The Mishnah is which type of text?

• A. A book of poetry
• B. A historical narrative
• C. A collection of oral laws
• D. A set of ritual codes

Answer: (C)

The Mishnah is a collection of oral laws. It records how rabbinic authorities interpreted and applied the commandments of the Torah, codifying those legal discussions and rulings that had been transmitted orally for generations. Compiled around 200 CE by Rabbi Judah the Prince, it organizes legal rulings into six orders and covers a wide range of topics from agricultural rules to festivals and civil law. It’s not poetry, nor a historical narrative, and while it touches on ritual practice, its main purpose is to present a structured set of laws and how to implement them. The Mishnah also serves as the foundational text that the later Talmud expands upon with further discussion.