Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Genesis.
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Basics
- Title: The Hebrew bereshith refers to “in the beginning”. The name Genesis means “origin” and refers to beginnings.
- Author: Moses, probably written around 1400 BC while in the wilderness
- Abraham’s family tree
- Genesis is not a scientific document. (You don’t read Shakespeare to learn English history.)
Literary Structure
- Introduction – Gen 1:1-2:3
- “The account of the heavens and the earth” – Gen 2:4-4:26
- “The written account of Adam’s line” – Gen 5:1-6:8
- “The account of Noah” – Gen 6:9-9:29
- “The account of Shem, Ham and Japheth” – Gen 10:1-11:9
- “The account of Shem” – Gen 11:10-26
- “The account of Terah” – Gen 11:27-25:11
- “The account of Abraham’s son Ishmael” – Gen 25:12-18
- “The account of Abraham’s son Isaac” – Gen 25-19-35:29
- “The account of Esau” – Gen 36:1-37:1
- “The account of Jacob” – Gen 37:2-50:26
Thematic Structure
Primal History
- Creation – Gen 1:1-2:3
- Adam and Eve in Eden – Gen 2:4-25
- The fall and its consequences – Gen 3:1-24
- The rapid “progress” of sin – Gen 4:1-16
- Two genealogies – Gen 4:17-5:32
- The extent of sin before the fall- Gen 6:1-8
- The great flood – Gen 6:9-9:29
- The spread of the nations – Gen 10:1-11:26
Patriarchal History
- The life of Abraham – Gen 11:27-25:11
- The descendants of Ishmael – Gen 25:12-18
- The life of Jacob – Gen 25L19-35:29
- The descendants of Esau – Gen 36:1-37:1
- The life of Joseph – Gen 37:2-50:26
Genre: Understanding Narrative
Background & Outlines
Chart: Bible History at a glance
Blue Letter Bible: Old Testament Timeline
Jensen’s Survey of the Old Testament
Bible Atlas: Mount Horeb/Sinai
Introduction to the Pentateuch
Ray C Stedman: Overview of the Book
John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
ESV The Global Message of Genesis
Biblehub: Timeline of Genesis
Ligonier: Introduction to Genesis
Ligonier: Introduction to the Pentateuch
JVernon McGee: Genesis Notes & Outline
William Orr: 39 Keys to the OT – Genesis
Charles Swindoll: Book of Genesis Overview
James van dine: Analysis of Genesis
David Malick (Bible.org): An Introduction to Genesis
David Malick: An Argument of the Book of Genesis
Maps from Holman Bible Atlas
The Face of the Ancient Near East
Modern States and the Ancient Near East
Mesopotamia: Homeland of Abraham
International Routes, The King’s Highway
Geography and Trade Routes of the Middle East
Natural Regions of Palestine
National Regions of Ancient Palestine
Physical Geography of Palestine
Cross Sectional Views of Longitudinal Zones
Plain of Dor, Plain of Sharon, Samaria, et al.
Philistine Plain, Shephelah, Judah, and the Dead Sea
Arabah, Negeb, Wildernesses of Zin and Paran
The Old City of Jerusalem Today
Modern Political Divisions of Ancient Palestine
Climate Patterns of Ancient Palestine
Before Abraham
Selected Neolithic and Chalcolithic Settlements
Ancient Near East in the 3rd Millennium
The World of the Patriarchs
Ancient Near East in the Time of the Patriarchs
The Land of Canaan from Abraham to Moses
Palestine in the Middle Bronze Age
ESV Charts & Maps
Genealogies: Age at Fatherhood and Death
Chronology of Noah’s Time in Ark
ESV Maps
Key Words
God said (89x) – Gen 1:3; Gen 1:6; Gen 1:9; Gen 1:11; Gen 1:14; Gen 1:20; Gen 1:24; Gen 1:26; Gen 1:28; Gen 1:29; Gen 2:18; Gen 3:1; Gen 3:3; Gen 3:9; Gen 3:13; Gen 3:14; Gen 3:22; Gen 4:25; Gen 6:13; Gen 9:1; Gen 9:12; Gen 9:17; Gen 9:26; Gen 14:19; Gen 14:22; Gen 15:2; Gen 15:8; Gen 15:13; Gen 16:13; Gen 17:1; Gen 17:9; Gen 17:15; Gen 17:18; Gen 17:19; Gen 17:23; Gen 20:3; Gen 20:6; Gen 20:11; Gen 20:13; Gen 21:6; Gen 21:12; Gen 21:17; Gen 22:1; Gen 22:8; Gen 22:12; Gen 24:12; Gen 24:27; Gen 24:42; Gen 26:24; Gen 27:20; Gen 28:13; Gen 28:17; Gen 30:2; Gen 30:6; Gen 30:18; Gen 30:20; Gen 30:23; Gen 31:5; Gen 31:11; Gen 31:16; Gen 31:24; Gen 32:2; Gen 32:9; Gen 32:28; Gen 32:30; Gen 33:5; Gen 33:10; Gen 35:1; Gen 35:10; Gen 35:11; Gen 40:8; Gen 41:25; Gen 41:39; Gen 41:51; Gen 41:52; Gen 42:18; Gen 42:28; Gen 43:23; Gen 43:29; Gen 44:16; Gen 46:2; Gen 46:3; Gen 48:3; Gen 48:9; Gen 48:11; Gen 48:15; Gen 48:21; Gen 50:19; Gen 50:24;
God commanded (4x) – Gen 2:16; Gen 6:22; Gen 7:9; Gen 7:16; Gen 21:4.
generations (14x) – Strong’s H8435 – Gen 5:1; Gen 6:9; Gen 9:12; Gen 10:1; Gen 11:10; Gen 11:27; Gen 17:7; Gen 17:9; Gen 17:12; Gen 25:12; Gen 25:19; Gen 36:1; Gen 36:9; Gen 37:2.
covenant (23x) – Strong’s H1285 in Gen 6:18; Gen 9:9; Gen 9:11; Gen 9:12; Gen 9:13; Gen 9:15; Gen 9:16; Gen 9:17; Gen 15:18; Gen 17:2; Gen 17:4; Gen 17:7; Gen 17:9; Gen 17:10; Gen 17:11; Gen 17:13; Gen 17:14; Gen 17:19; Gen 17:21; Gen 21:27; Gen 21:32; Gen 26:28; Gen 31:44.
circumcised (15x) – Strong’s H4135 in Gen 17:10; Gen 17:11; Gen 17:12; Gen 17:13; Gen 17:14; Gen 17:23; Gen 17:24; Gen 17:25; Gen 17:26; Gen 17:27; Gen 21:4; Gen 34:15; Gen 34:17; Gen 34:22; Gen 34:24.
altar (11x) – Strong’s H4196 – Gen 8:20; Gen 12:7; Gen 12:8; Gen 13:4; Gen 13:18; Gen 22:9; Gen 26:25; Gen 33:20; Gen 35:1; Gen 35:3; Gen 35:7.
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Genesis
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Genesis, Theology Of
American Tract Society: Genesis
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Genesis
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Genesis
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Genesis, the Book of
Holman Bible Dictionary: Genesis
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Genesis
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Genesis, Book of
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Genesis
McClintock and Strong: Genesis
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Genesis
The Jewish Encyclopedia: Genesis, the Book Of
Abraham, Abram
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Abraham
American Tract Society: Abraham
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Abraham
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Abraham
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Abraham
Holman Bible Dictionary: Abraham
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Abraham
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Abraham
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Abraham
McClintock and Strong: Abraham
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Abraham
The Jewish Encyclopedia: Abraham
Abraham means “Father of a great multitude” – Hitchcock’s Bible Names
Abram means “high father” – Hitchcock’s Bible Names
Jacob
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Jacob
American Tract Society: Jacob
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Jacob
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Jacob
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Jacob
Holman Bible Dictionary: Jacob
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Jacob
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Jacob
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Jacob (1); Jacob (2)
McClintock and Strong: Jacob
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Jacob
The Jewish Encyclopedia: Jacob
Joseph
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology:
American Tract Society: Joseph
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Joseph the Son of Jacob
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Joseph
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Joseph
Holman Bible Dictionary: Joseph
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Joseph
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Joseph
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Joseph (1); Joseph (2)
McClintock and Strong: Joseph
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Joseph
The Jewish Encyclopedia: Joseph
Commentaries
Ligionier.org Top 5 Commentaries: Genesis
Tim Challies Best Commentaries: Genesis
Commentary Reviews: Genesis
Biblehub Commentaries: Genesis
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Genesis
Matthew Henry: Genesis
Albert Barnes Notes: Genesis
Reformation Study Bible Notes: Genesis
Geneva Study Bible: Genesis
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Genesis
Institute for Creation Research
List of links that have “Genesis” in the article including:
Genesis: Real, Reliable, Historical
Does Genesis Matter to the Gospel?
Is Genesis 1–11 Actual History?
Genesis Is History, Not Poetry: Exposing Hidden Assumptions about What Hebrew Poetry Is and Is Not
The Draining Floodwaters: Geologic Evidence Reflects the Genesis Text
The Flood of Noah and the Flood of Gilgamesh
Evolutionists Can’t Fill the Hexapod Gap
Archive of Back to Genesis Articles
Articles
Alfred Edersheim: Genesis – The World Before the Flood, and The History of the Patriarchs
Daniel Estes: Genesis – Looking For Abraham’s City (Bibliotheca Sacra, 1990)
Walter Kaiser: The Promised Land: A Biblical-Historical View (Bibliotheca Sacra, 1981)
Bruce Waltke: Genesis 4 Cain and His Offering (WTJ, 1986)
The Skull Crushing Seed of the Woman: Inner-Biblical Interpretation of Genesis 3:15 James Hamilton
Ailing, Charles. “Joseph in Egypt” Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
Interpretation of Genesis: Journal of Ev Theo Soc13.4, 1970 G Van Groningen
Grounds, Vernon C. “God’s Perspective on Man,” Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation
Kline, Meredith. “Because It Had not Rained,” Westminster Theological Journal 20
Estes, Daniel J. “Looking for Abraham’s City,” Bibliotheca Sacra 147
Dilling, David R. “The Atonement and Human Sacrifice,” Grace Theological Journal 5
Phillips, Perry G. “Did Animals Die before the Fall?” Perspectives in Science and Christian Faith
Rooker, Mark F. “Genesis 1:1-3: Creation or Re-Creation? Pt 1 Bib Sac 149 (Part 2)
Sailhamer, John. “Exegetical Notes: Genesis 1:1-2:4a,” TrinityJournal 5.1 (1984)
Seely, Paul H. “The Firmament and the Water Above” WTJ 5
Hummel, Charles E. “Interpreting Genesis One,” Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation
Davidson, Richard Theology of Sexuality in the Beginning Ge 1-2 & Genesis 3
Feinberg, Charles Lee. “The Image of God,” Bibliotheca Sacra 129
Futato, Mark D. “Because It Had Not Rained: A Study WTJ 60.1 – Part 1
Futato, Mark D. “Because It Had Not Rained: A Study WTJ 60.1 – Part 2
Spencer, Dante – Protoevangelium of Genesis 3:15
Busenitz, Irvin A. “Woman’s Desire for Man: Ge 3:16 Reconsidered Grace Theological Journal 7.2
Foh, Susan T. “What is the Woman’s Desire?” WTJ 37 (1974/75) 376-83.
Cole, Timothy J. “Enoch, a Man Who Walked with God” BibSac 148
Newman, Robert. “The Ancient Exegesis of Genesis 6:2, 4 Grace Theo J
Seely, Paul H. “The Date f he Tower of Babel and Some Theo Implications,” WTJ
Ross, Allen P. “The Dispersion of the Nations in Gen 11:1-9” Bib Sacra 138 (1981) 119-38.
Rotenberry, Paul. “Blessing in the Old Testament, a Study of Gen. 12:3 Restoration Quaterly
Lawlor, John I. “The Test of Abraham Genesis 22:1-19” Grace Theo J 1.1
Marrs, Rick R. “Sacrificing our Future (Genesis 22),” Restoration Quarterly
Ross, Allen P. “Jacob’s Vision: The Founding of Bethel. Bib Sacra 142 (1985) 224-37.
Ross, Allen P. “Jacob at the Jabbok, Israel at Peniel Bib Sacra 142 (1985) 338-54.
Mathewson, S. D. “An Exegetical Study of Gen 38,” Bibliotheca Sacra 146
JStafford Wright: How Moses Compiled Genesis: A Suggestion
John Ankerberg, John Weldon
Biblical Archaeology – Silencing the Critics – Pt 1 – short summary series
Biblical Archaeology – Silencing the Critics – Pt 2
Biblical Archaeology – Silencing the Critics – Pt 3
The Discovery of the Sin Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah Pt 1
The Discovery of the Sin Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah Pt 2
GotQuestions.org
Treat these like any commentary: read carefully and critically.
Book of Genesis – Bible Survey
What is the tablet theory of Genesis authorship, and is it biblical?
Does Genesis chapter 1 literally mean 24 hour days?
Why did God say, “Let there be light,” during creation?
Why is a day measured from evening to morning in Genesis 1?
What is the Gap Theory? Did anything happen in between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2?
Why are there two different Creation accounts in Genesis chapters 1-2?
What happened on each of the days of Creation?
Why does the Bible describe the moon as a light?
Why did God rest on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2)?
Why did God make man out of the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7)?
What is the biblical Creation story?
How do beliefs about creation impact the rest of theology?
What is the meaning of the Hebrew word adamah?
Were Adam and Eve saved? How many children did Adam and Eve have? When were Adam and Eve created?
What does it mean that God gave humanity dominion over the animals?
Why weren’t Adam and Eve created at the same time (Genesis 2)?
What does it mean that it is not good for a man to be alone (Genesis 2:18)?
Why did God use Adam’s rib to create Eve?
What does it mean that a wife is supposed to be a helpmeet / help meet?
How was the woman a helper suitable for the man (Genesis 2:18)?
What did God mean when He told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply?
Did God create other people in addition to Adam and Eve?
Was Satan the serpent in Genesis chapter 3?
Was Adam with Eve when she spoke to the serpent (Genesis 3:6)?
What is the meaning of the tree of life?
Was Adam and Eve’s sin really about eating a piece of forbidden fruit?
Did God literally and visibly walk in the garden (Genesis 3:8)?
How is a woman’s desire for her husband a curse (Genesis 3:16)?
Did Adam and Eve know what death was when God commanded them not to eat from the tree of knowledge?
Why didn’t Adam and Eve immediately die for their sin (Genesis 3)?
Why did God punish women with pain in childbirth (Genesis 3:16)?
Is it wrong to reduce birth pains by taking pain relievers?
What does Genesis 3:15 mean that “he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel”?
Did we all inherit sin from Adam and Eve?
How did the Fall affect humanity?
What is the location of the Garden of Eden?
Why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden?
Why didn’t Adam and Eve find it strange that a serpent was talking to them?
How did the knowledge of good and evil make man like God (Genesis 3:22)?
Why was it wrong for Adam and Eve to know good and evil (Genesis 3:22)?
Why did God have the cherubim guard just the east side of Eden (Genesis 3:24)?
Why did God accept Abel’s offering, but reject Cain’s offering? Why did Cain then kill Abel?
Who was Cain afraid of after he killed Abel?
What was the mark that God put on Cain (Genesis 4:15)?
Why wasn’t Cain’s punishment death (Genesis 4:14)?
How did Cain die? What happened to Cain?
Why did people in Genesis live such long lives?
Who was the oldest man in the Bible?
Why did Lamech think Noah would bring comfort (Genesis 5:29)?
Who are the sons of God and daughters of men in Genesis 6:1-4?
What is the definition of antediluvian?
What was it like in the days of Noah?
Why did God send the flood when He knew sin would continue after the flood?
Why did God also destroy animals in the Flood (Genesis 6-8)?
Were fish and sea creatures also destroyed during the Flood (Genesis 6-8)?
Had it ever rained before the Flood in Noah’s day?
Did the Bible copy the Flood account from other myths and legends?
How long did it take Noah to build the ark? How long was Noah on the ark?
Why did Noah release a raven? Why did he later release a dove (Genesis 8)?
How did Noah fit all the animals on the ark?
What made some animals clean and others unclean (Genesis 7)?
Would the discovery of Noah’s Ark be important?
Why did God prohibit eating meat with blood in it (Genesis 9:4)?
Why did God mandate capital punishment for murder (Genesis 9:6)?
Why did Noah get drunk after the flood?
Why did Noah curse Ham / Canaan?
What does it mean to uncover nakedness in the Bible?
Who were the sons of Noah, and what happened to them and their descendants?
In what way was the earth divided in Peleg’s time?
What happened at the Tower of Babel?
What is the biblical account of Shem, Ham, and Japheth?
Who was Chedorlaomer / Kedorlaomer?
Why was a burial place so important in the Bible?
What was Abraham’s religion before God called him?
What is the blessing of Abraham?
Why was Abraham promised land that belonged to others (Genesis 12)?
What is the story of Abraham and Lot?
Why did God punish Pharaoh for Abram’s lie (Genesis 12:17)?
How many wives did Abraham have?
How many sons did Abraham have?
What is the Abrahamic Covenant?
How long did Abraham and Sarah have to wait for Isaac?
What was a blood covenant (Genesis 15:9-21)?
Why did God send the Israelites to Egypt for 400 years (Genesis 15:13)?
What is the land that God promised to Israel?
Who were the three men who visited Abraham in Genesis 18?
Why did Abraham bargain with God in regard to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18)?
What is the significance of a city gate in the Bible?
What was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah?
Why was Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt?
What were Admah and Zeboiim in the Bible?
What was the significance of weaning a child in the Bible (Genesis 21:8)?
What is the story of Sarah and Hagar?
Why did Abraham banish Ishmael (Genesis 21:14)?
Who are the descendants of Ishmael?
Why did oaths involve putting a hand under someone’s thigh (Genesis 24:9)?
Why did God command Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?
How old was Isaac when Abraham almost sacrificed him?
What is the significance of the cave of Machpelah?
Why is Jacob called Jacob and Israel alternately in the book of Genesis?
What was the story of Jacob and Esau?
Why was a father’s blessing so highly valued in the Old Testament?
What is the difference between a blessing and a birthright (Genesis 25)?
What is the significance of Peniel in the Bible?
How could Jacob not notice he married Leah instead of Rachel?
What is the story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel?
What was the purpose of a dowry (Genesis 31:15)?
What is the birth order of Jacob’s thirteen children?
Why did people keep family idols in the Bible?
What is the meaning of Jacob wrestling with God?
What are the mandrakes mentioned in the Bible?
Why did Jacob give Joseph a coat of many colors?
What is the significance of a scarlet thread?
What is the story of Joseph and his brothers?
What is the story of Joseph and Potiphar?
What can we learn from the account of Potiphar’s wife?
How long was Joseph in prison?
Who were the priests of On? Was Joseph wrong to marry the daughter of a pagan priest (Genesis 41)?
Was Joseph the same person as Imhotep in Egyptian history?
Why did Pharaoh give Joseph so much power?
What is the meaning of Zaphenath-Paneah in Genesis 41:45?
What kind of divination did Joseph do in Genesis 44:5, 15?
What are the twelve tribes of Israel?
Were Jacob’s prophecies about his sons fulfilled?
Who/what is the Lion of the tribe of Judah?
What does it mean that the scepter will not depart from Judah (Genesis 49:10)?
Next: Exodus
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