Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why is the Hebrew Bible sometimes called the Old Testament?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

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 term "Old Testament" is a designation used primarily within Christianity to refer to the Hebrew Bible. The name was coined by Melito of Sardis around 170 CE to distinguish these sacred Jewish writings from the New Testament, which recounts the ministry and gospel of Jesus Christ.12

Christians view the Hebrew Bible as a prophecy that foretells the advent of Jesus as the Messiah. By labeling these scriptures the "Old Testament," Christian tradition frames them as the first part of the Bible, establishing the Abrahamic covenant as a foundation that is fulfilled and extended by the New Testament.123

While the Hebrew Bible serves as the primary text for Judaism, the Christian "Old Testament" often differs in scope; it is frequently longer than the Jewish canon because various Christian denominations include additional texts or divide existing works differently.1