Mikra

Mikra, meaning “reading” or “recited text,” a Jewish term for the biblical scriptures. The word highlights the role of the text as something read aloud and heard within the community, not merely studied privately. Mikra emphasizes the fixed wording of scripture and its authority as received tradition. In contrast to later interpretive writings, the mikra represents the foundational text itself, shaped by careful preservation, public performance, and repeated reading. The term reflects a view of scripture centered on transmission, listening, and communal engagement rather than explanatory expansion.