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46 Books Of Old Testament

The Bible can be an amazing tool for learning about God and his work on Earth. But the Bible was originally written in Ancient Hebrew with lots of information left out. This led to lots of confusion when it was translated into other languages, such as English.

This initial verse divided into chapters that we see in our Bibles today was originally created in the year 1555, according to the Gregorian calendar. The Latin Vulgate edition featured these divisions as part of its contents.

In order to clear up confusion, a committee of scholars was formed in 1926, who set out to release a translation that was “as literal as possible” while maintaining “the dignity of style and language.” Started in 1950, this translation was completed in 1972 and is known as the Revised Standard Version (RSV).

The Bible is a library of 66 books, written over many hundreds of years by over forty authors. Many people are familiar with it’s well-known stories: Moses and the Ten Commandments, Jesus’ birth, Paul’s letters, etc. but there’s far more to the Bible than that. It’s a book full of wisdom and insight into God’s nature and His plan for humanity. It is both informative and entertaining; at various points, it makes you cry, laugh, cringe, think, and celebrate.

The list of the 46 books of the Old Testament is the most agreed-upon and accepted list of books. The Jewish Bible is constantly referred to as the Tanakh, which is an acronym for the three parts: Torah (five books), Nevi’im (prophets), and Ketuvim (writings).

46 Books Of Old Testament

The Old Testament is the first part of the Christian Bible. It contains 46 books, or scrolls, written by many different authors over a period of about 1500 years.

The Old Testament is a collection of books written by ancient authors in the Hebrew language. In Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christianity, the Old Testament is one part of the Christian Bible—a collection of books inspired by God and written by men under his inspiration. In Judaism, it is considered to be a single volume that contains all parts of the Hebrew Bible. All Christians believe that all these books are part of the Old Testament. Jews believe that only those parts that were written after Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem in 458 BCE are included in the canon.

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms(1-2), Proverbs(1-3), Ecclesiastes(1-6), Song of Solomon(1-8), Isaiah(1-39), Jeremiah(1-52), Lamentations(1-4), Ezekiel(1-48), Daniel

The 46 books of the Old Testament are:

Torah (Pentateuch) – 5 Books
  • Genesis

  • Exodus

  • Leviticus

  • Numbers

  • Deuteronomy



  • Historical Books – 12 Books


    1. Joshua

    2. Judges

    3. Ruth

    4. 1 Samuel

    5. 2 Samuel

    6. 1 Kings

    7. 2 Kings

    8. 1 Chronicles

    9. 2 Chronicles

    10. Ezra

    11. Nehemiah

    12. Esther



    Wisdom Books – 5 Books


    1. Job

    2. Psalms

    3. Proverbs

    4. Ecclesiastes

    5. Song of Solomon



    Major Prophets – 5 Books


    1. Isaiah

    2. Jeremiah

    3. Lamentations

    4. Ezekiel

    5. Daniel



    Minor Prophets – 12 Books


    1. Hosea

    2. Joel

    3. Amos

    4. Obadiah

    5. Jonah

    6. Micah

    7. Nahum

    8. Habakkuk

    9. Zephaniah

    10. Haggai

    11. Zechariah

    12. Malachi


    These 46 books make up the Old Testament, providing a rich tapestry of history, wisdom, and prophecy for readers to explore and learn from.

    Old Testament Chapters in Order

    For those who adhere to the Christian religion, the books of the Bible are significant because they constitute a religious canon or a collection of scriptures. Both the Old Testament and the Hebrew Scriptures cover a massive amount of time in human history, beginning with what some people consider to be the beginning of the creation of man and ending with the trials that the Jews endured at the hands of their adversaries.

    Although the Old Testament of the Bible is comprised of 39 books, the Apocrypha, which are extra works, are included in the Bibles of the Catholic and Orthodox religions, increasing the total number of books to 46. Over the course of more than a thousand years, these works in their entirety were written.

    Over the course of millennia, scholars and theologians have analyzed and discussed these books in an effort to discover the hidden wisdom that they contain. One can gain a more profound comprehension of the most sacred scripture in Christianity by gaining a grasp of how all 46 books are connected to one another.

    (Old Testament)

    • Genesis – 50
    • Exodus – 40
    • Leviticus – 27
    • Numbers – 36
    • Deuteronomy – 34
    • Joshua – 24
    • Judges – 21
    • Ruth – 4
    • 1 Samuel – 31
    • 2 Samuel – 24
    • 1 Kings – 22
    • 2 Kings – 25
    • 1 Chronicles – 29
    • 2 Chronicles – 36
    • Ezra – 10
    • Nehemiah – 13
    • Esther – 10
    • Job – 42
    • Psalms – 150
    • Proverbs – 31
    • Ecclesiastes – 12
    • Song of Solomon – 8
    • Isaiah – 66
    • Jeremiah – 52
    • Lamentations – 5
    • Ezekiel – 48
    • Daniel – 12
    • Hosea – 14
    • Joel – 3
    • Amos – 9
    • Obadiah – 1
    • Jonah – 4
    • Micah – 7
    • Nahum – 3
    • Habakkuk – 3
    • Zephaniah – 3
    • Haggai – 2
    • Zechariah – 14
    • Malachi – 4
    Old Testament Chapters And Verses - Summary

    66 Books Of The Bible List

    Old Testament

    A collection of divinely inspired books written between 1450 B.C. and 430 B.C., the Old Testament is a historical record of God’s people, laws, sayings and promises that function as a model for moral living and conduct.

    1. Genesis

    Moses
    1450-1410 B.C.
    Narrative

    Meaning “the beginning or origin of something”, Genesis is the first book of the Bible, recording Creation, the fall of man and the early years of the nation of Israel.

    2. Exodus

    Moses
    1450-1410 B.C.
    Narrative

    God appoints Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan, establishing a special relationship with them on the way to Mount Sinai.

    3. Leviticus

    Moses
    1445-1444 B.C.
    Law

    God gives Israel rules to live by and instructions to present themselves holy before Him.

    4. Numbers

    Moses
    1450-1410 B.C.
    Narrative

    A sequel to Exodus, Numbers takes its name from two censuses (or “numberings”) of the people of Israel, following their journey through the wilderness for forty years.

    5. Deuteronomy

    Moses
    1407-1406 B.C.
    Narrative

    A farewell speech from Moses to the people of Israel shortly before his death, Deuteronomy recaps the promises of God and provides instructions to obey Him in the Promised Land.

    6. Joshua

    Joshua & possibly Phinehas
    1405-1383 B.C.
    Narrative

    A book of conquest, Joshua details the Israelites’ invasion and eventual occupation of the Promised Land through faith and action.

    7. Judges

    Probably Samuel
    1086-1004 B.C.
    Narrative

    Israel enters a cycle of sin, suffering defeat and oppression, only to cry out to God for deliverance, who sends leaders (called “judges”) to help them.

    8. Ruth

    Unknown
    1375-1050 B.C.
    Narrative

    Occurring during some of the darkest days in Israel’s history, Ruth follows the journey of two widows who lose everything, but find hope through God.

    9. 1 Samuel

    Samuel, Nathan & Gad
    930 B.C.
    Narrative

    Israel rejects God’s chosen leader, Samuel (a judge), and demands a king despite God’s warnings.

    10. 2 Samuel

    Unknown
    930 B.C.
    Narrative

    The life and career of King David, who subdues Israel’s enemies and doubles the size of the kingdom, but is not without failings.

    11. 1 Kings

    Unknown
    560-538 B.C.
    Narrative

    Israel enjoys a period of peace and prosperity under King Solomon, but later splits in two after Rehoboam (his son) takes the throne.

    12. 2 Kings

    Unknown
    560-538 B.C.
    Narrative

    The kings of Israel and Judah ignore God and His prophets, eventually falling captive to invading nations and are exiled to foreign lands.

    13. 1 Chronicles

    Ezra
    430 B.C.
    Narrative

    Written to encourage the people returning from Babylonian exile, 1 Chronicles recaps the history and genealogy of Israel, emphasising the spiritual significance of David and future Messianic King.

    14. 2 Chronicles

    Ezra
    430 B.C.
    Narrative

    A continuation of the previous book, 2 Chronicles focuses on the kings of Israel, from King Solomon and the building of the temple, to subsequent division, exile and return from captivity.

    15. Ezra

    Ezra
    450 B.C.
    Narrative

    Fulfilling the promises of God, the Israelites return from exile after seventy years and rebuild the temple.

    16. Nehemiah

    Nehemiah
    445-432 B.C.
    Narrative

    Despite local opposition, Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem from exile, rallying the people to rebuild the city walls and gates in just fifty-two days.

    17. Esther

    Unknown
    483-471 B.C.
    Narrative

    Occurring during the exile of Israel, Esther is a Jewish queen to a Persian king, who intercedes on behalf of her people to save them from a genocidal plot.

    18. Job

    Possibly Job
    2100-1800 B.C.
    Poetry

    A righteous man named Job loses everything and suffers greatly, but remains faithful to God and is blessed abundantly.

    19. Psalms

    David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Heman, Ethan & Moses
    1440-586 B.C.
    Poetry

    A collection of 150 songs of worship and praise to God that includes prophecies of the coming Messiah.

    20. Proverbs

    Solomon, Agur & Lemuel
    970-930 B.C.
    Wisdom Literature

    The book of Proverbs contains God’s divine wisdom, covering a variety of topics for every area of life.

    21. Ecclesiastes

    Solomon
    935 B.C.
    Wisdom Literature

    Solomon’s analysis of life, which is meaningless and empty without God.

    22. Song of Songs

    Solomon
    970-930 B.C.
    Poetry

    A passionate yet gentle song of love between a husband and wife, symbolising God’s relationship with us.

    23. Isaiah

    Isaiah
    700-681 B.C.
    Prophecy

    The first book of the Major Prophets, Isaiah contains warnings of God’s coming judgement and detailed prophecies about the Messiah.

    24. Jeremiah

    Jeremiah
    627-586 B.C.
    Prophecy

    Known as the weeping prophet, Jeremiah passionately pleads with the people to repent before the coming Babylonian captivity, but is ignored.

    25. Lamentations

    Jeremiah
    586 B.C.
    Poetry & Prophecy

    Lamentations is a book of sadness that reflects on the destruction of Jerusalem and captivity of Israel.

    26. Ezekiel

    Ezekiel
    571 B.C.
    Prophecy

    Ezekiel is called by God to preach a message of judgement and deliverance for the captives living in Babylon.

    27. Daniel

    Daniel
    535 B.C.
    Narrative & Prophecy

    Like Ezekiel, Daniel has been taken to Babylon in captivity and receives prophetic visions while serving in the courts of the king.

    28. Hosea

    Hosea
    715 B.C.
    Prophecy

    The first book of the Minor Prophets, Hosea is a tragic love story that demonstrates God’s unending love for His people despite their unfaithfulness.

    29. Joel

    Joel
    835-796 B.C.
    Prophecy

    Joel warns the people to repent and turn back to God before judgement falls upon them.

    30. Amos

    Amos
    760-750 B.C.
    Prophecy

    A shepherd named Amos prophesies to the northern kingdom which has become self-sufficient and indifferent towards God during a time of great prosperity.

    31. Obadiah

    Obadiah
    627-586 B.C.
    Prophecy

    Only one chapter, Obadiah demonstrates God’s ongoing protection of His people and coming judgement on the nation of Edom, which was indifferent during the Babylonian plunder of Jerusalem.

    32. Jonah

    Jonah
    785-760 B.C.
    Narrative

    A reluctant prophet, Jonah is sent by God to Nineveh, but refuses and learns the futility of it in the belly of a giant fish.

    33. Micah

    Micah
    742-687 B.C.
    Prophecy

    Micah warns of the coming judgement that will eventually exile the nation, and includes some of the clearest predictions of the Messiah.

    34. Nahum

    Nahum
    663-654 B.C.
    Prophecy

    Nahum is the second prophet sent to Nineveh (Jonah being the first) to preach God’s judgement on the Assyrian city and empire.

    35. Habakkuk

    Habakkuk
    612-589 B.C.
    Prophecy

    God answers Habakkuk’s complaints of wickedness and injustice in the land.

    36. Zephaniah

    Zephaniah
    640-621 B.C.
    Prophecy

    Written shortly before the fall of Judah (Southern Kingdom of Israel) to Babylonian conquest, Zephaniah warns the people and the surrounding nations that the day of the Lord is near.

    37. Haggai

    Haggai
    520 B.C.
    Prophecy

    Written after the Babylonian exile, work to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem had halted due to opposition and spiritual apathy, so Haggai motivates the people to finish.

    38. Zechariah

    Zechariah
    520-480 B.C.
    Prophecy

    Zechariah ministered with Haggai after the 70-year exile, encouraging the remnant to return to God.

    39. Malachi

    Malachi
    430 B.C.
    Prophecy

    The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi is a beautiful expression of God’s love for a nation that continues to disobey Him.

    New Testament

    The New Testament is a collection of twenty-seven sacred books that centre on the life, death, resurrection and teachings of Jesus Christ.

    40. Matthew

    Matthew (Levi)
    A.D. 60-65
    Gospel

    The first book of the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew was primarily written for the Jews and references many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled by Jesus.

    41. Mark

    John Mark
    A.D. 55-65
    Gospel

    Mark is the shortest Gospel, which emphasises Jesus’ servanthood and miracles.

    42. Luke

    Luke
    A.D. 60
    Gospel

    Unlike the other Gospel writers, Luke was a Gentile who wrote an account of Jesus’ life for those outside the Jewish faith.

    43. John

    John
    A.D. 85-90
    Gospel

    The last of the four Gospels, John is an eyewitness account of Jesus’ ministry that focuses on the deeper meaning of events surrounding Christ’s life, death and resurrection.

    44. Acts

    Luke
    A.D. 63-70
    History

    A historical narrative of the early church which was empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the Good News.

    45. Romans

    Paul
    A.D. 70
    Epistle

    An epistle to the believers in Rome (hence the name) where Paul planned to visit. Romans sets a theological foundation for faith through Jesus.

    46. 1 Corinthians

    Paul
    A.D. 55
    Epistle

    The first of two letters from Paul to the believers in Corinth, 1 Corinthians was written in response to divisions and problems facing the local church.

    47. 2 Corinthians

    Paul
    A.D. 55-57
    Epistle

    The second and final letter from Paul to the church in Corinth, 2 Corinthians deals with persisting problems facing the believers there and warns against false teachers.

    48. Galatians

    Paul
    A.D. 49
    Epistle

    A letter from Paul to the church in Galatia, the book is a foundational study that addresses the problem of Jewish legalism and the fullness of salvation found in Jesus.

    49. Ephesians

    Paul
    A.D. 60
    Epistle

    Written to the church in Ephesus during Paul’s first imprisonment, Ephesians covers a variety of subjects including the gift of grace, love and how to walk as fruitful followers of Jesus.

    50. Philippians

    Paul
    A.D. 61
    Epistle

    An encouraging letter from Paul to the church in Philippi explaining the attitude and outlook believers must have to experience the joy of the Lord.

    51. Colossians

    Paul
    A.D. 60
    Epistle

    In this letter, Paul refutes certain false teachings that are impeding the church in Colossae, reaffirming the deity and superiority of Jesus Christ.

    52. 1 Thessalonians

    Paul
    A.D. 51
    Epistle

    The first of two letters to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul writes to encourage and strengthen the church, emphasising the principles of holy living through faith, hope and love.

    53. 2 Thessalonians

    Paul
    A.D. 51
    Epistle

    A follow-up letter of encouragement to the persecuted church of Thessalonica, Paul reaffirms Jesus’ second coming and matters preceding that event.

    54. 1 Timothy

    Paul
    A.D. 54
    Epistle

    A letter from Paul to a young pastor named Timothy, offering guidance and important principles for church leadership that still apply today.

    55. 2 Timothy

    Paul
    A.D. 67
    Epistle

    The second of two letters to Timothy, the book is probably Paul’s final chronological epistle, urging his protégé to remain strong and faithful to Jesus.

    56. Titus

    Paul
    A.D. 65
    Epistle

    A letter of guidance from Paul to Titus to address challenges facing his leadership of the churches on the island of Crete.

    57. Philemon

    Paul
    A.D. 60
    Epistle

    Consisting of only one chapter, the book is a short but profound letter from Paul to Philemon requesting forgiveness for a runaway slave named Onesimus.

    58. Hebrews

    Unknown
    A.D. 68
    Epistle

    A letter urging Jewish believers not to return to their former traditions, summarising key Biblical characters and events to emphasise the hope of salvation through Jesus.

    59. James

    James (Jesus’ half-brother)
    A.D. 49
    Epistle

    A hard-hitting letter from James, encouraging believers to have a genuine faith with an emphasis on results.

    60. 1 Peter

    Peter
    A.D. 65
    Epistle

    The focus of Peter’s first letter is persecution, sharing inspiring words of comfort for Christians living as an oppressed minority in the Roman Empire.

    61. 2 Peter

    Peter
    A.D. 66
    Epistle

    Peter’s second letter warns against false teachers and reaffirms important spiritual truths.

    62. 1 John

    John
    A.D. 90-95
    Epistle

    Written to oppose heretical doctrine, the first letter from John echoes the Gospel, encouraging Christians to love one another and keep Jesus’ commands.

    63. 2 John

    John
    A.D. 90-95
    Epistle

    A brief letter from John to “the chosen lady”, urging believers to love one another and to be on guard against false teachings.

    64. 3 John

    John
    A.D. 90-95
    Epistle

    The shortest book in the Bible, 3 John commends Gaius and Demetruis for their faithful service.

    65. Jude

    Jude (Jesus’ half-brother)
    A.D. 65
    Epistle

    A letter from Jude to address false teachings and urge Christians to defend the truth of the Good News.

    66. Revelation

    John
    A.D. 95
    Apocalyptic

    Written during John’s imprisonment on the island of Patmos, Revelation is an apocalyptic book that contains prophetic visions of the Spiritual Realms and Jesus’ return to Earth.

    how many books in the new testament

    27 books

    This is a list of the 27 books of the New Testament, ordered canonically according to most Christian traditions.

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