Genesis

50 chapters to read in the World English Bible translation.

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Genesis: the book of beginnings

The first book of the Bible, Genesis tells the beginnings: the creation of the world and humanity, the fall, the flood, then the story of the patriarchs — Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Traditionally attributed to Moses, it lays the foundation of the whole biblical story: a Creator God who calls, makes covenant, and leads one family to bless all nations.

Its 50 chapters move from the origins of the universe (chapters 1–11) to the adventure of one family (chapters 12–50). It contains some of the best-known stories in the Bible: Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah's ark, the tower of Babel, the sacrifice of Isaac, Jacob's ladder, and Joseph sold by his brothers.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
  28. 28
  29. 29
  30. 30
  31. 31
  32. 32
  33. 33
  34. 34
  35. 35
  36. 36
  37. 37
  38. 38
  39. 39
  40. 40
  41. 41
  42. 42
  43. 43
  44. 44
  45. 45
  46. 46
  47. 47
  48. 48
  49. 49
  50. 50

Frequently asked questions about Genesis

Who wrote Genesis?

Jewish and Christian tradition attributes Genesis to Moses, like the other four books of the Pentateuch. The book itself does not name its author; it gathers the founding narratives handed down in Israel.

What is Genesis about?

Two great movements: origins (creation, fall, flood, Babel — chapters 1–11), then the story of Abraham and his descendants down to the settlement in Egypt (chapters 12–50). The guiding thread is God's covenant with one family to bless all the families of the earth.

Why read Genesis today?

Because it answers the foundational questions: where do we come from, why evil, what is God's plan? And because its characters — imperfect, believing, hesitant — look strikingly like us.

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