Do you believe the Tanakh and the Old Testament are the same thing?

Question

Have you actually looked and compared them?

For those of you that are unaware, the Tanakh is the Hebrew Bible, written in Hebrew for Hebrew speaking people. It is the original from which the Old Testement is supposedly based.

Christians, you say you know your religion is true, but have you really looked at it? Have you once compared the verses where it says something like "so it would be fullfilled" or "as it was written" and etc. to the actual scriptures and their meanings in the Hebrew text?

You know, there's a huge difference when a text is directly translated from Hebrew to English, instead of Hebrew to Greek to Aramic to Slavic to Latin to English. Hebrew to English let's a lot less people have their way with what's passed off as truth. Have you compared your bible to the actual bible?

If so, could you please answer this question as well?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoOtmoOWQahIcHbKoR6rRRLsy6IX?qid=20070727095939AAExpuP

Answer 1

The big difference between the Jewish version of the "Old Testament" scriptures and the Christian version (outside of divisions and grouping) is that the Christian editors inserted Christology where it didn't previously exist.

A great example of this is Psalm 22:16, 17a:

"For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones"

This appears to be an allusion to Jesus' crucifixion. However, in the Hebrew, the text does not say anything at all resembling this. It should read:

"For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me like a lion. I can count the bones in my hands and feet."

Answer 2

Yes and no.

It is true that there are mistranslations of the Hebrew text, especially in older versions of the bible. However, newer translations have gone back to older sources and may, in some cases, be using better sources than popular Hebrew versions of the Tanakh.

Still, even going back to the Hebrew doesn't help because there is no clear, single translation of ancient Hebrew sentences. The language was just not structured and complex enough. For example, Genesis 1:1, "in the beginning god created the heaven and the earth", can also be read as "first the angels made the sky and the wilderness".

If there was a god, he could have done it better.

Answer 3

CA,

I'm SUCH a fan of yours....so forgive me if I answer this even though I'm not a Christian.

I have a well-thumbed copy of the Tanakh (translated from Hebrew into English, published by The Jewish Publication Society of America), as well as three versions of the Christian bible.

And when I've been confused about something in it, I've asked a Rabbi.

(BTW, I gave props to you here): http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuKUdJXuJ30TkNfUUH2PQ_nty6IX?qid=20070726214303AATm1Jj&show=7#profile-info-l4nNEFQYaa

Answer 4

I have the Hebrew text. You are correct, there are allot of mistranslated verses. None so serious that one cannot find salvation.
I also have the Greek and do not wish to learn it, Hebrew has taken long enough and I still have a long way to go.

So to answer your question:"Do you believe the Tanakh and the Old Testament are the same thing? "

Yes, with variants.

Answer 5

There is no original Hebrew text. The so-called Jewish Hebrew dates back to only the 11 th century.

The Greek Septuagint was translated from the ancient Hebrew some 300 BC. This translation is the most faithful rendering of the Old Testament scriptures.

Answer 6

I knew that Tanakh and OT were not the same - the Tanakh does not include several books from the OT, for one thing. I wonder which translation you were comparing to the Tanakh - because no two English translations are alike. It only follows that the Tanakh would be unlike any other English translation of scriptures.

Jim, http://www.jimpettis.com/wheel/

Answer 7

I have a Tanakh. (Jewish Publication Society,1985)
I have a translation of the Masoretic Text.
I have a translation of the Septuagint.
I have at least a dozen renderings of the Old Testament.
Conclusion:
No significant difference.

Answer 8

With regards to the previous comment, this quote is taken from the Massoretic text, which goes on to read:
"They parted my garments among them, and for my vesture do they cast lots" (verse 19) - literally fulfilled at the crucifixion.

The Septuagint of the same passage reads:

"Because many dogs have encompassed me - an assembly of wicked men have beset me - they have pierced my hands and my feet - (verse 16, Septuagint, translation by Charles Thompson, 1960)

Answer 9

No theyre not.

Common sense says the Tanakh was 'christened' by later Christians and its called the OT.

Answer 10

It is the same and also Kuran also has bits and parts of the same so what of it? We all know it is the same! If you feel you know any other meanings please email me and tell me so I can learn from you!!!

Just remember we have Christ and we have God the father. It is how the religions are clashing but at the same time we worship the same God and the muslims another prophet and us Christ and the jews only God.

Let God do the thinking and you do your praying if you pray that is!