Apocrypha

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Pronunciations

Apocrypha (uh-PAHK-rih-fuh) listen

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Definitions

  • n. A group of 14 religious books that were once included in the Septuagint (the oldest Greek version of the Old Testament).

Example Sentences

  • "The Apocrypha includes, but is not limited to, works such as Sirach (Ben Sira), Maccabees, Judith, the book of Enoch, Jubilees, the story of Susanna, and Baruch." (source)

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Languages of Origin

  • English

Who Uses This

  • Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education

Regions

  • North America

Dictionaries

  • The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).

Notes

  • "The writings are thought to have been translated by Jewish scholars at the request of Ptolemy II. These books, which the ancient rabbis referred to as sefarim hizonim (extraneous books), are not included in the Tanakh." (JPS)

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