Book 1 of 66 · Old Testament

Genesis

The Bible's first book — the origin of the world, and the start of the family the rest of the Bible follows.

50 chapters1,533 versesWritten in HebrewSet Creation to c. 1800 BC

Overview

Genesis is the first book of the Bible. Chapters 1–11 cover the origin of the world and humankind — creation, the flood, and the tower of Babel. Chapters 12–50 follow one family across four generations — Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph — ending with them settled in Egypt. Most of the Bible's central people, places, and promises are introduced here.

Book facts

Author: Moses, by traditionThe book never names its writer. Jewish and Christian tradition credits Moses.
Date written: c. 1400 BCThe traditional date. Many scholars date the writing later, around 500 BC.
Original language: HebrewOldest surviving copies come from the Dead Sea caves.
Setting: Creation to c. 1800 BCFrom the beginning of the world to Jacob's family settling in Egypt.

How it came to be

Genesis does not name its author, and it never claims to have been written by anyone in it. Tradition ascribes it to Moses — who, by the book's own chronology, is born about four hundred years after it ends.

So on every account, this is a book written down long after the events it describes, and the earliest chapters describe a time before writing existed anywhere.

What is arguedWhether Moses wrote it, compiled it, or had nothing to do with it. Most modern scholarship reads it as assembled from older material over a long period; traditional readings hold to Moses.

The whole book, chapter by chapter

Chapter	What happens	Who is in it	Where it takes place
Everyone — the whole human race, chapters 1–11
Chapter 1The beginning	God creates the heavens and the earth in six days and rests on the seventh. Light, sky, land, plants, the sun and moon, animals, and finally people are made in order.	—	—
Chapter 2The garden	The making of the first man and woman is told again more closely. God places them in the garden of Eden and gives them one command.	,
Chapter 3The serpent	The serpent persuades the woman to eat the forbidden fruit, and the man eats too. God sends them out of the garden, and human life outside it begins.	, , the serpent
Chapter 4Cain and Abel	Adam and Eve's sons bring offerings to God, and Cain kills his brother Abel out of jealousy. Cain is sent away, and the human family begins to spread.	,
Chapter 5The generations of Adam	A genealogy from Adam to Noah, listing ten generations and their ages. It bridges the time between the garden and the flood.	Adam to Noah	—
Chapter 6The ark	Human evil has spread across the earth, and God decides to send a flood. He tells Noah, a righteous man, to build an ark.		—
Chapter 7The flood	Noah, his family, and pairs of every animal enter the ark. Rain falls for forty days and the water rises until it covers the earth.	, his family	—
Chapter 8The waters recede	The rain stops and the water slowly goes down. The ark comes to rest on the mountains of Ararat, and Noah sends out a raven and a dove.
Chapter 9The rainbow	Noah's family leaves the ark, and God promises never to flood the whole earth again. The rainbow is given as the sign of that promise.		—
Chapter 10The table of nations	A genealogy of Noah's sons, showing how the nations of the world descended from them.	—	—
Chapter 11The tower of Babel	People build a tower to make a name for themselves; God confuses their language and scatters them. The line then narrows toward Abram.	—
Abraham's family — one family, chosen and followed, chapters 12–25
Chapter 12The call of Abram	God tells Abram to leave his country and promises to make him into a great nation. Abram travels to Canaan with his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot.	, ,	,
Chapter 13Abram and Lot part	Abram and Lot separate so their herds have room. Lot settles in the fertile plain near Sodom.	,
Chapter 14The rescue of Lot	Lot is captured in a war between kings, and Abram rescues him. On his return Abram is blessed by Melchizedek.	, ,	—
Chapter 15The covenant with Abram	God promises Abram descendants as many as the stars and the land to come, and seals it with a covenant.		—
Chapter 16Hagar and Ishmael	Sarai, still without a child, gives her servant Hagar to Abram, and Hagar bears a son, Ishmael.	, ,	—
Chapter 17The covenant of circumcision	God renames Abram "Abraham" and gives circumcision as the sign of the covenant.	,	—
Chapter 18The three visitors	Three visitors promise Sarah a son within the year. Abraham pleads with God to spare Sodom.	,	—
Chapter 19Sodom and Gomorrah	Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed. Lot and his daughters escape, but his wife looks back.
Chapter 20Abraham and Abimelech	Abraham calls Sarah his sister, and God warns king Abimelech in a dream before any harm is done.	, ,
Chapter 21The birth of Isaac	Isaac is born to Sarah in her old age. Hagar and Ishmael are sent away and God cares for them.	, ,	—
Chapter 22The offering of Isaac	God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham obeys, and at the last moment God stops him and provides a ram instead.	,
Chapter 23The cave of Machpelah	Sarah dies, and Abraham buys the cave of Machpelah as a burial place.
Chapter 24A wife for Isaac	Abraham's servant is sent back to the homeland and finds Rebekah as a wife for Isaac.	,	—
Chapter 25Jacob and Esau	Abraham dies. Rebekah gives birth to twins, Esau and Jacob, and Esau sells his birthright to Jacob for a meal.	, ,	—
Jacob's family — the promise passes to Jacob, chapters 26–36
Chapter 26Isaac and the wells	Isaac reopens his father's wells and, after disputes, makes peace with Abimelech.
Chapter 27The stolen blessing	Jacob, helped by his mother, deceives the blind Isaac to receive Esau's blessing, then flees from his brother's anger.	, ,	—
Chapter 28The ladder at Bethel	On the road Jacob dreams of a stairway between heaven and earth, and God renews the promise to him.
Chapter 29Leah and Rachel	Jacob works for his uncle Laban and, after being tricked, marries both Leah and Rachel.	, , ,
Chapter 30The sons of Jacob	Jacob's children are born to his wives and their servants, and his flocks multiply.		—
Chapter 31Jacob leaves Laban	Jacob leaves Laban secretly with his family and flocks. The two men part after making a covenant.	,	—
Chapter 32Wrestling at Peniel	Fearing Esau, Jacob wrestles with God through the night and is renamed "Israel."
Chapter 33Jacob meets Esau	Jacob and Esau meet again and are reconciled.	,	—
Chapter 34Dinah and Shechem	Jacob's daughter Dinah is violated at Shechem, and her brothers take a violent revenge.
Chapter 35Return to Bethel	God renews the promise at Bethel. Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin, and Isaac dies.	,
Chapter 36The generations of Esau	A genealogy of Esau and the people of Edom who came from him.
Joseph — how Israel ended up in Egypt, chapters 37–50
Chapter 37Joseph's dreams	Joseph's brothers, jealous of their father's favour and his dreams, sell him into slavery in Egypt.		—
Chapter 38Judah and Tamar	Judah is deceived by his daughter-in-law Tamar, who secures her place in the family line.	,	—
Chapter 39Joseph in Potiphar's house	Joseph serves in Potiphar's house, is falsely accused, and is thrown into prison.
Chapter 40The butler and the baker	In prison Joseph correctly interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's butler and baker.
Chapter 41Pharaoh's dreams	Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams of famine and is put in charge of all Egypt.	,
Chapter 42The brothers in Egypt	Famine drives Joseph's brothers to Egypt for grain; they do not recognise him.
Chapter 43The return with Benjamin	The brothers return with their youngest, Benjamin, and dine with Joseph.	,
Chapter 44The silver cup	Joseph tests his brothers by hiding a silver cup in Benjamin's sack.	,
Chapter 45Joseph revealed	Joseph reveals who he is and forgives his brothers, sending for his father.
Chapter 46Israel goes to Egypt	Jacob and his whole family move down to Egypt to be with Joseph.
Chapter 47Settling in Goshen	Jacob's family settles in Goshen, and Joseph manages Egypt through the famine.	,
Chapter 48Ephraim and Manasseh	The aged Jacob blesses Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.	,
Chapter 49Jacob blesses his sons	Jacob gives a final, distinct blessing to each of his twelve sons.
Chapter 50The death of Joseph	Jacob is buried in Canaan. Joseph forgives his brothers once more and, dying, asks to be carried out of Egypt one day.

All 50 chapters. Start reading →

Worth knowing

Key people

Tap a name to see who they are.

Key places

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First in the Bible

The first time each of these appears — tap the verse to read it.

The first marriageGenesis 2:24
The first sinGenesis 3:6
The first deathGenesis 4:8
The first rainbow, and God's promiseGenesis 9:13