--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Hebrew Bible defines Judaism. It's…" description: "\"The Hebrew Bible defines Judaism. It's certainly true that the Talmudic interpretations become authoritative and normative, but they are interpretation..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/frank-moore-cross-14963_bible_the-hebrew-bible-defines-judaism-it-s-ce_1831187.jpg" --- # The Hebrew Bible defines Judaism. It's certainly true that… ![“The Hebrew Bible defines Judaism. It's certainly true that the Talmudic interpretations become authoritative and normative, but they are interpretations of the Hebrew Bible. So that is always there.” quote by Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/frank-moore-cross-14963_bible_the-hebrew-bible-defines-judaism-it-s-ce_1831187.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/frank-moore-cross-14963_bible_the-hebrew-bible-defines-judaism-it-s-ce_1831187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/frank-moore-cross-14963_bible_the-hebrew-bible-defines-judaism-it-s-ce_1831187.jpg) > “The Hebrew Bible defines Judaism. It's certainly true that the Talmudic interpretations become authoritative and normative, but they are interpretations of the Hebrew Bible. So that is always there.” [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Hebrew Bible is the foundational text of Judaism; later Talmudic commentary interprets but does not replace it. **In simple terms:** Judaism rests on the Hebrew Bible, with later interpretations building on it. Key Takeaway Recognize the primary role of scripture before later commentary. Themes religion scripture interpretation Mood reflective academic Type theoretical educational When to use this quote - religious education - interfaith dialogue - academic study of Judaism Key Concepts theology canon formation Questions to Reflect On - How do Talmudic traditions shape modern Jewish practice? - What authority should scriptural versus interpretive texts hold? A Different Perspective Later interpretations can be contested or vary across communities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Bible Defines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-defines-2275672/) [Defines Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defines-judaism-2275668/) [Hebrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hebrew/) [Hebrew bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hebrew-bible/) [Interpretation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interpretation/) [Interpretations Hebrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interpretations-hebrew-2275670/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Judaism Certainly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism-certainly-2275671/) [Talmudic Interpretations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talmudic-interpretations-2275669/) ## Related quotes > [How can Israel say that everyone is equal before the law - that you're equal before the law - when the law defines Judaism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-lapid/how-can-israel-say-that-everyone-is-equal-before-the-law-that-you-re/) [Yair Lapid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-lapid/) > [The Bible defines almost nothing because it isn't a book for scholars and philosophers or free thinkers. 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Material prosperity is a divine blessing. Poverty crushes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/the-market-economy-is-deeply-congruent-with-the-values-set-out-in-the/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [“Despite two millennia of Christian apologetics, the fact is that belief in a dying and rising messiah simply did not exist in Judaism. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/despite-two-millennia-of-christian-apologetics-the-fact-is-that/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) ## More by Frank Moore Cross > [The text says Deuteronomy was lost, but you say it was written then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/the-text-says-deuteronomy-was-lost-but-you-say-it-was-written-then/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [If I had to choose between the two ways of approaching the deity, I should prefer the existential relational way, to the abstract philosophical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/if-i-had-to-choose-between-the-two-ways-of-approaching-the-deity-i/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [ \[Sacrifice of Isaac\] is a major theme of the so-called Elohist \[one authorial strand in the Pentateuch\]. 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The first 11 chapters of Genesis \[the Primeval History\] are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/the-story-of-adam-and-eve-it-s-poetry-one-must-interpret-it-as-poetry/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [Israel defined its God and its relation to that God in existential, relational terms. They did not, until quite late, approach the question of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/israel-defined-its-god-and-its-relation-to-that-god-in-existential/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [ Elie \[Wiesel\], when you ask, "Why do I want to know," I'm trying to grab the holy. And I'm getting thrown back. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/elie-wiesel-when-you-ask-why-do-i-want-to-know-i-m-trying-to-grab-the/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [ The history of interpretation \[of the Bible\] is fascinating; but that is something else. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/the-history-of-interpretation-of-the-bible-is-fascinating-but-that-is/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [We want to live in ambiguity. 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It doesn't either confirm or disprove the Bible,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/we-are-thrown-back-on-the-text-for-the-most-part-archaeology-can-give/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [It has been said that in order to pursue the history of Biblical interpretation, you must include the whole philosophy of the West, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/it-has-been-said-that-in-order-to-pursue-the-history-of-biblical/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [ You have miracles \[in the Hebrew Bible\], yes, but they're not the work, normally, of demons. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/you-have-miracles-in-the-hebrew-bible-yes-but-they-re-not-the-work/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [ I guess what this is reflecting is my own search for answers that I can't find. 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He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. 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