The Torah (Tevrat)
Read the Torah (Tevrat) online: the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), chapter by chapter, free and ad-free. What the Torah is, how many books, its relation to the Old Testament — short, neutral answers. Download as PDF too.
The name "Torah" (Tevrat in Turkish) comes from the Hebrew word "Torah," meaning "law, teaching, instruction." It is the shared name of the five books at the very beginning of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These five are traditionally called "the Five Books of Moses," or by their Greek-derived name, "the Pentateuch."
The Torah recounts, beginning with the creation of the world and of humankind, the story of the ancestors of the people of Israel, the exodus from Egypt, the commands given at Mount Sinai, and the laws delivered to the people in the wilderness. Reaching from the opening accounts in Genesis to the Ten Commandments, this section forms the foundation of the Old Testament and of the Jewish tradition.
In Turkish "Tevrat" is sometimes used loosely to mean the whole Old Testament; technically, however, the Torah is only the first five books of the Old Testament. The Old Testament comprises 39 books in all and, besides the Torah, includes the historical books, the poetry and wisdom writings such as the Psalms, and the prophets. So every book of the Torah is part of the Old Testament, but the Old Testament is not made up of the Torah alone.
The name "Torah" is also known in the Islamic tradition as a book given to Moses; in the Bible, the Torah corresponds to the five books of Moses.
You can read the Torah on this site chapter by chapter, free and ad-free. Readers who want to start from the beginning are encouraged to begin with Genesis, which opens with the accounts of creation. Open any of the five books below to start reading.
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Books
Guides
- What Are the Torah, Psalms (Zebur) and Gospel?
- What Are the Old and New Testaments?
- Who Wrote the Bible? When Was It Written?
Topics
How many books is the Torah?
The Torah consists of five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. They are also called "the Five Books of Moses."
Are the Torah and the Old Testament the same?
Not exactly. The Torah is the first five books of the Old Testament. The Old Testament comprises 39 books; besides the Torah it also includes the historical books, writings such as the Psalms, and the prophets.
Who wrote the Torah?
The Torah is traditionally attributed to Moses and is known as "the Five Books of Moses." For a fuller look at how it came to be written, see the guide "Who wrote the Bible?"
Which books does the Torah contain?
The Torah contains these five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Can I read the Torah online?
Yes. On this site you can read the five books of Moses chapter by chapter, free and ad-free, and download a PDF if you wish.