Old Testament

[ ohld tes-tuh-muhnt ]

noun

, Chiefly Christianity.

1. 1. the first of the two main divisions of the Christian Bible, including the Mosaic Law, the history of the people of Israel, the wisdom writings, and the major and minor prophets: in the Vulgate translation all but two books of the Apocrypha are included in the Old Testament.
   2. this part of the Bible thought of as the complete Scripture of the Jews.
2. the covenant between God and Israel on Mount Sinai, seen as the basis of the Jewish religion.

Old Testament

noun

1. the collection of books comprising the sacred Scriptures of the Hebrews and essentially recording the history of the Hebrew people as the chosen people of God; the first part of the Christian Bible

Old Testament

1. The first part of the Bible (see also Bible ), so called by Christians (see also Christian ), who believe that its laws and prophecies are fulfilled in the person of Jesus , whose mission is described in the New Testament .

Word History and Origins

Origin of Old Testament¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; translation of Late Latin Vetus Testamentum, translation of Greek Palaià Diathḗkē; paleo- ( def ), dia- ( def ), tick ³( def )

Example Sentences

With a shock of long white hair and a long beard, the 67-year-old looks like an Old Testament prophet.

From Los Angeles Times

Hearing her discuss the Old Testament, Exodus, the pharaohs and Joseph, the pope pronounced her a theologian.

From Los Angeles Times

Seeking common ground between his vision of radical libertarianism and the prophecy of the Old Testament, Milei’s casual interest morphed into a regular religious practice.

From Seattle Times

A mediagenic figure with the beard of an Old Testament prophet, rings on most of his fingers and a tendency to quote obscure philosophers, he had been at Gucci for most of his career.

From New York Times

Somehow the Old Testament was presumed to be sufficient justification for the ongoing slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza, most of whose ancestors lived in territory that is now the state of Israel.

From Salon