Chapters and Verses in the Torah

Question:

Hi Rabbi. I heard it was a Gentile who divided the Torah into chapters. Did that person also divide the Torah into verses (pesukim)? If not, what is the source of the verses? Thanks!

AskTheRabbi.org answered:

The Torah was not divided up into chapters when it was given or transmitted. The chapters that are widely used don't have any significance that I am aware of, and serve only as a way to refer and find a specific verse in printed texts. The verses, on the other hand, were given to Moses by God at Sinai.

Similar Questions
Torah > Written Torah Humility An Eye for an Eye The Ark and Freedom "Silver Lining" Love Thy Neighbor The Need for Torah Ark in the Synagogue Two Torahs? Vowels in the Torah What are the Nephilim? Tanach Hebrew Alphabet Riddle Moses - Most Humble Man Individual's History in the Torah The Jewish War What is the Tanach? Reading Torah Scroll Seven Pillars of Wisdom Chicken and Turkey The “Weigh-in” is the Way In Hammurabi’s i-Code Who Wrote the Torah Ending? How Do We Know What They Said? Healthy Hypocrisy The Ten Tenets Verse Explanation Amos Haftarah and the Torah Long Lives This Land is God’s Land, This Land is Our Land First Torah Scroll Importance of Torah Scroll Ecclesiastes Meaning of “Selah” Words from the Heart Anger in the Bosom of Fools Oral Torah and Rabbinic Mitzvot Why So Many Commandments? Bible Disposal What Would America Do? The Secret Road to Jerusalem Hebrew Alphabet Changes? Common Sayings Branches of a Jewish Government When I Wish Upon a Planet A Time of Comfort Jonah and Suicide Moses' Sons The Ten Commandments Twinkle, Twinkle, Like the Stars Best Translation Chapter Divisions in the Torah The Mystery of the Missing Vowels

Have a question?

Gateways - Your Key to Jewish Continuity

AskTheRabbi.org is a service of the Gateways Organization © 2024
Technical problems? Please contact the AskTheRabbi Support team