About the Torah?

Question

I am not very knowledgeable about religion but am trying to learn by reading both the Bible and the Qu'ran (and the texts of any other religions I can get my hands on with English translations).

However I cannot find copies of an English-translated Torah in my local bookshop, and wonder whether English versions exist? I only ask as a friend told me it is the same book as the Old Testament of the bible (exactly word for word), and, if this is the case, surely I would not need a separate copy of the Torah?

Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

Torah is the 5 Books of Moses - Genesis (Berasheit) through Deuteronomy (D'varim). You might be thinking of Tanakh which is the same books as the Protestant "old testament" (minus the Protestant translational bias of course).
TaNaKh is a contraction of:
Torah - the 5 Books of Moses
Neviim - the Prophets (Isaiah, etc)
Kethuvim - The Writtings (Psalms, Proverbs, etc)

A fine English translation of Torah, with commentary would be Stone's Chumash:
http://www.artscroll.com/stonechumash.html

For a translation of the entire Tanakh I would still recommend Stone's:
http://www.artscroll.com/stonetanach.html

And if you really want to dig deeply into the commentary the Artscroll Tanakh series is an excellent English resource, here is a link to their commentary on Genesis:
http://www.artscroll.com/Books/berh.html

FREE Online resources:

If you would like to read Torah online check out this site:
http://www.bible.ort.org/books/torahd5.asp
The complete Torah in English and Hebrew and you can hear each verse properly canted in Hebrew just as it is read in the synagogue.

You can read the complete Tanakh with Rashi's commentary here:
http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=63255

Answer 2

The Torah is specifically Gen-Deut. I would get one published by a Jewish company because the translation will be more accurate. Artscroll.com is a good place to buy it if you want it in a separate book from your OT.

Just an FYI, the OT is called Tanach by Jews. TaNaCH is an acronym for:

T = Torah (Instruction)
N = Nevi'im (Prophets)
CH = Ch'tuvim (Writings)

Answer 3

Yes they exist. I bought one at barnes and noble. It's called the Tanakh and is published by "The Jewish Publication Society" The reason to read this one translated by Jews instead of the one in the bible translated by Christians is because theres many errors

Answer 4

as people have stated they are different in key ways.

first unlike Christian Bibles Jews to not read Tanach with out some sort of commentary to understand and put the passage in perspective. How much commentary depends on the level of depth a person is willing to go.

as well as many critical passages are translated differently.

to give you a sample here is an on line version of Tanach.

http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=63255

Answer 5

The Torah (1st 5 books of the OT) is translated into english in what is called the Masoretic Text, and is pretty close to the english KJV. In fact the KJV was a revision of he Masoretic Text. I've got both and they are pretty comparable. Go to a Jewish synagogue, they will probably sell you one, that is where I got mine.

Answer 6

The Torah is the Old Testament. The Penteteuch is the first five books of the Torah.

Enjoy in good health.

Answer 7

It is not the same as the Christian Old Testament, additional books are in the OT and the translation is very different.. English copies are available look on amazon.com or BN.com.

Answer 8

If you can read Greek you can read the Septuagint (a translation from the Hebrew to Greek).

If you can read Hebrew you can read the Torah itself (it is the Old Testament).

Answer 9

the torah is the first five books of the hebrew scriptures... they come in most christian bibles but a jewish translation is far more reliable and accurate

the entire hebrew scriptures ("old testament") is called the tanakh

Answer 10

That's right, you don't need to look for the Torah as something separate. If you do want it you could contact a synagogue I'm sure they would be happy to help you out.