And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 12:3 KJV
About the Book of Genesis
Genesis is the book of beginnings. It opens with the creation of the heavens and the earth, follows the fall of Adam and Eve, the flood under Noah, and the scattering at Babel, then narrows to one family: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jacob's twelve sons. It closes with Joseph rising to power in Egypt and his family settling there. As the first book of the Bible, it sets up the questions the rest of Scripture answers: who God is, why the world is broken, and how a people is chosen to bless the nations.
- Testament: Old Testament
- Genre: Law / Narrative
- Chapters: 50
- Verses: 1,533
Who Wrote Genesis, and When?
Author: Traditionally attributed to Moses.
When it was written: Composed over a long period; traditionally dated to the 15th-13th centuries BC, with scholars proposing later editing.
Main Themes in Genesis
- Creation and its goodness
- God's covenant promises
- Family conflict and reconciliation
A Key Verse: Genesis 12:3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
God's promise to Abraham that all families of the earth would be blessed is the thread the rest of the Bible keeps pulling.
Reading Tip
Chapters 1-11 cover the whole world in broad strokes, while chapters 12-50 slow down to follow single households, so the pace changes sharply after Babel. Use the randomizer above to land on a verse in Genesis, then press Show context to read the verses around it.
Browse all 66 books on the Bible books page, or get a verse from the whole Bible with the main Bible verse randomizer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chapters and verses are in Genesis?
Genesis has 50 chapters and 1,533 verses in the King James Version.
Who wrote Genesis?
Author: Traditionally attributed to Moses. When it was written: Composed over a long period; traditionally dated to the 15th-13th centuries BC, with scholars proposing later editing.
What is Genesis about?
Genesis is the book of beginnings. It opens with the creation of the heavens and the earth, follows the fall of Adam and Eve, the flood under Noah, and the scattering at Babel, then narrows to one family: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jacob's twelve sons. It closes with Joseph rising to power in Egypt and his family settling there. As the first book of the Bible, it sets up the questions the rest of Scripture answers: who God is, why the world is broken, and how a people is chosen to bless the nations.
Can I get a random verse from only Genesis?
Yes. This page picks a random verse from Genesis only. Every one of its 1,533 verses has an equal chance.