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The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary Hardcover – December 18, 2018

by Robert Alter (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars (1,883)
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A landmark event: the complete Hebrew Bible in the award-winning translation that delivers the stunning literary power of the original.

A masterpiece of deep learning and fine sensibility, Robert Alter’s translation of the Hebrew Bible, now complete, reanimates one of the formative works of our culture. Capturing its brilliantly compact poetry and finely wrought, purposeful prose, Alter renews the Old Testament as a source of literary power and spiritual inspiration. From the family frictions of Genesis and King David’s flawed humanity to the serene wisdom of Psalms and Job’s incendiary questioning of God’s ways, these magnificent works of world literature resonate with a startling immediacy. Featuring Alter’s generous commentary, which quietly alerts readers to the literary and historical dimensions of the text, this is the definitive edition of the Hebrew Bible. 3 maps
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  1. Print length
    3500 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  4. Publication date
    December 18, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    6.8 x 6.5 x 10 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0393292495
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0393292497
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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Alter’s] achievement is monumental, marked by literary grace and intelligent commentary."
― New York Times Book Review

"[A] truly magnificent translation…beautifully produced."
― Eric Ormsby, Wall Street Journal

"[Alter’s] accomplishment…is almost absurdly impressive. One wants to call it titanic or Olympian or even heroic, but those are the wrong words―pagan words. Alter will have to settle for one of the God-fearing Hebraic terms of praise that stipple his text: ‘righteous’ or ‘strong’ or, simply, ‘wise.’"
― Adam Gopnik, New Yorker

About the Author

Robert Alter's translation of the Hebrew Bible, the magnificent capstone to a lifetime of distinguished scholarly work, has won the PEN Center Literary Award for Translation. His immense achievements in scholarship ranging from the eighteenth-century European novel to contemporary Hebrew and American literature earned Alter the Robert Kirsch Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Los Angeles Times. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 18, 2018
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 3500 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393292495
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393292497
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.8 x 6.5 x 10 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #10,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars (1,883)

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Robert Alter

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
1,883 global ratings

Customers say

Customers praise this translation's ability to express the original language wording and appreciate its informative commentary with rich footnotes. The book is considered a valuable tool for understanding both Testaments, with one customer noting how it enhances their studies and sermons. While some find it highly readable, others say it's harder to read than most, and many find the electronic version difficult to navigate. The book receives positive feedback for its beauty, with one customer highlighting the beautifully printed dust jacket.
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67 customers mention translation quality, 61 positive, 6 negative
Customers praise the translation of the Hebrew Bible, noting that it is a literal rendering of the entire Tanakh with explanatory notes, and one customer mentions that the accompanying notes are particularly valuable.
...A beautiful translation which I will treasure for my lifetime.Read more
This is an amazing translation. I'm still in the first book and at awe.Read more
Fantastic translation, lots of good references and notes.Read more
...Get the book; it’s a great translation with great commentaryRead more
44 customers mention commentary quality, 42 positive, 2 negative
Customers find the commentary of the book to be vastly informative and unbelievably clear, with amazing explanatory notes throughout. One customer notes that the footnotes are rich with content and context, while another mentions that each page is dense with information.
Very insightful and refreshing perspective and commentary! For those uncommon to the Ancient Hebrew, it introduces you to many facets of the language.Read more
Beautiful books and production. Great commentary. Whether you are Jewish, Christian, or just curious, I HIGHLY recommend this commentary set....Read more
Very readable with excellent commentary.Read more
...Incredible translation with amazing commentary!Read more
34 customers mention scholarship, 34 positive, 0 negative
Customers appreciate the book's scholarship, finding it a valuable tool for understanding both Testaments, with one customer noting how it enhances their studies, writings, and sermons.
...But his commentary is unbelievably clear yet erudite....Read more
Very insightful and refreshing perspective and commentary! For those uncommon to the Ancient Hebrew, it introduces you to many facets of the language.Read more
...Mr. Alter is a wonderful scholar with a tremendous ear for prose and poetry....Read more
Incredibly approachable for lay readers. I appreciate the research, commentary & thought provoking span if this work.Read more
29 customers mention value for money, 24 positive, 5 negative
Customers find the book to be an excellent value.
This set of commentaries is worth every penny for the serious student of scripture....Read more
Excellent resource!!Read more
...It is an essential guide for those who desire to take a much more thorough dive into the most influential piece of literature the world has ever...Read more
...A fantastic resource for anyone who wants to better understand the Hebrew Bible.Read more
20 customers mention beauty, 19 positive, 1 negative
Customers appreciate the beauty of the book, with one noting the beautifully printed dust jacket and another describing it as a refreshing look at the Bible.
..." both favorite translations, but never have I read a translation so beautiful and dramatic. Alter's approach is elegant and gripping....Read more
A Beautiful Work for a Beautiful Work...Read more
...Each one has a beautiful dust jacket, and the slipcase is equally so. The pages have a more parchment feel to them than typical books....Read more
Beautiful books and production. Great commentary. Whether you are Jewish, Christian, or just curious, I HIGHLY recommend this commentary set....Read more
13 customers mention bible content, 11 positive, 2 negative
Customers appreciate the Bible content of this translation, praising its majesty and love for the Word of God. One customer notes how it brings the scriptures alive, while another mentions it is suitable for people of all faith traditions.
Where to begin? First, I love the Word of God....Read more
...It's very literal and I can actually learn vocabulary and grammar as I read....Read more
This translation contains explanatory notes that bring the scriptures alive.Read more
...Christian Bible reading in conjunction with these can really open your eyes to different aspects of the Word. Excellent reading.Read more
31 customers mention readability, 21 positive, 10 negative
Customers have mixed opinions about the book's readability, with some finding it highly readable while others say it is harder to read than most.
...His translation returns to the Hebrew text and context. A refreshing read of how the wording was meant to be.Read more
Very good read and a lot of research went into the translation of this setRead more
I have only read half of the first book, but I love it. Slow read because heavily footnoted and I am not a scholar. The footnotes are the meat of it....Read more
...Reads like a story and the comments from the translator are remarkable. Don't hesitate on this purchase. worth every penny!Read more
10 customers mention ease of navigation, 5 positive, 5 negative
Customers have mixed experiences with the book's navigation, with some finding it difficult to navigate around the eBook.
...I came away with an enhanced appreciation of the complexity, profundity and sophistication of this body of work and a firmer understanding of why...Read more
Do not buy this in kindle version. Impossible to navigate. It goes from page 70 to 973 in table of contents and then to 2774....Read more
It is easy to navigate on KindleRead more
...I'm very happy with the portability, but it's difficult to navigate around the eBook when I want to check other passages....Read more
Excellent Seller
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent Seller
Since this was an expensive purchase I had questions and the seller responded promptly and with great customer service. This Bible is hard to find and I was worried about the condition it would be in, since there weren’t any pictures on the listing. I must say the Bible is as listed and better than they described. Thank you very much for shipping it and packaging it with care. I recommend this shop to everyone and say thanks again. I am very happy
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Victorious Spirit
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Hebrew Bible Translation
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2025
    Format: AudiobookVerified Purchase
    Love this audio Hebrew Bible. It is a Hebrew translation and commentary that expresses the original language wording. Excellent tool.
    Helpful
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  • JRA
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
    Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Readable translation with endless annotations for deep understanding. I still prefer KJV for poetry but Alter translation is fantastic as well.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The most significant OT resource/translation to come down the pike in years.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Where to begin? First, I love the Word of God. I have been a student of that Word for my whole life on a personal level and at a scholastic level for the past twenty years. This translation is serving as a game changer for me. Dr. Alter does his best to retain the style of the Hebrew and it produces some amazing passages. My favorite so far being Judges 2:11ff

    "11And the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and they served the Baalim. 12And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers Who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they went after other gods, of the gods of the peoples that were all around them, and they bowed to them and vexed the LORD. 13And they forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoroth. 14And the LORD’s wrath flared up against Israel, and He gave them into the hand of plunderers who plundered them, and He handed them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to stand up against their enemies. 15Whenever they sallied forth, the LORD’s hand was against them for harm, as the LORD had spoken and as the LORD had vowed to them, and they were in sore straits. 16And the LORD raised up judges and rescued them from their plunderers."

    The retention of the many "ands," which would normally be smoothed out with commas or dropped entirely in English, reminds us that the fall of Israel was a process. Each "and" represents a choice to go further away from God or a corresponding deepening of God's anger.

    The notes which accompany the translation are gold, though Dr. Alter could use an archeology brush up and is very much invested in the late date, multi source theory of how we got the OT. Even then, he is gracious with such things. Dr. Alter has given us a valuable tool to better understand both Testaments.

    Worth every penny!
    35 people found this helpful
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  • Chesapeake Bishop
    5.0 out of 5 stars Grateful for Alter's collected Hebrew Bible works
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Go buy this! ... Congratulations and many thanks to Robert Alter on his complete Hebrew Bible - among the few translations and commentaries void of sectarian polemics. And, if I may add, a work of art, and of superior scholarship accessible to the laity. For nearly as many years as he has been working on his translation, many of us have been buying individually the long list of his translations, one by one, from "The Five Books of Moses," clear through "The Prophets" to "The Writings," that is, the Psalms and other Wisdom literature - now all compiled into three hefty volumes. In fact, only days before the long expected surprise announcement of the release of Alter's Bible, I had pulled from the shelf his volume entitled "Strong as Death is Love" (Song 8:6) given that Rabbi Peter Hyman and I will teach our Spring seminar on Esther and Ruth, those texts in the current volume, again, of "The Writings." … Many Christians will be unsettled with Alter's excision of apparent christologies from his works. Indeed, for centuries Jews have relied upon the KJV for reading in English, pleased with the cadences of the time of King James and his committee of translators - regardless of their distance, due to time and exclusion, from Hebrew literary meaning and studies. (Though not at my fingertips, The Oaks of Mamre Library has a fine volume of the KJV Psalms with rabbinic commentary printed, I believe in the 1890s, by Soncino, then the foremost UK Jewish publishing house.) The Christian perplexion here is the New Testament Pauline instruction that the Hebrew scriptures were to be read as prophetic of Jesus' messianic divinity. … That said, Alter salutes such previous translators as the KJV committee and Msgr. Ronald Knox (Roman Catholic convert, son and grandson of Anglican bishops) by retaining their finer moments within his work. Knox, to my mind, is the finest one-man-band Christian Bible translator of the earlier part of the 20th Century, who said that his work was a gift to Roman Catholics, so they could possess a Bible as beautiful as the Church of England's Authorized Version (read KJV). Alter in various forewords to his books, always goes out of his way to salute previous devotees to good scripture. Knox, whose work I have long loved, would enjoy Alter's elevated companionship for Hebrew understanding not available a century ago. … I am overjoyed with Alter's product. Publisher Norton, however, for a few dollars more could have produced fine cloth boards to compliment the otherwise excellent smith sewn bindery - very important because the next generation of scholars will dote over these books, vulnerable to the ravages of use. As for all of my earlier individual volumes of Alter, these may now become fine beach reads.
    19 people found this helpful
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  • P. Martin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful translation!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I've been waiting, hoping for Robert Alter to finish the entire Hebrew Bible, and at last, he has! Mr. Alter is a wonderful scholar with a tremendous ear for prose and poetry. If you're a fan, you'll find the 5 books of Moses, David Story, Wisdom Books, and Psalms exactly as in his earlier volumes but now the prophets are all there to complete the Hebrew Scriptures. Alter just does a magnificent job of sticking closely to the original Hebrew and yet has such a command of modern English style. It is an absolute pleasure to read his work. As a Christian, I'd quibble with how he handles the Messianic sections of the Scriptures, but this is a book for all people of all faith traditions to appreciate.

    He brings such power and poetry to a familiar book. He fixes mistakes in most all other English translations. He captures the music of the original Authorized (King James) version. It's like Hemingway and Evelyn Waugh were masters of Hebrew language and grammar! Amazing.

    The books themselves are beautifully bound, with high quality paper, sewn bindings that lay flat right out of the box, a strong and readable modern but classic font. This is a Hebrew Bible that belongs on every scholar, pastor, or serious lay persons shelf.

    God bless Robert Alter for decades of faithful and inspired work!
    26 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • blueskyapplepie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
    Reviewed in Australia on December 5, 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Beautiful edition of a brilliant book. It looks even better in person, the listing photo doesn’t do it justice.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic translation
    Reviewed in Sweden on September 2, 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    A fantastic translation. There are better evaluations among the other reviews.
    Report
  • Nycholas M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfeito
    Reviewed in Brazil on December 1, 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Maravilhoso!
    Report
  • Sordel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Revelatory
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2020
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Bible readers have typically been forced to choose between a translation that is literary (such as the King James Version) or one rendered in contemporary English which is supposedly more “accurate”. Robert Alter persuasively argues that these later translations, however, are in fact far from accurate: in seeking to remove all ambiguity from the text modern translators have lost contact both with the innate mystery of the original Hebrew and with its poetic qualities, which are often based in the repetition & parallelism of a consciously pared-down vocabulary.

    This translation of the Old Testament (or, more properly, Tanakh) brings English speakers closer to the true nature of the text than ever before. The annotation (which I understand from another review here is missing from the Kindle edition) is absolutely essential, because it is only by reading the notes in conjunction with the body text that you can understand the sensitive choices that have been made in translation and how they relate to the language & artistry of the original writers.

    These three volume are beautifully bound and printed. The second physical book - containing the Prophets (Nevi’im) - is admittedly fairly hefty, but Bibles are typically unwieldy and overall this set is convenient for reading. Which is important, since this is a Bible worth reading rather than keeping as a reference volume. Although the NRSV translation is so ubiquitous that it is inescapable as a “copy text”, it is Alter's translation that I feel that I will consult more in the future.

    This Bible has no devotional orientation (i.e. it is not a “Bible for Jews”); it is a scholarly translation, for everyone. I would heartily encourage anyone reading this review to order a copy.
    Report
  • Cliente de Kindle
    2.0 out of 5 stars The Hebrew Bible
    Reviewed in Mexico on September 9, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    It didn't say what English version is, not NIV, neither of any versions we know.
    Report