How to Read the Old Testament for Beginners (Without Getting Lost)
Matt · April 3, 2026
The Old Testament can feel overwhelming — 39 books, thousands of years of history, laws that seem irrelevant, and genealogies that go on forever. But once you understand how it's organized and what it's trying to do, it becomes one of the most fascinating things you'll ever read.
Understanding How the Old Testament Is Organized
Most people open their Bible and start at Genesis, which is a great instinct. But it helps to know upfront that the Old Testament isn't organized in chronological order. It's grouped by type of writing:
Law (Torah): Genesis through Deuteronomy — the foundation. Creation, the fall, the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), Israel's slavery in Egypt and liberation, and the laws God gave Moses. This section establishes who God is, who humans are, and the covenant relationship between them.
History: Joshua through Esther — Israel enters the Promised Land, the era of judges, the rise and fall of kings, and eventually exile. It's essentially a long story about what happens when people follow God vs. when they don't.
Poetry & Wisdom: Job through Song of Solomon — some of the most beautiful writing in human history. Psalms is the prayer and worship book of Israel. Proverbs is practical wisdom. Ecclesiastes wrestles with the meaning of life. These books are timeless.
Prophets: Isaiah through Malachi — voices God sent to call Israel back when they wandered. The major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel) are longer books. The minor prophets are shorter, but not less important. Many point forward to Jesus.
Tips for Getting Through the Old Testament
Don't skip the hard parts, but don't get stuck either. If you hit Leviticus and feel like quitting, you're not alone. Read it, understand its context (God giving instructions to a newly freed people learning how to worship), and keep moving. The goal of a first read-through is breadth, not depth.
Keep the big story in mind. The Old Testament is one long arc: God creates, humanity rebels, God pursues. Every book — even the legal ones — is a chapter in that story. When you hit a confusing passage, ask: where does this fit in the story?
Use a reading plan. This is the single most practical thing you can do. Without structure, it's easy to read Genesis enthusiastically, slow down in Exodus, and give up somewhere in Numbers. A structured plan like Bible In A Year breaks the reading into daily portions, mixes Old and New Testament readings together, and keeps you moving at a pace that's actually sustainable over 365 days.
Read a short introduction to each book. Many Bibles include brief book introductions. Read them. Knowing that Amos was a farmer speaking to wealthy merchants, or that Daniel was written during Babylonian exile, completely changes how you read those books.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I start reading the Old Testament?
Genesis is the natural starting point — it establishes foundational themes that echo throughout the entire Bible. If you've read Genesis before and want a different entry point, Psalms is excellent because it requires no historical context and speaks directly to everyday human experience.
Why does the Old Testament have so many laws that seem irrelevant today?
The laws in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy were given to a specific people (Israel) at a specific time, to set them apart and teach them how to live in relationship with God. Christians understand these laws as pointing toward Jesus, who fulfills the law. Reading them with that lens — as a shadow of something greater — makes them much more meaningful.
How long does it take to read the entire Old Testament?
The Old Testament is about 600,000 words. At an average reading pace, you can get through it in roughly 50–60 hours of reading time. Spread over a year with a daily plan, that's about 10–15 minutes per day for the Old Testament portions alone — very manageable alongside the New Testament.