Genesis

Introduction

Genesis (from the Greek genesis, meaning "origin" or "beginning"; Hebrew: Bereshit, "In the beginning") is the first book of the Bible and the foundation for all of Scripture. It was written by Moses and is addressed to the people of Israel, providing them with an account of how God created the world, how humanity fell into sin, and how God began His plan of redemption through a chosen family line. Genesis spans more time than any other book of the Bible, from the creation of the universe to the death of Joseph in Egypt.

The book serves two primary audiences: the Israelites who had just been delivered from Egypt and needed to understand their identity as God's covenant people, and all subsequent readers who seek to understand the origin of the world, the nature of God, and the beginning of God's redemptive plan. Genesis establishes foundational themes that run throughout the rest of Scripture: God's sovereignty over creation, the dignity and responsibility of human beings made in His image, the devastating consequences of sin, and God's faithful commitment to His promises.

Structure

Genesis is naturally divided into two major sections:

Part 1: Primeval History (Chapters 1-11)

The origin of the world and early humanity, structured around four major events:

Creation (1-2) — God creates the heavens, the earth, and humanity
The Fall (3-5) — Sin enters the world through Adam and Eve's disobedience
The Flood (6-9) — God judges the world's wickedness but preserves Noah and his family
The Tower of Babel (10-11) — Humanity's prideful rebellion and God's scattering of the nations

Part 2: Patriarchal History (Chapters 12-50)

The story of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants, structured around four major figures:

Abraham (12-25) — God calls Abraham, promises him a nation, a land, and a blessing to all peoples
Isaac (21-27) — The child of promise who carries the covenant forward
Jacob (25-36) — The cunning younger son whom God renames Israel
Joseph (37-50) — Sold into slavery by his brothers, he rises to power in Egypt and preserves his family

Chapter Summaries

God creates the heavens and the earth in six days, culminating in the creation of humanity in His image.
God forms Adam from the dust, places him in the Garden of Eden, and creates Eve as his companion.
The serpent tempts Eve, Adam and Eve disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit, and God pronounces curses and banishes them from Eden.
Cain murders his brother Abel out of jealousy, is cursed to wander the earth, and the line of Cain produces the first city-builders and craftsmen.
The genealogy from Adam to Noah traces the line of Seth through ten generations, noting their extraordinary lifespans.
God sees the wickedness of humanity, grieves over it, and instructs Noah to build an ark to survive the coming flood.
Noah, his family, and the animals enter the ark, and God sends the flood to destroy all life on the earth.
The floodwaters recede, Noah sends out birds to test the land, and he offers a sacrifice to God after leaving the ark.
God establishes a covenant with Noah, gives new commands about food and the sanctity of life, and sets the rainbow as a sign of His promise.
The Table of Nations records the descendants of Noah's three sons — Shem, Ham, and Japheth — and how they spread across the earth.
Humanity builds the Tower of Babel in rebellion against God, God confuses their language and scatters them, and the genealogy traces from Shem to Abram.
God calls Abram to leave his homeland, promises to make him a great nation, and Abram travels to Canaan and then to Egypt during a famine.
Abram and Lot separate due to the size of their herds, with Lot choosing the fertile Jordan valley near Sodom.
Abram rescues Lot after a coalition of kings captures him, and Melchizedek, king of Salem, blesses Abram.
God makes a formal covenant with Abram, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars and giving him the land of Canaan.
Sarai gives her servant Hagar to Abram, Hagar conceives Ishmael, and conflict arises between Sarai and Hagar.
God reaffirms His covenant with Abram, renames him Abraham, institutes circumcision, and promises that Sarah will bear a son named Isaac.
Three visitors announce that Sarah will have a son within a year, and Abraham intercedes with the LORD for the city of Sodom.
God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone, but rescues Lot; Lot's wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt.
Abraham deceives King Abimelech about Sarah being his sister, and God protects Sarah and rebukes Abraham through the king.
Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah, Hagar and Ishmael are sent away, and Abraham makes a treaty with Abimelech at Beersheba.
God tests Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac, then provides a ram as a substitute, and reaffirms His covenant promises.
Sarah dies at age 127, and Abraham purchases the cave of Machpelah in Hebron as a burial site.
Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac from his relatives in Mesopotamia, and the servant returns with Rebekah.
Abraham dies and is buried alongside Sarah; the genealogy of Ishmael is recorded; Esau sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew.
Isaac settles in Gerar during a famine, deceives Abimelech about Rebekah, prospers greatly, and makes a treaty at Beersheba.
Jacob, coached by Rebekah, deceives his blind father Isaac into giving him the blessing intended for Esau.
Jacob flees to Haran to escape Esau's wrath and has a dream at Bethel of a stairway to heaven with angels ascending and descending.
Jacob arrives in Haran, falls in love with Rachel, works seven years for her, but is tricked by Laban into marrying Leah first.
Jacob's wives and their servants bear him eleven sons and one daughter, and Jacob prospers by outwitting Laban with the flocks.
Jacob secretly departs from Laban with his family and possessions; Laban pursues him, and they make a covenant at Mizpah.
Jacob prepares to meet Esau by sending gifts ahead, and he wrestles with God at the Jabbok River and is renamed Israel.
Jacob and Esau are reconciled in a tearful reunion, and Jacob settles near Shechem.
Dinah is violated by Shechem, and her brothers Simeon and Levi avenge her by slaughtering the men of the city through deception.
God reaffirms His covenant with Jacob at Bethel, Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin, and Isaac dies at age 180.
The genealogy of Esau (Edom) is recorded, listing his descendants and the chiefs and kings of Edom.
Joseph, Jacob's favored son, has two prophetic dreams; his jealous brothers sell him to traders heading to Egypt.
Judah's sons Er and Onan die, his daughter-in-law Tamar disguises herself to bear children through Judah, and she gives birth to Perez and Zerah.
Joseph serves in the house of Potiphar in Egypt, resists the advances of Potiphar's wife, and is falsely accused and imprisoned.
Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker while in prison, and his interpretations prove true.
Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine, and Pharaoh appoints him ruler over all Egypt.
Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy grain during the famine, and Joseph recognizes them but conceals his identity and tests them.
The brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin, and Joseph hosts them at a feast, showing special favor to Benjamin.
Joseph tests his brothers by hiding a silver cup in Benjamin's sack; Judah offers himself as a slave in Benjamin's place.
Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers, weeping, and tells them God sent him ahead to preserve their family; he invites them to settle in Egypt.
Jacob and his entire family travel to Egypt; God reassures Jacob in a vision at Beersheba, and the family settles in Goshen.
Jacob blesses Pharaoh, the family prospers in Goshen, and Joseph administers Egypt through the famine, acquiring land for Pharaoh.
Jacob, near death, adopts Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh and blesses them, giving the greater blessing to the younger Ephraim.
Jacob delivers prophetic blessings over each of his twelve sons, foretelling the future of their tribes, and then he dies.
Jacob is embalmed and buried in Canaan, Joseph reassures his brothers of his forgiveness, and Joseph dies at age 110 after making his family swear to carry his bones out of Egypt.