Rabbi Daniel Lapin’s Recommended Hebrew/English Bible

There are many reasons why we especially like this edition. One feature making this Bible so special is its unique appearance.

Torah scrolls are hand-written on parchment by a trained and skilled artisan. Each scroll, whether large or small, written this year or hundreds of years ago, follows the same layout. Among other unchangeable rules, certain letters are written larger or smaller than normal, and there is a deliberate spacing between specific bodies of text and/or words. This Bible, in addition to having beautiful Hebrew and English typefaces, replicates the writing and paragraph structure found in every authentic Torah scroll. Much of our ancient Jewish wisdom teaching reveals insights that spring from these important features.

Hebrew is the Lord’s language. Even its very sound resonates in the soul of every serious Scripture student. So we especially commend the English translation for using the original Hebrew pronunciation for names, for instance, Ya’aqov, not Jacob; Yosef, not Joseph; and Yona rather than Jonah. Every Biblical name has a meaning and correctly pronouncing these names makes them easier to comprehend.

The timeless truths first disclosed to the world in the Bible contributed to what we call civilization. Monogamous marriage, stable currency and capital accumulation, as well as a justice system are among the Biblical innovations that made it possible for people to live together in peace and prosperity. Knowing the Bible’s power to reshape individual’s lives and re-sculpt entire communities, we have dedicated our lives to teaching Scripture through the incandescently brilliant lens of ancient Jewish wisdom. This particular Bible serves as our most popular roadmap and sharing it with you allows us to provide page numbers and easy word identification.

Tanakh  תנ”ך

Torah  תורה
Genesis  בראשית
Exodus  שמות
Leviticus  ויקרא
Numbers  במדבר
Deuteronomy  דברים

Prophets  נביאים
Joshua  יהושע
Judges  שופטים
I Samuel  שמואל א
II Samuel  שמואל ב
I Kings  מלכים א
II Kings  מלכים ב
Isaiah  ישעיהו
Jeremiah  ירמיהו
Ezekiel  יחזקאל
Hosea  הושע
Joel  יואל
Amos  עמוס
Obadiah  עובדיה
Jonah  יונה
Micah  מיכה
Nahum  נחום
Habakkuk  חבקוק
Zephaniah  צפניה
Haggai  חגי
Zechariah  זכריה
Malachi  מלאכי

Writings  כתובים
Psalms  תהילים
Proverbs  משלי
Job  איוב
Song of Songs  שיר השירים
Ruth  רות
Lamentations  איכה
Ecclesiastes  קהלת
Esther  אסתר
Daniel  דניאל
Ezra  עזרא
Nehemiah  נחמיה
I Chronicles  דברי הימים א
II Chronicles  דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים ב