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Description

An extensive, all in one guide to the key features of the most important text type of the Hebrew Bible, the Masoretic Text. The contributors examine all aspects of the Masoretic Text: its origins, transmission, history and textual forms.

The handbook traces the development of the text type from ancient manuscripts found in the Judean Desert, through to the pointed medieval codices and the Second Rabbinic Bible. It outlines the main aspects of ancient and medieval scribal practice, including a brief history of the Tiberian School of scribes, the development of the vowel and cantillation system, introduction to the marginal Masorah notes, and provides descriptions of the major codices. The contributors examine the features of the Masoretic Text in the books of the bible, and consider how the Masoretic Text type was used by writers of the New Testament.

The volume also includes an extensive bibliography to enable further detailed study.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction
1. What is the Masoretic Text and why study it? -- George Athas, Moore Theological College, Australia
2. Guide to Modern Resources -- Elvira María Martín Contreras, CCHS, Spain
Origins: The Masoretes
3. Scribes in Antiquity -- William Schniedewind, UCLA, USA
4. History of the Tiberian School -- George Athas, Moore Theological College, USA
The Masoretic System
5. Pointing: Vowel and Cantillation System -- David Marcus, Jewish Theological Seminary, USA
6. Paragraphing & Versification -- David Marcus, Jewish Theological Seminary, USA
7. The Masorah -- Daniel Mynatt, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, USA
The Manuscripts
8. 'Proto Masoretic' Texts from the Judean Desert -- Emanuel Tov, Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel
9. The Major Codices of the Masoretic Text -- Donald R. Vance, Independent Scholar
10. Second Rabbinic Bible -- Elvira María Martín Contreras, CCHS, Spain
The Biblical Texts
11. Torah -- Emanuel Tov, Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel
12. Books of Samuel -- Emanuel Tov, Hebrew University Jerusalem, Irael
13. Isaiah -- contributor still to be confirmed
14. Jeremiah -- Jerome Lund, Independent Scholar
15. Book of the Twelve -- contributor still to be confirmed
16. Daniel -- Ian M. Young, University of Sydney, Australia
17. The Psalms -- contributor still to be confirmed
The Masoretic Text and the New Testament
18. The New Testament's use of the Masoretic Text type -- Donald R Vance, Independent Scholar
Bibliography and Further Reading
Index

Product details

Published 07 Aug 2025
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 416
ISBN 9781350082649
Imprint T&T Clark
Series T&T Clark Handbooks
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Anthology Editor

George Athas

George Athas received his Ph.D. from the Universit…

Anthology Editor

David Davage

David Davage is Reader in Old Testament Exegesis a…

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