How many books are in the Old Testament canon according to Jesus' day?

In Jesus' day, the recognized canon of the Old Testament consisted of 39 books. This number reflects the traditional grouping of Hebrew Scriptures, which includes the Law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi'im), and the Writings (Ketuvim). These texts were well established long before the New Testament was formulated, and they served as the authoritative scripture for Jewish communities.

The designation of 39 books aligns with the Jewish tradition, as evidenced by references in the New Testament and historical writings. Understanding this context is crucial for grasping the significance of these texts in the development of both Jewish and Christian beliefs. The canonization process was largely complete by the time of Jesus, who often quoted from these texts, indicating their accepted status as sacred scripture.

The other numbers provided in the choices reflect variations found in different religious traditions. For example, the number 27 is associated with the New Testament, while 66 is the total of both the Old and New Testaments in many Christian traditions. The number 73 represents a Catholic canon, which includes additional books known as the Deuterocanonical books, not recognized in the Jewish canon during Jesus' time.