תַּנָּאִים (Tannaim) were the rabbinic sages of the period roughly from 10 CE to 220 CE who transmitted, taught, debated, and organized the Oral Torah. Their teachings form the foundation of the Mishnah, which was compiled by Judah ha-Nasi around 200 CE.

The word Tanna (singular of Tannaim) comes from the Aramaic root meaning “to repeat,” “to teach,” or “to transmit orally.” Before the Mishnah was written down, Torah teachings were memorized and transmitted from teacher to student.

Historical Position

The chain of Torah transmission is commonly viewed as:

  1. Moses and the Prophets
  2. Men of the Great Assembly
  3. Zugot (the “Pairs”)
  4. Tannaim
  5. Amoraim (sages of the Gemara)
  6. Savoraim
  7. Geonim
  8. Rishonim
  9. Acharonim

The Tannaim precede the Amoraim. The Amoraim analyzed and discussed the Mishnah, producing the Gemara, which together with the Mishnah forms the Talmud.

Major Tannaim

Some of the most famous Tannaim include:

  • Hillel the Elder
  • Shammai
  • Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai
  • Rabbi Akiva
  • Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
  • Rabbi Meir
  • Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai
  • Rabbi Yose ben Halafta
  • Rabbi Eliezer ben Horcanus
  • Yehudah ha-Nasi

In Kabbalistic Thought

Kabbalistic sources often regard the Tannaim as exceptionally lofty souls. The Zohar speaks of sages such as Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his companions as possessing profound spiritual perception and access to the inner dimensions of Torah. Many later Kabbalists viewed the Tannaim as preserving both the revealed Torah (Nigleh) and, among select circles, the hidden Torah (Nistar).

Synonyms:
tanaim, תנאים, Tanna