Old Testament

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English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Etymology

From Middle English , calqued from Latin Vetus Testāmentum. Old refers to ancientness, not to obsolescence. Equivalent to a retronym, by comparison with the New Testament.

Pronunciation

Proper noun

the Old Testament

  1. (religion, chiefly Christianity) The first major part of the Christian Bible, covering events before the coming of Christ, corresponding roughly to the Jewish Tanakh. Usually subdivided into the categories of law, history, poetry (or wisdom books), and prophecy.
    Coordinate term: New Testament
    The Old Testament says that eating shellfish is a sin.

Adjective

Old Testament (comparative more Old Testament, superlative most Old Testament)

  1. (often humorous) Reminiscent of the content of the Old Testament, or of the behavior of God in it; especially dramatic, violent or vengeful.
    • 2007 December 18, Gail Caldwell, A Strong West Wind: A Memoir, Random House, →ISBN:
      Given the Old Testament weather that defines the country, it's little wonder that religious faith became the cornerstone of the land and the people who stayed. I've seen hailstorms and tornadoes roll in over those fields with no more warning than God allowed Job
    • 2019 October 21, Jana DeLeon, Swamp Santa, Jana DeLeon, →ISBN:
      "Walter is a peaceful man, but I have a feeling that when it comes to you, he could get Old Testament."
    • (Can we date this quote?), Alexa Padgett, Many Sounds of Silence: A Bad Boy Rockstar Romance, Sidecar Press, Inc.:
      "So we hate this girl who has information about the slime ball who took pictures of you. The enemy of our enemy. Totally Old Testament. Got it."

Usage notes

  • Old Testament is the most common English term used by Christians to refer to the first major part of the Christian Bible. Old means “ancient”, “having great(er) age” here, not “superseded” or “obsolete”.
  • In Biblical scholarship the term Hebrew Bible is preferred nowadays.
  • The use of this term is considered offensive by some Jews, based on the misconception that Old suggests that the Tanach has been superseded by Christian scriptures.
  • The corresponding adjective is vetero-testamentary.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia