Bible Book Summaries › Genesis
Genesis: Summary & Key Themes
The Book of Genesis at a glance, before you read it.
| Written by | Moses (traditional) |
|---|---|
| Written for | Israel |
| Type | Law |
| Chapters | 50 |
| Position | Book 1 of 66 · book 1 of the Old Testament |
Summary
Genesis tells of beginnings: creation, the fall, the flood and the tower of Babel, then God’s call to Abraham and the stories of Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, ending with Jacob’s family in Egypt.
Main themes
- creation
- God’s covenant promises
- God’s faithfulness through flawed people
Key verse
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.Genesis 1:1 (KJV)
How to read Genesis
Try one chapter a day: 50 days to finish. Ask three questions as you go: what did this mean to the first readers, what does it show about God, and what does it ask of me?
Next: Exodus