What is the Samaritan Torah?

The Samaritan Torah, also known as the Samaritan Pentateuch, is a version of the first five books of the Bible preserved by the Samaritan community. It contains Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—just like the Torah used in Judaism and Christianity. However, while it shares much in common with the traditional Hebrew text, it also contains important differences.

Understanding the Samaritan Torah helps us better grasp biblical history, textual transmission, and the religious divide between Jews and Samaritans in the time of Jesus. It also sheds light on how Scripture has been preserved and interpreted across different communities.

Who Are the Samaritans?

To understand the Samaritan Torah, we must first understand the Samaritans themselves. The Samaritans were a group living in the region of Samaria, north of Judea. Their origins are connected to the division of Israel after the reign of Solomon. After the kingdom split, the northern kingdom of Israel fell into idolatry and was eventually conquered by Assyria:

“In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria” (2 Kings 17:6, NKJV).

The Assyrians brought in foreign peoples who intermarried with the remaining Israelites:

“Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon… and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel” (2 Kings 17:24, NKJV).

This mixture led to a blended religion:

“They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods” (2 Kings 17:33, NKJV).

The Samaritans developed their own identity, distinct from the Jews of Judah, which later caused tension between the two groups.

What Is the Samaritan Torah?

The Samaritan Torah is the version of the Pentateuch accepted and preserved by the Samaritans as their sacred Scripture. Unlike Jews and Christians, the Samaritans accept only these five books and reject the rest of the Old Testament. For them:

The Pentateuch is the only inspired Scripture
Moses is the central prophetic figure
Later prophets and writings are not authoritative

This limited canon shapes their theology and practice.

Key Differences from the Hebrew Bible

Although the Samaritan Torah is largely similar to the Hebrew Masoretic Text, there are thousands of minor variations and some significant differences.

1. The Place of Worship

One of the most important differences concerns the proper place of worship. The Samaritan Torah emphasizes Mount Gerizim as the chosen place, rather than Jerusalem.

In the traditional Hebrew text, God chooses a place for worship (later identified as Jerusalem). However, the Samaritan version explicitly supports Mount Gerizim. This reflects the long-standing dispute seen in the New Testament:

“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship” (John 4:20, NKJV).

Jesus responded by pointing beyond the dispute:

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24, NKJV).

2. Textual Variations

The Samaritan Torah contains:

Differences in wording
Expanded or harmonized passages
Slight numerical variations

Many of these changes appear to clarify or smooth out the text, while others reflect theological preferences.

3. Emphasis on Mount Gerizim

In some passages, the Samaritan Torah inserts references to Mount Gerizim as the place God chose for His name. This directly contrasts with the biblical emphasis on Jerusalem as the center of worship:

“But I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there” (2 Chronicles 6:6, NKJV).

Similarities with the Biblical Text

Despite its differences, the Samaritan Torah agrees with the Hebrew Bible in many essential areas:

The creation account (Genesis 1–2)
The fall of humanity (Genesis 3)
The covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12)
The Exodus from Egypt
The Ten Commandments

For example:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, NKJV).

These shared truths show that the core narrative of the Pentateuch remains intact.

The Samaritan Torah and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Interestingly, some manuscripts among the Dead Sea Scrolls contain readings similar to the Samaritan Torah. This suggests that multiple textual traditions existed in ancient times. This discovery helps scholars understand that:

The biblical text was transmitted through different manuscript families
Variations existed before the standardization of the Hebrew text
God’s Word has been preserved despite minor differences

The Samaritan Torah in the Time of Jesus

During Jesus’ ministry, the division between Jews and Samaritans was well known.

“The Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9, NKJV).

The Samaritan Torah played a central role in this divide. Because the Samaritans rejected the rest of the Old Testament and held different views on worship, the Jews considered them religiously compromised. Yet Jesus reached out to them, demonstrating God’s love for all people.

Theological Limitations of the Samaritan Torah

While the Samaritan Torah contains much truth, it is incomplete from a biblical perspective.

1. Rejection of the Prophets

The Samaritans do not accept:

The writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other prophets
Historical books like Kings and Chronicles
Wisdom literature like Psalms and Proverbs

This means they miss key revelations about:

The Messiah
God’s unfolding plan of salvation
Prophetic warnings and promises

2. Altered Doctrinal Emphasis

By emphasizing Mount Gerizim, the Samaritan Torah shifts focus away from God’s chosen center of worship in Jerusalem, which plays a crucial role in biblical history and prophecy.

What Can We Learn from the Samaritan Torah?

The Samaritan Torah provides some lessons for believers today.

1. The Importance of Preserving Scripture

God’s Word has been carefully preserved across generations. While variations exist, the core message remains consistent.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8, NKJV).

2. The Danger of Adding or Altering Scripture

The differences in the Samaritan Torah remind us of the importance of faithfully preserving God’s Word without alteration.

“You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it” (Deuteronomy 4:2, NKJV).

3. True Worship Is Not Limited to Location

Jesus clarified that true worship goes beyond physical location:

“The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23, NKJV).

This teaching resolves the debate between Mount Gerizim and Jerusalem.

Conclusion

The Samaritan Torah is a version of the first five books of the Bible preserved by the Samaritan community. While it shares much in common with the traditional Hebrew text, it includes notable differences, especially regarding the place of worship and certain textual details.

Historically, it reflects the division between Jews and Samaritans, a divide that continued into the time of Jesus. Theologically, it is limited because it excludes the rest of the Old Testament and introduces alterations that do not align with the full biblical witness.

For believers today, the Samaritan Torah serves as both a historical resource and a reminder of the importance of holding firmly to the complete and unaltered Word of God. Through Scripture, God has revealed His truth, and through Christ, He calls all people—Jew and Samaritan alike—to worship Him in spirit and in truth.