Genesis

The book of beginnings: creation, the first families, and the patriarchs.

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All chapters of Genesis

1. Genesis 1 — Creation in six daysGod creates the heavens and the earth: light, sky, seas and land, plants, heavenly lights, fish and birds, animals, and humanity in his image.
2. Genesis 2 — The seventh day and EdenGod rests on the seventh day; he forms the man from dust, plants the garden in Eden, and forms the woman from the man's rib.
3. Genesis 3 — The fallThe serpent deceives the woman; both eat from the tree of knowledge; they are clothed with garments of skin and sent out of the garden.
4. Genesis 4 — Cain and AbelCain kills his brother Abel in the field; he receives a mark and settles in the land of Nod; Seth is born.
5. Genesis 5 — The generations of AdamThe genealogy from Adam to Noah. Methuselah lives 969 years, the longest recorded life; Enoch “walked with God, and he was not.”
6. Genesis 6 — The flood announcedWickedness grows on the earth; Noah finds favor and receives instructions to build an ark 300 cubits long.
7. Genesis 7 — The flood beginsNoah enters the ark with his family and the animals; it rains forty days and forty nights and the waters cover the highest mountains.
8. Genesis 8 — The waters recedeThe ark rests on the mountains of Ararat; Noah sends out a raven and a dove; the dove returns with an olive leaf.
9. Genesis 9 — The rainbow covenantGod blesses Noah and his sons and sets the rainbow as the sign of the covenant never again to destroy the earth with a flood.
10. Genesis 10 — The table of nationsThe descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth and the nations that came from them after the flood.
11. Genesis 11 — The tower of BabelIn Shinar humanity builds a tower; language is confused and the peoples scatter. The genealogy of Shem down to Abram.
12. Genesis 12 — The call of AbramAbram leaves Haran at 75 with the promise of becoming a great nation; he goes down to Egypt during a famine.
13. Genesis 13 — Abram and Lot separateTheir possessions are too great to live together; Lot chooses the Jordan plain and Abram settles in Canaan.
14. Genesis 14 — Abram rescues LotFour kings capture Lot; Abram rescues him with 318 men and is met by Melchizedek, king of Salem, with bread and wine.
15. Genesis 15 — The covenant with AbramGod promises Abram offspring like the stars of heaven and seals the covenant by passing between the divided animals.
16. Genesis 16 — Hagar and IshmaelSarai gives her servant Hagar to Abram; Hagar flees to the wilderness and by a well receives the promise about her son Ishmael.
17. Genesis 17 — New names and the covenant signAbram (age 99) is renamed Abraham and Sarai becomes Sarah; circumcision is established as the sign of the covenant.
18. Genesis 18 — The three visitorsThree men visit Abraham by the oaks of Mamre; Sarah laughs on hearing she will have a son; Abraham pleads for Sodom.
19. Genesis 19 — Sodom and GomorrahLot and his daughters escape the destruction of the cities; Lot's wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt.
20. Genesis 20 — Abraham and AbimelechIn Gerar, Abraham says Sarah is his sister; King Abimelech, warned in a dream, returns her.
21. Genesis 21 — The birth of IsaacIsaac is born when Abraham is 100; Hagar and Ishmael are sent into the wilderness, where God shows them a well.
22. Genesis 22 — The test of AbrahamAbraham is called to offer Isaac at Moriah; an angel stops him and a ram caught in a thicket is offered instead.
23. Genesis 23 — The death of SarahSarah dies at 127; Abraham buys the cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite for 400 shekels of silver as a burial place.
24. Genesis 24 — A wife for IsaacAbraham's servant travels to Mesopotamia; Rebekah waters him and his camels at the well and agrees to marry Isaac.
25. Genesis 25 — Esau and JacobAbraham dies at 175. The twins are born: Esau, red and hairy, and Jacob, grasping his heel. Esau sells his birthright for a stew.
26. Genesis 26 — Isaac in GerarIsaac sows and reaps a hundredfold; he reopens his father's wells and makes a covenant with Abimelech at Beersheba.
27. Genesis 27 — The stolen blessingWith goatskins on his hands, Jacob presents himself as Esau to his blind father and receives the firstborn's blessing.
28. Genesis 28 — The stairway at BethelOn the way to Haran, Jacob dreams of a stairway reaching heaven; he names the place Bethel and vows to give a tenth.
29. Genesis 29 — Jacob, Leah, and RachelJacob works seven years for Rachel but is given Leah; he works seven more for Rachel. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah are born.
30. Genesis 30 — Jacob's sonsMore sons are born to Bilhah, Zilpah, Leah, and Rachel (Joseph). Jacob prospers with Laban's flocks.
31. Genesis 31 — Jacob flees from LabanAfter twenty years, Jacob leaves in secret; Laban overtakes him in Gilead and they raise a heap of stones as a witness of their covenant.
32. Genesis 32 — The struggle at PenielJacob sends gifts to Esau and wrestles all night with a man by the Jabbok; he receives the name “Israel.”
33. Genesis 33 — The reunion with EsauEsau runs to meet Jacob, embraces him, and they weep together; Jacob arrives safely at Shechem and buys a plot of land.
34. Genesis 34 — Dinah and ShechemThe incident of Dinah at Shechem; Simeon and Levi attack the city, and Jacob rebukes their violence.
35. Genesis 35 — Back to BethelJacob returns to Bethel and builds an altar; Benjamin is born and Rachel dies near Ephrath; Isaac dies at 180.
36. Genesis 36 — The generations of EsauThe descendants of Esau (Edom) and the chiefs who lived in the hill country of Seir.
37. Genesis 37 — Joseph's dreamsJoseph (age 17) dreams of sheaves and stars bowing to him; his brothers sell him for twenty pieces of silver.
38. Genesis 38 — Judah and TamarThe story of Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar; the twins Perez and Zerah are born.
39. Genesis 39 — Joseph in Potiphar's houseJoseph prospers as Potiphar's steward; falsely accused by his master's wife, he is put in prison, where he also prospers.
40. Genesis 40 — The cupbearer and the bakerIn prison, Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's cupbearer (restored in three days) and baker.
41. Genesis 41 — Pharaoh's dreamsJoseph interprets the dreams of the seven cows and seven heads of grain: seven years of plenty and seven of famine; he is set over all Egypt at age 30.
42. Genesis 42 — The brothers travel to EgyptTen brothers go down to buy grain and do not recognize Joseph; Simeon is kept as a guarantee until they bring Benjamin.
43. Genesis 43 — The second journeyThe brothers return with Benjamin; Joseph hosts them at his house and Benjamin's portion is five times larger.
44. Genesis 44 — The silver cupJoseph's cup is found in Benjamin's sack; Judah offers himself as a slave in his brother's place.
45. Genesis 45 — Joseph reveals himself“I am Joseph! Does my father still live?” — Joseph makes himself known to his brothers and sends them to bring Jacob to Egypt.
46. Genesis 46 — Jacob goes down to EgyptSeventy people of Jacob's household arrive in Egypt; Joseph meets his father in Goshen.
47. Genesis 47 — The family in GoshenJacob blesses Pharaoh; the family settles in Goshen; Joseph manages Egypt through the famine.
48. Genesis 48 — Ephraim and ManassehJacob blesses Joseph's two sons, crossing his hands to set the younger, Ephraim, before Manasseh.
49. Genesis 49 — Jacob blesses his sonsJacob speaks over each of his twelve sons (to Judah: the scepter; to Joseph: a fruitful bough) and dies at 147.
50. Genesis 50 — The death of JosephJacob is buried at Machpelah. Joseph reassures his brothers: “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” He dies at 110.