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JPS TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures (blue): The New JPS Translation according to the Traditional Hebrew Text Hardcover – November 1, 1985
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Regarded throughout the English-speaking world as the standard English translation of the Holy Scriptures, the JPS TANAKH has been acclaimed by scholars, rabbis, lay leaders, Jews, and Christians alike. The JPS TANAKH is an entirely original translation of the Holy Scriptures into contemporary English, based on the Masoretic (the traditional Hebrew) text. It is the culmination of three decades of collaboration by academic scholars and rabbis, representing the three largest branches of organized Judaism in the United States. Not since the third century b.c.e., when 72 elders of the tribes of Israel created the Greek translation of Scriptures known as the Septuagint has such a broad-based committee of Jewish scholars produced a major Bible translation.
In executing this monumental task, the translators made use of the entire range of biblical interpretation, ancient and modern, Jewish and non-Jewish. They drew upon the latest findings in linguistics and archaeology, as well as the work of early rabbinic and medieval commentators, grammarians, and philologians. The resulting text is a triumph of literary style and biblical scholarship, unsurpassed in accuracy and clarity.
Ebook versions of this title may be purchased from most ebook vendors.
- Print length1624 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherJEWISH PUBLICATON SOCIETY
- Publication dateNovember 1, 1985
- Dimensions6.3 x 2 x 9.1 inches
- ISBN-100827602529
- ISBN-13978-0827602526
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“Turns Holy Writ into fresh, understandable, contemporary language. A landmark of Jewish religious scholarship.”—Time
Product details
- Publisher : JEWISH PUBLICATON SOCIETY
- Publication date : November 1, 1985
- Edition : First Edition
- Language : English
- Print length : 1624 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0827602529
- ISBN-13 : 978-0827602526
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.3 x 2 x 9.1 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #65,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5 in Torah
- #32 in Hebrew Bible
- #495 in Christian Bibles (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Customers find this Tanakh translation easy to read with its clear modern English and extensive footnotes, making it an excellent resource for study. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its content, with one customer noting its inclusion of Jewish and Chabad information, while others appreciate its light weight and portability. However, the print size receives mixed reviews, with some finding the font size great for reading while others consider it too small. Additionally, the paper thickness is criticized for being thin, though customers consider it well worth the price.
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Customers appreciate the Bible content of this book, finding it an excellent resource for study that helps them dig deep into the text, with one customer noting its extensive Jewish and Chabad information.
"This tome offers several milestones of revelations about Judaism and it's influence on the Judeo-Christian culture...." Read more
"Opens the whole Bible, Old Testament and New Testament to new understanding" Read more
"...your understanding of the most important book ever written: it's history, psychology, poetry, prayers, love songs, doubt, faith...." Read more
"...It was extremely helpful in my understanding of what the professor was saying in her lectures relative to biblical criticism and interpretation...." Read more
Customers find the book to be well worth the money, describing it as invaluable and a good choice.
"...register pages for marriages, births, and deaths, making it a wonderful keepsake...." Read more
"...Since I am not literate in these two languages it was the perfect choice for me...." Read more
"Enjoying it, a good value for the price, but print is much smaller than expected (maybe 8 or 9 pt.). Seemed larger when viewed online...." Read more
"...Great price also." Read more
Customers praise this Tanakh edition, describing it as wonderful and like new, with one customer noting it's a good rendition of the 1917 Tenach.
"I enjoy reading from here,very nice; clean Bible" Read more
"...Kindle edition of this book (April 28, 2011) is a good rendition of the 1917 Tenach...." Read more
"...That's a good thing. This is a good edition. I'm very glad I purchased it. Baruch Hashem." Read more
"...Great Tanakh, bad presentation." Read more
Customers find the book easy to carry, describing it as compact and portable.
"...a beautifully crafted, compact blue book that’s easy to hold and not overly heavy...." Read more
"...Also there is no bloated, overpaid, over sexed, hillbilly or crook trying to tell me that my only way to salvation is to give 20% minimum of my..." Read more
"...But the book itself appears to be a good book. Its well bound and compact. I wish the writing was larger, it is tiny in my opinion...." Read more
"...I got the Kindle version, which is easy to use and portable, although it takes quite a bit of memory...." Read more
Customers appreciate the spiritual content of the book, with some describing it as a great spiritual fiction masterpiece. One customer notes how it anchors civilization under the Kingdom of God, while another mentions how it strengthens their beliefs in God.
"...from the siddur with this most beautifully trained voice Full of Holy reverence & awe - that resonated within my soul - because it spoke to me, and..." Read more
"This is the true Hebrew Bible, God's people, not the Catholics interpretation of the real scriptures." Read more
"...An essential for those of all religious & spiritual backgrounds, for writers, & for readers of powerful & beautiful writing." Read more
"...religious book and when compares to the Bible, just strengthens my beliefs in God tremendously. I am am happy buyer of this book...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the paper thickness of the book, with some appreciating its thickness while others find it too thin.
"...The pages are quite thin and delicate, so if you plan to highlight or color-code, be careful—ink may bleed through, and pages could tear if not..." Read more
"...Also this book is bigger and thicker than what you see in the picture. It is about the size of your average stephen king novel. It is just a beauty!..." Read more
"Nice but expect it to be thin paper" Read more
"...And pages are paper thick enough to highlight. Also wipes clean, with a coffee spill...." Read more
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- Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseI really don't dislike this at all not at all I like and really like this translation of the old testament me myself as a born again Christian its has 4 chapter of the book in Joel I believe could be that its longer tho but anyway the cover is NICE and the words are beautiful and poetic I guess like the KJV which it reads like it means yes and the compared to other KJV very good and it being translated by the Hebrew Jewish people and both publishing society which I barely know godbless tho I love even more it being by Jews because the KJV translators were of there time and were European people and didn't live breath and love God's (elohim shaddai yahweh) word tanakah and being in the modern day and having more technology ( being translated in the late 70" s early 80's I believe is very good and the KJV admit it the best FIRST translation of the Interpretable English bible I mean like the older English wording of the Geneva bible 1560 version whatever era you like to use and the tanakah the bible was for the Hebrew people by the Hebrew and translated and interpreted and by the Hebrew even if they used Greek translaters which was probably the apostles Matthew mark Luke and john or mattityahu ( Matthew) and yochanan (john) doesn't have mark and Luke Hebrew names in the complete Jewish bible by hendicksons bibles and messianic Jewish publishers &resources overall 5 star out of five highly suggest and recomposed this translation of the Hebrew bible (the old testament) god bless Jesus bless all of y'all yeshua and shalom!.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseThis is a beautiful Tanakh and is also well bound (IMO), while I much rather prefer hard cover since am really particular about my Bibles. But what I like Most about this specific translation is that it does NOT utilize the KJV! Likewise, I still like comparing it to the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB). . .
I still remember the day quite clearly: Usually, I would be one of the last kids outside for recess since 2nd grade was the start of a brand new elementary school that had just been built, so I was still getting used to it. In the distance, I saw all the other children climbing all over the new playground equipment, but to my right there was a girl standing out on the sidewalk all by herself with her head down. So I stopped and said, "Hi. Do you want to play?" She looked up with a smile on her face. Turned out, she and her family had just moved from "Jersey" and they lived in the Biggest house in the entire neighborhood that had been built with Large in ground pool with diving board & slide!! And ya know what? Her parents NEVER once told me to leave their home during Hanukkah, Passover, or any of the other feasts/festivals/holidays. . .While I also still remember the day of her Bat Mitzvah upon entering the synagogue hearing a cantor singing prayers from the siddur with this most beautifully trained voice Full of Holy reverence & awe - that resonated within my soul - because it spoke to me, and now I know why. . .
This is a beautiful Tanakh and is also well bound (IMO), while I much rather prefer hard cover since am really particular about my Bibles. But what I like Most about this specific translation is that it does NOT utilize the KJV! Likewise, I still like comparing it to the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB). . .
I still remember the day quite clearly: Usually, I would be one of the last kids outside for recess since 2nd grade was the start of a brand new elementary school that had just been built, so I was still getting used to it. In the distance, I saw all the other children climbing all over the new playground equipment, but to my right there was a girl standing out on the sidewalk all by herself with her head down. So I stopped and said, "Hi. Do you want to play?" She looked up with a smile on her face. Turned out, she and her family had just moved from "Jersey" and they lived in the Biggest house in the entire neighborhood that had been built with Large in ground pool with diving board & slide!! And ya know what? Her parents NEVER once told me to leave their home during Hanukkah, Passover, or any of the other feasts/festivals/holidays. . .While I also still remember the day of her Bat Mitzvah upon entering the synagogue hearing a cantor singing prayers from the siddur with this most beautifully trained voice Full of Holy reverence & awe - that resonated within my soul - because it spoke to me, and now I know why. . .
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2024Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseThis is for my Masters course.
Review of The Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures
This Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures is a beautifully crafted, compact blue book that’s easy to hold and not overly heavy. It includes special sections like a name page and family register pages for marriages, births, and deaths, making it a wonderful keepsake.
The pages are quite thin and delicate, so if you plan to highlight or color-code, be careful—ink may bleed through, and pages could tear if not handled gently.
While it wasn’t wrapped, so the first page was slightly open when I unboxed it, overall, I believe it’s a great value. For those looking to add a thoughtfully designed edition of the Scriptures to their collection, this is a worthwhile purchase.
5.0 out of 5 starsThis is for my Masters course.The Quality and content and cost
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2024
Review of The Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures
This Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures is a beautifully crafted, compact blue book that’s easy to hold and not overly heavy. It includes special sections like a name page and family register pages for marriages, births, and deaths, making it a wonderful keepsake.
The pages are quite thin and delicate, so if you plan to highlight or color-code, be careful—ink may bleed through, and pages could tear if not handled gently.
While it wasn’t wrapped, so the first page was slightly open when I unboxed it, overall, I believe it’s a great value. For those looking to add a thoughtfully designed edition of the Scriptures to their collection, this is a worthwhile purchase.
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2025God is balance
- Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2025Format: PaperbackVerified Purchaseprint is very small. Difficult to read with a very bright light
- Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseI am not competent to review the translation, but this is a beautifully produced volume that I am happy to have by my side when I travel.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2024Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseA really inexpensive way to understand the difference in Hebrew vs Greek thinking. Should be required reading at every Bible Study of any denomination
- Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseThis is the true Hebrew Bible, God's people, not the Catholics interpretation of the real scriptures.
Top reviews from other countries
- Matthew BoultonReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Downloads accurately onto Kindle paper white
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThis Tanakh is the version used in many progressive synagogues. The page numbers correspond to the printed versions so I found it very easy to find the pages for every Shabbat service - both for the Torah portion and the Haftarah reading. Unlike Singer's Chumach, it not only has all the 5 books of Moses (the 'Ta' part of the title) but also all the prophets (the 'na' of the title) but also the 'Ketuvim' which are sometimes used as Haftarah portions or on other occasions, eg. Ruth, on Shavuot.
The only slightly annoying thing was trying to incorporate the bookmark on my Kindle, but that is probably my inexperience in using my Kindle and my poor touch control, due to old age!
I would heartily recommend this to anyone wishing a more portable version of the blue JPS Tanakh, as it is much easier to carry around and also page turning is easier than in the printed version.
If you are unfamiliar with the JPS Tanakh, new translation, you probably won't like the use of modern English and in some places a rather free translation - there is no 'thee' and 'thou' and it is more gender friendly, but that is a theological issue for you and has nothing to do with the actual print or download.
The footnotes in the printed version also download but are difficult to find, which you may find annoying. I just look at them in my printed Hebrew-English version!
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duru esther oluchiReviewed in Italy on April 9, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Ho ricevuto il pacco, tutto bene grazie
Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseFeedback positiva, è arrivato il pacco, sono contenta grazie
- PlaceholderReviewed in India on February 1, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Binding
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseQuality of print excellent
- Prof., Finlayson, BrianReviewed in Germany on February 5, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth it
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseNot cheap but wonderful
- Ian ChadwickReviewed in Canada on February 28, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, readable translation
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseThe only complaint I have is in the font size and density. For those of us with less-than-perfect sight, it's a bit difficult to read, especially the footnotes. A slightly larger or denser font would certainly help. But the translation is beautiful: crisp, clear and often movingly poetic.