Books of the Bible Pronunciation, Categorization, and Abbreviation

Divisions of the BibleIn Judaism, the Bible is divided

into the (1) Torah, (2) Nevi’im (Prophets), and (3) Ketuvim (Writings)

In Catholicism, the ordering of the books is different. There are four main sections (which will appear soon), but it is useful to think of it as being: Torah, Ketuvim, Nevi’im

Torah (Pentateuch)Genesis - GenExodus - ExLeviticus - LvNumbers - NmDeuteronomy - Dt

Historical BooksJoshua – JosJudges – JgsRuth – Ru1 Samuel – 1 Sm2 Samuel – 2 Sm1 Kings – 1 Kgs2 Kings – 2 Kgs1 Chronicles – 1 Chr2 Chronicles – 2 Chr

Historical Books continuedEzra – EzrNehemiah – NehTobit – TbJudith – JdtEsther – Est

Wisdom BooksJob – JbPsalms – Pss (If citing a single

Psalm in a paper, you would use Ps)

Proverbs – PrvEcclesiastes – EcclSong of Songs – SgWisdom – WisSirach - Sir

ProphetsIsaiah – IsJeremiah – JerLamentations – LamBaruch – BarEzekiel – EzDaniel – Dn

The names in bold are the Major Prophets (often Lam and Bar are attributed to Jeremiah)

Prophets continuedHosea – HosJoel – JlAmos – AmObadiah – ObJonah – JonMicah – MiNahum – NaHabakkuk – HabZephaniah – ZepHaggai – HgZechariah – ZecMalachi – Mal All of these are known as the Minor Prophets.

The Final Two BooksAt the end of the Old Testament

are two historical books:

1 Maccabees – 1 Mc

2 Maccabees – 2 Mc