The book has excellent editorial information for anyone wanting a good study text for the Hebrew bible.

This product is superbe. I was not happy with the way it was packaged. This is a havy book and it must be wrapped individually. The outer jackets of all of the books I ordered were damaged and wrinkled.

Excellent study guide. Great for definitions of words . Explains from Jewish perspective. Each Chapter gives background of the Torah, Nevi'im and other important Jewish and Chritian text. If you want to study the Bible or Tanakh this is great for beginners.

Excellent study guide. Great for definitions of words . Explains from Jewish perspective. Each Chapter gives background of the Torah, Nevi'im and other important Jewish and Chritian text. If you want to study the Bible or Tanakh this is great for beginners.

I have between 10-12 different versions of the Jewish Bible, and this one is my least favorite. I am a fluent Hebrew reader and I find that the English translation is limited and not accurate. The commentaries are un-original and often quite shallow. What I do like in this book are the maps, I find them helpful.
I would not recommend buying this book.

The Jewish Study Bible: featuring The Jewish Publication Society TANAKH Translation is a superb edition of the Holy Bible. As a dedicated Christian, I have a desire to learn more and more about the Word of God. God used the Jewish people to provide humanity with His Word and His Son; therefore, their point of view is valuable to me in my quest for a deeper walk with Him. Although the vast majority of Jews do not yet accept Jesus as their Messiah, The Jewish Study Bible, an easily read English translation written by Jewish scholars, is full of prophetic scriptures pointing to Him (obvious to the Christian) and confirming His exalted position in God the Father's kingdom. Historical explanations of "Old Testament" Tanakh time periods are fascinatingly inserted throughout this Bible as side notes and essays. Linguistic helps also appear to provide greater understanding of individual words and phrases commonly used in the Near Eastern languages of that day. Cultural insights abound. From time to time, this wonderful translation also provides side notes and commentaries that are purposefully inserted explaining Christian principles, beliefs, and teachings from the Jewish point of view. I highly recommend this translation of the Word of God to all who are willing to learn, grow, and be surprised by our Heavenly Father's wisdom, knowledge, and will for our lives. If you do not yet own a copy of this translation, you have no idea how much revelation you are missing!

I have been studying the Word of God for 6 years and I felt a hunger for more. I purchased this Tanakh (Jewish Study Bible) and found it difficult to put down! It is so clear and understandable to a layman in the Torah ,Prophets and Writings. This book draws me closer to God! ; and I am so ever thankful.

Berlin, Adele, Bettler, Marc Zvi and Michael Fishbane, editors. "The Jewish Study Bible", Oxford, 2004.

Studying the Five Books

Amos Lassen

Looking at the Bible section at any bookstore is an overwhelming experience. There are Bibles for every taste, religion and personality. "The Jewish Study Bible" is wonderful for the serious study of the Old Testament, the Five Books of Moses. This edition uses the translation of the Jewish Publication Society (and it is important to note that every translation is a commentary in its own right). In addition to the Five Books, also included are the Prophets (Nevi'im) and the other writings (Ketuvim) and each book is introduced by a Biblical scholar and contains a sidebar commentary. There are also twenty-four essays on various aspects of Biblical interpretation. Here is a very serious and affordable way to study the holy books.
Of the essays included there are those on the Jewish interpretation of the Bible, the place of the Bible in Jewish life and thought and on backgrounds for reading the Bible. The book is loaded with modern scholarship and stays within the traditional Masoretic text. There are also suggestions for further and alternative readings.
This is a Bible for study and not for liturgical use and is intended for both the scholar and the lay reader. It is a great way to look at the historical perspective as well as an overview of how the Jews read the Bible. Of course there are flaws here but, by and large, this is a wonderful way to study the Scriptures.

I've been finding this volume a real joy to read. In the past, I've always found the Bible to be maddeningly dull and primitive (and yes, I am an Orthodox Jew). Partly, this is becuase of the endless repetition and repeated contradictions in the text. Partly, it's becuase of the obsessive attention the Bible gives to agricultural and tribal concerns that are far removed from those of the modern world, and from our much more pluralistic worldview. And partly it's becuase there are passages in the Bible that just don't seem to make any sense, any way you cut them.

But the commentary in the JPS Study Bible really adds new dimensions to bring the text alive. Yes, it appeals to critical theories to explain redundancies and contradictions. Does that bother you? Just suck it up already. Like Ralbag says, our religion doesn't require us to believe things that violate common sense. So compare the critical explanations to the hermeneutic explanations, and then use your common sense.

But the really nice thing is that the Study Bible is not obsessively critical. It offers the critical analyses in cases where they seem to provide the greatest insight into textual problems. In many other cases, it offers the classical rabbinical opinions, and gives them equal weight. For myself, I don't know why Rashi should be considered an authority on ancient Near Eastern social mores, but the Study Bible will cite his opinions and those of the other major commentators in order to illuminate the text. There are really wonderful comparisons to other Near Eastern literary productions, and many fascinating inter-biblical cross references.

You also get a nice set of ancient maps (or rather, maps of the ancient world), and a set of very interesting essays at the end. It's a lot of bang for the buck, great Shabbos reading for the whole year, and a source for endless further exploration. I recommend it highly.

Being that I am not Jewish, I approached this Bible with anticipation in seeking an accurate depiction of scripture with no idea as to what I might expect. I must say that this Bible is very informative and very easy to read, appears to be true to scripture and enlightening; however, it seems to be painted with somewhat of a liberal commentary.

I saw a reference to The Jewish Study Bible in a Sunday school lesson, so I read reviews about it before making my decision to buy it. I liked [...]'s price compared to the retail price, too! This Bible is an exquisite, quality book. I appreciate the insightful Jewish commentary alongside the Scriptures. The Old Testament book name is printed in the Hebrew above the English title. I recommend this Bible to all Christians who take their Bible study of the OT seriously!

It is good to have this translation and comentary of Jweish sciptures (Tanakh) by modern Jewish scholars. The commentary is an added bonus that gives further insight into Jewish faith and the background for Christian faith. Though the Revised Standard Version of the Old Testament includes Jewish scholars, this is solely Jewish...it is an agreement for publication by Conservative, Orthodox and Reformed Jewish thinkers.

To read the First Testament (Old Testament) is one thing, to understand the sources and cultures that compose it is another. If you want to fascinate your biblical readings, this is a must have source. It's commentary is very good and clear. After referencing The Jewish Study Bible you will discover many new things that you will never see the Old Testament as old again.

This is a fine Jewish Study Bible an Excellent one. This is very intersting to study from this book compare close to my King James Version HOLY BIBLE. I'm not a Jewish. I'm a Presbyterian, Protestant and Methodist. Get this book for yourself no matter what religion you are.

This study Bible covers a wide range of Jewish views. The historical sections are well done.

The person for whom I bought the Jewish Study Bible called a few days ago, after receiving it to say that it was exactly what she wanted. Thanks for being there. I did a very extensive search, without finding a Bible which didn't have the New Testament attached. Your site fit the bill perfectly. Thanks.

This study bible is exactly what was needed for this study group. The price was unbeatable for a hardcover, and free shipping as well. Delivery
was quick and in perfect condition.

I got the Jewish Study Bible for use during a Christian Bible study of the Old Testament. It was one of the best decisions I've made.

The study notes and commentary from the Jewish perspective have given me a much richer understanding into the Scripture. As with any good study Bible, the notes include background info about the time, place, and events surrounding the text (either from the time it happened or when it was written). It also mentions how certain verses are used today (i.e. Daniel 2:20 is basis of Kaddish prayer).

During in-depth Bible study, simply having different translations of Scripture gives insight into the text. Comparing this version (the TANAKH) to the NIV and the NRSV has been interesting.

The only downside I've found is that some of the words used in the notes section are not every day language so I had to keep a dictionary handy while reading. But the occasional new word did not detract from the knowledge I was gaining.

I got the Jewish Study Bible for use during a Christian Bible study of the Old Testament. It was one of the best decisions I've made.

The study notes and commentary from the Jewish perspective have given me a much richer understanding into the Scripture. As with any good study Bible, the notes include background info about the time, place, and events surrounding the text (either from the time it happened or when it was written). It also mentions how certain verses are used today (i.e. Daniel 2:20 is basis of Kaddish prayer).

During in-depth Bible study, simply having different translations of Scripture gives insight into the text. Comparing this version (the TANAKH) to the NIV and the NRSV has been interesting.

The only downside I've found is that some of the words used in the notes section are not every day language so I had to keep a dictionary handy while reading. But the occasional new word did not detract from the knowledge I was gaining.

When I teach my Bible study groups, I believe it is important to have a middle eastern Jewish understanding of the scriptures as Jesus knew them. This book is a great resource in my classes.

The Tanakh, an edition of the Holy Scriptures of Judaism, put out by the Jewish Publication Society (JPS), now has a study-bible edition, which is incredibly helpful for scripture study.

The word Tanakh consists of the first letters of the words denoting the three sections of the text: the Torah (the Law), consisting of the first five books; the Nevi'im (the Prophets), which includes major and minor prophets, as well as some of the history books; and the Kethuvim (the Writings), which consists of poetry, wisdom literature, stories and eschatological literature, and some further history books.

The Tanakh is not simply a new translation of the Christian Old Testament. Indeed, most Christian readers would be surprised at the differences inherent in the Tanakh. For one thing, the ordering of the books in the Tanakh is different from the order in the Christian Old Testament. The intent behind the differing order demonstrates one of the key differences in focus of Judaism and Christianity. The ordering of the Old Testament, with the minor prophets, and their call to repentance and future deliverance of the people of Israel by God, is anticipatory of the Messianic age, and hence provide a 'run-up' to the New Testament. Obviously, Judaism does not have the same focus toward Jesus. Thus, the conclusion of the Tanakh leads to the return from exile, the restoration of the people of Israel to the land of promise, and the return of the worship of God to the appointed place, the Temple.

Also, the chapter/verse division is somewhat different. This can be seen in side-by-side comparison with other English Bible translations, but also becomes apparent in comparison with other Jewish editions.

The editors state that English translations usually list thirty-nine books of the Bible. Meanwhile, Hebrew Bibles classically have presented twenty-four books -- counting the following groups as one book each: the two part of Samuel; the two parts of Kings; the Twelve ('Minor') Prophets; Ezra and Nehemiah; and the two parts of Chronicles. Some aspects of our book design presume the thirty-nine-book division: the tables, book openings, and chapter numbers. But we ended only the conventional twenty-four books with a closing prayer and with the sum total of verses.

The Tanakh was originally translated and published in three sections, corresponding to the three divisions of the text. Begun in 1955, The Torah was completed in 1962; then there was a wait until The Nevi'im was released in 1978, and The Kethuvim in 1982. This edition of the Tanakh is the compilation of these efforts by JPS, with revisions, especially of the 1962 Torah translation.

This edition has as its intended readership the scholar or the general reader; it is not set up for liturgical use -- as the preface states: 'It meets only the traditional rabbinic standards (halakhah) for formatting a study Bible, which are less stringent than those for ritual texts.'

The introduction to the JPS Tanakh is quite frank about the difficulties that arise in working with ancient manuscripts. In a section entitled The Unbroken Chain of Uncertainty, the editors address the problem of which documentation and corrective (the masorah, which gives rise to the name masoretic text, meaning, authoritative and 'marked') is used, given the variances that arise in ancient manuscripts with fairly equal claim of authority. Drawing on the MCW (Michigan-Claremont-Westminster) electronic BHS (Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia), JPS has a text nearly identical with the Leningrad Codex (a 1000-year old volume of the text, the oldest nearly complete volume known). In using this documentation, JPS editors have also done the following in making the text accessible and authoritative:

- added chapter and verse numbers, all of which were added much later
- redivided the Psalms to 150 (the Codex has divisions into 149)
- inserted markings to show codex paragraphing as well as possible scribal errors
- filling in cross-references

These notes deal with textual anomalies, and are written in such a manner than a glossary helps decipher them.

This is a rewarding volume for anyone who seeks to tap into the power of the Hebrew scriptures.

I also have used and enjoyed the Catholic Study Bible, from Oxford. The Jewish Study Bible has a very attractive format; easy to use and to read. The page-by-page type annotation is welcome for those really studying the text (no need to flip back and forth). Quite in-depth essays on the development of the Bible in its historical and geographical settings follow the text; others on the Bible in Jewish culture are provided for those seeking to understand what this Book means to the Jewish community. A glossary is also provided, of help especially, perhaps, to the non-Jewish reader (like me).

I have wanted there to be something like this on the market for a while, so I was very excited when I found it, and have not been disappointed. This is a wonderful tool for those who study the Bible from an historical critical perspective, as well as those who want an overview of how Jews read the Bible (see especially the essays), and have little need for a purely faith-based study Bible with a specific theological agenda. Which is not to say that this book is perfect, but of those I have seen, it is well worth it.