1.
Old Testament
The first and larger of the two main divisions of the Christian Bible, containing the scriptures inherited from Judaism: the books of Moses, historical books, prophets, and wisdom literature. The Japanese name literally means 'the scripture of the old covenant,' contrasting with 新約聖書 ('New Testament').
旧約聖書を読んでいる。
I'm reading the Old Testament.
旧約聖書の物語を子供に聞かせた。
She told stories from the Old Testament to her children.
旧約聖書の創世記には、世界の成り立ちが書かれている。
Genesis in the Old Testament describes the origin of the world.
旧約聖書は、キリスト教だけでなくユダヤ教の聖典でもある点で重要だ。
The Old Testament is important in that it is a sacred text not only of Christianity but also of Judaism.
Compound of 旧約 ('old covenant') and 聖書 ('scripture; Bible'). The term 旧約 refers to the covenant between God and Israel established through Moses, which Christians see as superseded — though not abolished — by the 新約 ('new covenant') brought by Jesus.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 旧約聖書を読む: to read the Old Testament
- 旧約聖書の創世記: Genesis (book of the Old Testament)
- 旧約聖書の預言者: prophets of the Old Testament
- 旧約聖書の物語: stories from the Old Testament
- 旧約聖書の世界: the world of the Old Testament
WELL-KNOWN BOOKS:
- 創世記: Genesis
- 出エジプト記: Exodus
- 詩篇: Psalms
- 箴言: Proverbs
- イザヤ{書}: Book of Isaiah
USAGE:
- A standard term used in religious, historical, and literary contexts. In academic writing it also refers to the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), though the two have slightly different book orders and canon.
- Often contrasted in a pair with 新約聖書: 旧約聖書と新約聖書 ('the Old and New Testaments').
- Commonly abbreviated as 旧約 when context makes the 'Bible' part clear, e.g., 旧約の物語 ('Old Testament stories').
RELATED TERMS:
- 新約聖書: New Testament
- 聖書: Bible; scripture (general)
- 聖典: sacred text; scripture (of any religion)
- キリスト{教}: Christianity
- ユダヤ{教}: Judaism