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You are here: Home / 101Study Help / Introductions / Pentateuch Introduction

Pentateuch Introduction

July 6, 2020 by Krisan Marotta

The Pentateuch | Wednesdayintheword.com

The first five books of the Old Testament — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy — are collectively been known as the Pentateuch. The Jews usually call the Pentateuch the law or the Torah.

The name comes from two Greek words Penta “five” and teuchos meaning “box,” “jar,” or “scroll.” Originally the word was used as an adjective meaning “a five-scrolled (book).”

It was originally one continuous book divided into five sections. The English titles of the five separate books are taken from the early Greek translation known as the Septuagint.

Although the author is not named, a long tradition recognizes Moses as the author.


Pentateuch at a glance

Three different charts that summarize the Pentateuch.

GenesisPrologue
ExodusLeaving Egypt; Building the Tabernacle
LeviticusThe Tabernacle service
NumbersDedicating the tabernacle; preparing to enter the land
DeuteronomyEpilogue

Above summary from Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord by L. Michael Morales, page 25.


BookKey ThemeNationPeopleGod’s CharacterGod’s RoleGod’s Command
GenesisBeginnings
Ruin
ChosenPreparedPowerful
Sovereign
CreatorLet There Be
ExodusRedemptionDeliveredRedeemedMercifulDelivererLet My People Go
LeviticusWorshipSet ApartTaughtHolySanctifierBe Holy
NumbersWanderingDirectedTestedJustSustainerGo In
DeuteronomyCovenantMade ReadyRetaughtLovingRewardedObey
Source: Talk Thru the Bible

GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomy
Nation
of Israel
ORIGINSDELIVERANCELIFETESTINGREMINDERS
TheocracyBornEstablishedEstablishedTestedPrepared
LegalCovenant AmplifiedLaws
Prescribed
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Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Pentateuch

  • American Tract Society: Pentateuch
  • Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology:
  • Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Pentateuch
  • Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Pentateuch
  • Fausset Bible Dictionary: Pentateuch
  • Holman Bible Dictionary: Pentateuch
  • Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Pentateuch
  • Smith Bible Dictionary: Pentateuch
  • Watson’s Theological Dictionary: Pentateuch
  • International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Pentateuch
  • Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia: Pentateuch
  • The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Pentateuch
  • David Malick (Bible.org): Introduction to the Pentateuch

Moses

  • American Tract Society: Moses
  • Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Moses
  • Baker Evangelical Dictionary: Moses
  • Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Moses 
  • Fausset Bible Dictionary: Moses
  • Holman Bible Dictionary: Moses 
  • Hitchcock Bible Names: Moses
  • Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Moses
  • Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT:  Moses
  • Dictionary of Early Christian Biography: Moses
  • Whyte’s Bible Characters: Moses
  • Wilson’s Bible Types: Moses
  • Watson’s Theological Dictionary: Moses
  • International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Moses
  • Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia: Moses
  • The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Moses

Law of Moses

  • Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Law of Moses
  • Holman Bible Dictionary: Law of Moses
  • Smith Bible Dictionary: Law of Moses
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Resources by book

  • Introduction to the Old Testament
  • Genesis
  • Exodus
  • Leviticus
  • Numbers
  • Deuteronomy
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Series: Bible Study 101

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Photo by Taylor Wilcox on Unsplash

(This article has been read 537 times plus 8 today.)

Related posts:

  1. Who were the Pharisees?
  2. 01 Habakkuk Introduction
  3. 01 1Peter Introduction: Meet the Author
  4. 01 Gospel of Mark Introduction
  5. 01 Philippians 1:1-8 Introduction

Filed Under: Introductions Tagged With: Pentateuch

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