Parashah
section of a biblical book in the Masoretic Text
The term parashah, (Hebrew: פָּרָשָׁה Pārāšâ, "portion", Tiberian /pɔrɔˈʃɔ/, Sephardi /paraˈʃa/, plural: parshiot, also called parsha) formally means a section of a biblical book in the Masoretic Text of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). In common usage today the word often refers to the weekly Torah portion (a shortened form of Parashat HaShavua). This article deals with the first, formal meaning of the word. In the Masoretic Text, parashah sections are designated by various types of spacing between them, as found in Torah scrolls, scrolls of the books of Nevi'im (Prophets) or Ketuvim (Writings) (especially the Megillot), masoretic codices from the Middle Ages and printed editions of the Masoretic Text.
The division of the text into parshiot for the biblical books is independent of chapter and verse numbers, which are not part of the masoretic tradition. Parshiot are not numbered, but some have special names.
The division of parshiot found in the modern-day Torah scrolls of all Jewish communities is based upon the systematic list provided by Maimonides in Mishneh Torah, Laws of Tefillin, Mezuzah and Torah Scrolls, chapter 8. Scholars mostly (see footnote) believe that Maimonides based his division of the parshiot of the Torah on the Aleppo Codex. The division of parshiot for the books of Nevi'im and Ketuvim was never completely standardized in printed Hebrew bibles and handwritten scrolls, though important attempts were made to document it and create fixed rules.
Incorrect division of the text into parshiot, either by indicating a parashah in the wrong place or by using the wrong spacing technique, halakhically invalidates a Torah scroll according to Maimonides.
The public source identifies “Parashah” as section of a biblical book in the Masoretic Text. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Parashah, section and biblical.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Parashah”, the useful work is to connect “section of a biblical book in the Masoretic Text” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Object files, edition statements, performance records and contemporary criticism preserve different stages of the work’s history. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 29, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q654188. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Titles can refer to several editions, objects or performances, making precise identification essential before interpretation. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Separate the work, its editions or performances, and its later reception. Catalogue records, publication histories and object files often preserve different parts of that story.
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The original object or edition, catalogue raisonné, performance record, rights file and holding institution.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Parashah”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Parashah primary sources, Parashah archive and Parashah research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Parashah”?
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This entry incorporates text from “Parashah” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.