WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE TERMS
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES, CHUMASH,
TORAH & PENTATEUCH?
Five
books ― Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy ― were
dictated by God to Moses. Thus, they are known as the "Five Books of Moses."
In
Hebrew they are known as the Chamisha Chumshei Torah ― Five books of the
Torah. Each book individually is called a "Chumash".
The
word "Torah" comes from the Hebrew word ho'ra-ah meaning
"guidance" or "instruction." It is primarily applied to the
Five Books of Moses, but colloquially encompasses the entire body of Jewish
studies.
A
"Sefer Torah" is the handwritten Torah scroll read in the synagogue
each Shabbos, Monday and Thursday. Pentateuch is the Greek word for the Five
Books.