TORAH/PENTATEUCH

The first five books of the Bible are from the Hebrew "Torah", which means "teaching" or "instruction".
In English sometimes the term "Pentateuch" is used, which in turn derives from the Greek Septuagint
section called the "Five Books" - "Penta teuchoi". Starting in the 1st century AD, the books were often
writen on a single scroll.

Genesis

Known as "Berishit" in Hebrew - the word meaning "In the beginning"

"Genesis" is the name given to the book in the Greek Septuagint - a translation of the Hebrew word
"toledot", meaning "story", "record", or "line"
Exodus

Known as "Sefer ve'eleh shemot" in Hebrew, for "the book of 'And these are the names'", usually
abbreviated as "Shemot"

"Exodus" is derived from the Greek title used in the Septuagint, which is a shortening of "Exodos
Aigyptou", or "Departure from Egypt"
Leviticus

Traditionally called "Vayikra" ("and He called") in Hebrew; also called the "torat kohanim" ("instruction
of/for the priests")

"Leviticus" is derived from the Greek title used in the Septuagint, "Levitikon", or, roughly, "[things]
pertaining to the Levites" (i.e. the priests called from the tribe of Levi)
Numbers

Called "Bemidbar" in Hebrew, meaning "in the wilderness [of Sinai]" [Numbers 1:1]

"Numbers" is the literal English translation of the Greek title used in the Septuagint, "Arithmoi", which
is titled thus because of the various censuses in the first four chapters. Some Jewish scholars believe
that the Greek title also represents an older Hebrew title for the book.
Deuteronomy

There are two Hebrew names for this book: "Sefer Devarim" ("The Book of Words") [viz.
Deuteronomy 1:1] and "Mishneh Torah", alluding to the copy of the Teaching that any future king was
to have in hand, prepared by the Levites.

Deutoronomy is derived from the title given to the book in the Greek Septuagint - "Deuteronomion" -
something like "Second Law" - meant to represent the Hebrew "Mishneh Torah"
NEVI'IM/PROPHETS

The Hebrew division of these books differ from what is found in Christian Bibles, which, in turn, is
derived from how the books were divided in the Greek Septuagint

Joshua

Named for the main character, Joshua

Judges

Hebrew "Shofetim", meaning "Chieftains"

"Judges" is the English translation of the book's Greek title in the Septuagint - "kritai"
1 Samuel/2 Samuel

1 Samuel and 2 Samuel formed a single book "Samuel" in Hebrew, that described Samuel and the
Kings he anointed (Saul and David).

The Greek Septuagint divided the Hebrew "Samuel" into two individual books named "1 Kingdoms"
and "2 Kingdoms". The division between 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel retains the division found in the
Septuagint.
1 Kings/2 Kings

Again, in Hebrew these formed a single book of "Kings", covering the times from the rise of Solomon
through the Babylonian exile.

As was the case with Samuel, "Kings" was divided into two books, which were considered a
continuation of the preceding two books of Samuel (1 Kingdoms and 2 Kingdoms in the Septuagint).
Therefore, in the Septuagint they are named "3 Kingdoms" and "4 Kingdoms". The division between 1
Kings and 2 Kings in modern Bibles is that assigned by the Septuagint.

At this point the order of books within the remainder of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, and the
Protestant Old Testament diverge. I am following the Hebrew order and groupings.

The following books all take their titles from the Prophets that are their subject, both in Hebrew and in
the Greek Septuagint:

 Isaiah
 Jeremiah
 Ezekiel
 Hosea
 Joel
 Amos
 Obadiah
 Jonah
 Micah
 Nahum
 Habakkuk
 Zephaniah
 Zechariah
 Malachi

KETUVIM/WRITINGS

The books in the Hebrew Ketuvim are a mix of historical works, prayers, wisdom works, apocalyptic
prophecy; in short, everything that didn't get put into either the Torah or the Nevi'im.

Psalms

Known as "Tehelim" in Hebrew, meaning "Songs of Praise"

The word "Psalms" is derived from the Greek title in the Septuagint, psalmoi, the plural of "psalmos",
which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew "mizmor", a song that is accompanied by a stringed
instrument.
Proverbs

Known as "Mishlei Shlomo" ("Proverbs of Solomon"), or simply "Mishlei" in Hebrew.

"Proverbs" is the literal translation of the Hebrew title, or the Greek translation of the Hebrew title
found in the Septuagint ("Paroimiai")
Job

Called Job in Hebrew and Greek ("Iob"), referring to the person of Job
Song of Songs

First of "the five scrolls", also called the "Song of Solomon".

Ruth

Relates to the person of Ruth

Lamentations

Called "'Ekha'" in Hebrew - "Alas", referring to the destruction of the First Temple.

Originally titled "Lamentations of Jeremiah" in the Septuagint, it also followed the Book of Jeremiah in
the Septuagint. "Lamentations" is the English translation of the Greek title "Threenoi"
Ecclesiastes

The Hebrew title of this book is "Koheleth" which designates a person who gains wisdom through
experience.

"Ecclesiastes" is the title given the book in the Greek Septuagint, meaning something like "the one
who assembled" - meant to translate the Hebrew "Koheleth"
Esther

Relates to the person of Esther

Daniel

Relates to the person of Daniel

Ezra/Nehemiah

Written as a single book of "Ezra" in the Hebrew canon; precedes Chronicles, even though events
follow what is in Chronicles.

These two books were broken up in different ways within the Septuagint, the Latin Vulgate, and later
in the medieval Jewish text.

Both books seem to have been written by the same person - Ezra
1 Chronicles/2 Chronicles

As with Samuel and Kings, Chronicles is a single book in the Hebrew text and is entitled "Divrei
Hayamim" - "Annals"

Chronicles is a parallel account of events detailed in Samuel and Kings (1-4 Kingdoms in the
Septuagint), and was therefore titled "Paralepomenon" - roughly, "a supplement to things omitted" - in
Greek.

The Septuagint divided the Paralepomenon into 2 sections. The division between 1 Chronicles and 2
Chronicles is the division found in the Septuagint.

In the above, I only considered the books that are found in the Masoretic Text and not all the books in
the Septuagint, which include the Deuterocanonical Books.

Book Name - Reason for naming

Old Testament

 Genesis - The genesis (beginning) of the world

 Exodus - The exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt
 Leviticus - The stating of Levitical laws (probably named after the tribe of Levi)
 Numbers - The census (numbering) of the Israelites
 Deuteronomy - The retelling of the law
 Joshua - The protagonist/author of the book
 Judges - The account of the various Judges of Israel
 Ruth - The protagonist/author of the book
 1 Samuel - The protagonist/author of the book
 2 Samuel - The protagonist/author of the book
 1 Kings - The first account of the various kings of Israel
 2 Kings - The second account of the various kings of Israel
 1 Chronicles - Various chronicles, genealogies, and stories of the people from Adam to Abram to
the Israelites.
 2 Chronicles - Various chronicles, genealogies, and stories of the people from Adam to Abram to
the Israelites.
 Ezra - The protagonist/author of the book
 Nehemiah - The protagonist/author of the book
 Esther - The protagonist/author of the book
 Job - The protagonist/author of the book
 Psalm - Various psalms (songs) of David and others
 Proverbs - Various proverbs (wise sayings) of Solomon and others
 Ecclesiastes - The Ecclesiastes (teachings) of Solomon
 Song of Solomon - A song of Solomon about his betrothed.
 Isaiah - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Jeremiah - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Lamentations - The lamentations (sad, remorseful writings) of Jeremiah
 Ezekiel - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Daniel - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Hosea - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Joel - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Amos - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Obadiah - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Jonah - The protagonist/author of the book
 Micah - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Nahum - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Habakkuk - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Zephaniah - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Haggai - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Zechariah - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies
 Malachi - The protagonist/author of the book and their prophecies

New Testament

 Matthew - The author of the book

 Mark - The author of the book
 Luke - The author of the book
 John - The author of the book
 Acts - The various acts of the Apostles
 Romans - The group of people being written to in the form of a letter
 1 Corinthians - The group of people being written to in the form of a letter
 2 Corinthians - The group of people being written to in the form of a letter
 Galatians - The group of people being written to in the form of a letter
 Ephesians - The group of people being written to in the form of a letter
 Philippians - The group of people being written to in the form of a letter
 Colossians - The group of people being written to in the form of a letter
 1 Thessalonians - The group of people being written to in the form of a letter
 2 Thessalonians - The group of people being written to in the form of a letter
 1 Timothy - The person being written to in the form of a letter
 2 Timothy - The person being written to in the form of a letter
 Titus - The person being written to in the form of a letter
 Philemon - The person being written to in the form of a letter
 Hebrews - The group of people being written to in the form of a letter
 James - The author of the book
 1 Peter - The author of the book
 2 Peter - The author of the book
 1 John - The author of the book
 2 John - The author of the book
 3 John - The author of the book
 Jude - The author of the book
 Revelation - The prophetic revelation of Jesus to John on the Island of Patmos