Old Testament, viewing them as a prophecy that finds its fulfillment in the advent of Jesus Christ. The New Testament is interpreted as the natural extension of the Abrahamic covenant, focusing on the life and death of Jesus as the promised Messiah.15

Structural Differences

The two traditions also differ in the composition of their canons. The Jewish canon consists of 24 books. In contrast, Christian versions of the Old Testament are often longer, as they may divide specific works into two sections or include additional texts—such as the Apocrypha—that were present in the Greek Septuagint but excluded from the Hebrew canon.126