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Book of Genesis breakdown/Summary

Updated: Jan 30, 2021


Genesis chapter 1


Ge 1:1-2.

God creates heaven and earth;


Ge 1:3-5.

the light;


Ge 1:6-8.

the firmament;


Ge 1:9-13.

separates the dry land;


Ge 1:14-19.

forms the sun, moon, and stars;


Ge 1:20-23.

fishes and fowls;


Ge 1:24-25.

cattle, wild beasts, and creeping things;


Ge 1:26-28.

creates man in his own image, blesses him;


Ge 1:29-31.

grants the fruits of the earth for food.


Genesis chapter 2


Ge 2:1-3.

The first Sabbath.


Ge 2:4-7.

Further particulars concerning the manner of creation.


Ge 2:8-14.

The planting of the garden of Eden, and its situation;


Ge 2:15-17.

man is placed in it; and the tree of knowledge only forbidden.


Ge 2:18-20.

The animals are named by Adam.


Ge 2:21-25.

The making of woman, and the institution of marriage.


Genesis chapter 3


Ge 3:1-5.

The serpent deceives Eve.


Ge 3:6-7.

Both she and Adam transgress the divine command, and fall into sin and misery.


Ge 3:8-13.

God arraigns them.


Ge 3:14.

The serpent is cursed.


Ge 3:15.

The promised seed.


Ge 3:16-20.

The punishment of mankind.


Ge 3:21.

Their first clothing.


Ge 3:22-24.

Their expulsion from paradise.


Genesis chapter 4

Ge 4:1-7.

The birth, occupation, and offering of Cain and Abel.


Ge 4:8-10.

Cain murders his brother Abel.


Ge 4:11-16.

The curse of Cain.


Ge 4:17.

Has a son called Enoch, and builds a city, which he calls after his name.


Ge 4:18-24.

His descendants, with Lamech and his two wives.


Ge 4:25.

The birth of Seth,


Ge 4:26.

and Enos.


Genesis chapter 5


Ge 5:1-2.

Recapitulation of the creation of man.


Ge 5:3-21.

The genealogy, age, and death of the patriarchs from Adam to Noah.


Ge 5:22-24.

The godliness and translation of Enoch.


Ge 5:25-32.

The birth of Noah, etc.


Genesis chapter 6


Ge 6:1-7.

The wickedness of the world, which provoked God's wrath, and caused the flood.


Ge 6:8.

Noah finds grace.


Ge 6:9-13.

His generations, etc.


Ge 6:14-22.

The order, form, dimensions, and end of the ark.


Genesis chapter 7


Ge 7:1-16.

Noah, with his family, and the living creatures, enter the ark, and the flood begins.


Ge 7:17-20.

The increase and continuance of the flood for forty days.


Ge 7:21-23.

All flesh is destroyed by it.


Ge 7:24.

Its duration.


Genesis chapter 8


Ge 8:1-3.

God remembers Noah, and assuages the waters.


Ge 8:4-5.

The ark rests on Ararat.


Ge 8:6-12.

Noah sends forth a raven and then a dove.


Ge 8:13-19.

Noah, being commanded, goes forth from the ark.


Ge 8:20-22.

He builds an altar, and offers sacrifice, which God accepts, and promises to curse the earth no more.


Genesis chapter 9


Ge 9:1-3.

God blesses Noah and his sons, and grants them flesh for food.


Ge 9:4-7.

Blood and murder are forbidden.


Ge 9:8-17.

God's covenant, of which the rainbow was constituted a pledge.


Ge 9:18-19.

Noah's family replenish the world.


Ge 9:20.

Noah plants a vineyard.


Ge 9:21-24.

Is drunken, and mocked by his son.


Ge 9:25.

Curses Canaan.


Ge 9:26.

Blesses Shem.


Ge 9:27-29.

Prays for Japheth, and dies.


Genesis chapter 10


Ge 10:1.

The generations of Noah.


Ge 10:2-5.

Japheth.


Ge 10:6-7.

Ham.


Ge 10:8-20.

Nimrod the first monarch, and the descendants of Canaan.


Ge 10:21-32.

The sons of Shem.


Genesis chapter 11


Ge 11:1.

One language in the world.


Ge 11:2-4.

The building of Babel.


Ge 11:5-9.

It is interrupted by the confusion of tongues, and the builders dispersed.


Ge 11:10-26.

The generations of Shem.


Ge 11:27-30.

The generations of Terah, the father of Abram.


Ge 11:31-32.

Terah, with Abram and Lot, remove from Ur to Haran.


Genesis chapter 12


Ge 12:1-3.

God calls Abram, and blesses him with a promise of Christ.


Ge 12:4-5.

He departs with Lot from Haran, and comes to Canaan.


Ge 12:6.

He journeys through Canaan,


Ge 12:7-9.

which is promised to him in a vision.


Ge 12:10.

He is driven by famine into Egypt.


Ge 12:11-13.

Fear makes him feign his wife to be his sister.


Ge 12:14-17.

Pharaoh, having taken her from him, by plagues is compelled to restore her.


Ge 12:18-20.

He reproves Abram, whom he dismisses.


Genesis chapter 13


Ge 13:1-5.

Abram and Lot return with great riches out of Egypt.


Ge 13:6-7.

Strife arises between Abram's herdsmen and those of Lot.


Ge 13:8-9.

Abram meekly refers it to Lot to choose his part of the country,


Ge 13:10-13.

and Lot goes to Sodom.


Ge 13:14-17.

God renews the promise to Abram.


Ge 13:18.

He removes to Hebron, and there builds an altar.


Genesis chapter 14


Ge 14:1-11.

The battle of four kings against the king of Sodom and his allies.


Ge 14:12-13.

Lot is taken prisoner.


Ge 14:14-16.

Abram rescues him.


Ge 14:17-20.

Melchizedek blesses Abram at his return, who gives him tithes.


Ge 14:21-24.

The rest of the spoil, his partners having had their portions he restores to the king of Sodom.


Genesis chapter 15


Ge 15:1-3.

God encourages Abram, who complains for want of an heir.


Ge 15:4-5.

God promises him a son, and a multiplying of his seed.


Ge 15:6.

Abram is justified by faith.


Ge 15:7-21.

Canaan is promised again, and confirmed by a sign, and a vision, prophetic of the condition of his posterity till brought out of Egypt.


Genesis chapter 16


Ge 16:1-3.

Sarai, being barren, gives Hagar to Abram.


Ge 16:4-6.

Hagar, being afflicted for despising her mistress, runs away.


Ge 16:7-12.

An angel commands her to return and submit herself, promises her a numerous posterity, and shows their character and condition.


Ge 16:13-14.

Hagar names the place, and returns to Sarai.


Ge 16:15.

Ishmael is born.


Ge 16:16.

The age of Abram.


Genesis chapter 17


Ge 17:1-8.

God renews the covenant with Abram, and changes his name to Abraham, in token of a greater blessing.


Ge 17:9-14.

Circumcision is instituted.


Ge 17:15-16.

Sarai's name is changed to Sarah, and she is blessed.


Ge 17:17-22.

Isaac is promised, and the time of his birth fixed.


Ge 17:23-27.

Abraham and Ishmael are circumcised.


Genesis chapter 18


Ge 18:1-8.

The Lord appears to Abraham, who entertains angels.


Ge 18:9-15.

Sarah is reproved for laughing at the promise of a son.


Ge 18:16-22.

The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham.


Ge 18:23-33.

Abraham makes intercession for the inhabitants.


Genesis chapter 19


Ge 19:1-3.

Lot entertains two angels.


Ge 19:4-11.

The vicious Sodomites are smitten with blindness.


Ge 19:12-14.

Lot is warned, and in vain warns his sons-in-law.


Ge 19:15-23.

He is directed to flee with his family to the mountains, but obtains leave to go into Zoar.


Ge 19:24-25.

Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed.


Ge 19:26-28.

Lot's wife becomes a pillar of salt.


Ge 19:29-30.

Lot dwells in a cave.


Ge 19:31-38.

The incestuous origin of Moab and Ammon.


Genesis chapter 20


Ge 20:1.

Abraham sojourns at Gerar.


Ge 20:2.

Denies his wife, who is taken by Abimelech.


Ge 20:3-8.

Abimelech is reproved for her in a dream.


Ge 20:9-13.

He rebukes Abraham.


Ge 20:14-15.

Restores Sarah;


Ge 20:16.

and reproves her.


Ge 20:17-18.

Abimelech and his family are healed at Abraham's prayer.


Genesis chapter 21


Ge 21:1-5.

Isaac is born, and circumcised.


Ge 21:6-7.

Sarah's joy.


Ge 21:8.

Isaac is weaned.


Ge 21:9-14.

Hagar and Ishmael are cast forth.


Ge 21:15-16.

Hagar in distress.


Ge 21:17-22.

The angel relieves and comforts her.


Ge 21:23-34.

Abimelech's covenant with Abraham at Beer-sheba.


Genesis chapter 22


Ge 22:1-2.

Abraham is tempted to offer Isaac.


Ge 22:3-10.

He gives proof of his faith and obedience.


Ge 22:11-12.

The angel prevents him.


Ge 22:13.

Isaac is exchanged for a ram.


Ge 22:14.

The place is called Jehovah-jireh.


Ge 22:15-19.

Abraham is again blessed.


Ge 22:20-24.

The generations of Nahor unto Rebekah.


Genesis chapter 23


Ge 23:1-2.

The age and death of Sarah.


Ge 23:3-18.

The purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah;


Ge 23:19-20.

where Sarah is buried.


Genesis chapter 24


Ge 24:1-9.

Abraham swears his servant.


Ge 24:10-11.

The servant's journey.


Ge 24:12-13.

His prayer.


Ge 24:14.

His sign.


Ge 24:15-17.

Rebekah meets him;


Ge 24:18-21.

fulfils his sign;


Ge 24:22.

receives jewels;


Ge 24:23-24.

shows her kindred;


Ge 24:25.

and invites him home.


Ge 24:26-28.

The servant blesses God.


Ge 24:29-33.

Laban entertains him.


Ge 24:34-49.

The servant shows his message.


Ge 24:50-57.

Laban and Bethuel approve it.


Ge 24:58-61.

Rebekah consents to go, and departs.


Ge 24:62-67.

Isaac meets and marries her.


Genesis chapter 25


Ge 25:1-4.

The sons of Abraham by Keturah.


Ge 25:5-6.

The division of his goods.


Ge 25:7-10.

His age, death, and burial.


Ge 25:11.

God blesses Isaac.


Ge 25:12-16.

The generations of Ishmael.


Ge 25:17-18.

His age and death.


Ge 25:19-21.

Isaac prays for Rebekah, being barren.


Ge 25:22-23.

The children strive in her womb.


Ge 25:24-26.

The birth of Esau and Jacob.


Ge 25:27-28.

Their different characters and pursuits.


Ge 25:29-34.

Esau sells his birthright.


Genesis chapter 26


Ge 26:1-6.

Isaac, because of famine, sojourns in Gerar, and the Lord instructs and blesses him.


Ge 26:7-11.

He is reproved by Abimelech for denying his wife.


Ge 26:12-17.

He grows rich, and the Philistines envy his prosperity.


Ge 26:18-22.

He digs Esek, Sitnah, and Rehoboth.


Ge 26:23-33.

God appears to him at Beer-sheba, and blesses him; and Abimelech makes a covenant with him.


Ge 26:34-35.

Esau's wives.


Genesis chapter 27


Ge 27:1-5.

Isaac sends Esau for venison.


Ge 27:6-13.

Rebekah instructs Jacob to obtain the blessing.


Ge 27:14-29.

Jacob, feigning to be Esau, obtains it.


Ge 27:30-32.

Esau brings venison.


Ge 27:33.

Isaac trembles.


Ge 27:34-40.

Esau complains, and by importunity obtains a blessing.


Ge 27:41.

He threatens Jacob's life.


Ge 27:42-46.

Rebekah disappoints him, by sending Jacob away.


Genesis chapter 28


Ge 28:1-5.

Isaac blesses Jacob, and sends him to Padan-aram.


Ge 28:6-9.

Esau marries Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael.


Ge 28:10-17.

Jacob journeys, and has a vision of a ladder.


Ge 28:18-19.

The stone of Beth-el.


Ge 28:20-22.

Jacob's vow.


Genesis chapter 29


Ge 29:1-8.

Jacob comes to the well of Haran.


Ge 29:9-12.

He becomes acquainted with Rachel.


Ge 29:13-17.

Laban entertains him.


Ge 29:18-22.

Jacob covenants for Rachel.


Ge 29:23-27.

He is deceived by Laban with Leah.


Ge 29:28-31.

He marries also Rachel, and serves for her seven years more.


Ge 29:32.

Leah bears Reuben;


Ge 29:33.

Simeon;


Ge 29:34.

Levi;


Ge 29:35.

and Judah.


Genesis chapter 30


Ge 30:1-4.

Rachel, in grief for her barrenness, gives Bilhah her maid unto Jacob.


Ge 30:5-8.

Bilhah bears Dan and Naphtali.


Ge 30:9-13.

Leah gives Zilpah her maid, who bears Gad and Asher.


Ge 30:14-16.

Reuben finds mandrakes, with which Leah buys her husband's company of Rachel.


Ge 30:17-21.

Leah bears Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah.


Ge 30:22-24.

Rachel bears Joseph.


Ge 30:25-26.

Jacob desires to depart.


Ge 30:27-36.

Laban detains him on a new agreement.


Ge 30:37-43.

Jacob's policy, whereby he becomes rich.


Genesis chapter 31


Ge 31:1-18.

Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly.


Ge 31:19-21.

Rachel steals her father's images.


Ge 31:22-33.

Laban pursues after him, and complains of the wrong.


Ge 31:34-35.

Rachel's stratagem to hide the images.


Ge 31:36-42.

Jacob's complaint of Laban.


Ge 31:43-55.

The covenant of Laban and Jacob at Galeed.


Genesis chapter 32


Ge 32:1-2.

Jacob's vision at Mahanaim.


Ge 32:3-5.

His message to Esau.


Ge 32:6-8.

He is afraid of Esau's coming.


Ge 32:9-12.

He prays for deliverance.


Ge 32:13-23.

He sends a present to Esau, and passes the brook Jabbok.


Ge 32:24-30.

He wrestles with an angel at Peniel, where he is called Israel.


Ge 32:31-32.

He halts.


Genesis chapter 33


Ge 33:1-16.

Jacob and Esau's meeting; and Esau's departure.


Ge 33:17.

Jacob comes to Succoth.


Ge 33:18-20.

At Shalem he buys a field, and builds an altar, called El-elohe-Israel.


Genesis chapter 34


Ge 34:1-3.

Dinah is ravished by Shechem.


Ge 34:4-12.

He sues to marry her.


Ge 34:13-19.

The sons of Jacob offer the condition of circumcision to the Shechemites.


Ge 34:20-24.

Hamor and Shechem persuade them to accept it.


Ge 34:25-29.

The sons of Jacob upon that advantage slay them, and spoil their city.


Ge 34:30-31.

Jacob reproves Simeon and Levi.


Genesis chapter 35


Ge 35:1.

God commands Jacob to go to Bethel.


Ge 35:2-5.

He purges his house of idols.


Ge 35:6-7.

He builds an altar at Bethel.


Ge 35:8.

Deborah dies at Allon-bachuth.


Ge 35:9-15.

God blesses Jacob at Bethel.


Ge 35:16-21.

Rachel travails of Benjamin, and dies in the way to Edar.


Ge 35:22.

Reuben lies with Bilhah.


Ge 35:23-26.

The sons of Jacob.


Ge 35:27.

Jacob comes to Isaac at Hebron.


Ge 35:28-29.

The age, death, and burial of Isaac.


Genesis chapter 36


Ge 36:1-5.

Esau's three wives.


Ge 36:6-8.

His removal to mount Seir.


Ge 36:9-14.

His sons.


Ge 36:15-19.

The dukes which descended of his sons.


Ge 36:20-23.

The sons and dukes of Seir the Horite.


Ge 36:24-30.

Anah finds mules.


Ge 36:31-39.

The kings of Edom.


Ge 36:40-43.

The dukes that descended of Esau.


Genesis chapter 37


Ge 37:1-4.

Joseph is loved by Jacob, but hated by his brethren.


Ge 37:5-11.

His dreams and the interpretation.


Ge 37:12-20.

Jacob sends him to his brethren, who counsel to slay him.


Ge 37:21-24.

At Reuben's desire they cast him into a pit;


Ge 37:25-30.

and afterwards sell him to the Ishmaelites; while Ruben grieves at not finding him.


Ge 37:31-35.

His coat, covered with blood, is sent to Jacob, who mourns him inordinately.


Ge 37:36.

Joseph is brought to Egypt and sold to Potiphar.


Genesis chapter 38


Ge 38:1-5.

Judah begets Er, Onan, and Shelah.


Ge 38:6-7.

Er's marriage with Tamar, and death.


Ge 38:8-10.

The trespass of Onan.


Ge 38:11.

Tamar is reserved for Shelah.


Ge 38:12.

Judah's wife dies.


Ge 38:13-26.

Tamar deceives Judah.


Ge 38:27-30.

She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah.


Genesis chapter 39


Ge 39:1-6.

Joseph is bought by Potiphar, and preferred in the family.


Ge 39:7-12.

He resists his mistress's temptation.


Ge 39:13-19.

He is falsely accused by her.


Ge 39:20.

He is cast into prison.


Ge 39:21-23.

God is with him there, and he is advanced by the keeper of prison.


Genesis chapter 40


Ge 40:1-4.

The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh being imprisoned, Joseph is charged with them.


Ge 40:5-19.

He interprets their dreams.


Ge 40:20-22.

They are accomplished according to his interpretation.


Ge 40:23.

The ingratitude of the butler, in forgetting Joseph.


Genesis chapter 41


Ge 41:1-8.

Pharaoh has two dreams.


Ge 41:9-32.

Joseph interprets them.


Ge 41:33-45.

He gives Pharaoh counsel, and is highly advanced, and married.


Ge 41:46-49.

The seven years of plenty.


Ge 41:50-52.

He begets children.


Ge 41:53-57.

The famine begins.


Genesis chapter 42


Ge 42:1-15.

Jacob sends his ten sons to buy corn in Egypt.


Ge 42:16-17.

They are imprisoned by Joseph for spies.


Ge 42:18-20.

They are set at liberty, on condition to bring Benjamin.


Ge 42:21-23.

They have remorse for Joseph.


Ge 42:24.

Simeon is kept for a pledge.


Ge 42:25-28.

They return with corn, and their money.


Ge 42:29-35.

Their relation to Jacob.


Ge 42:36-38.

Jacob refuses to send Benjamin.


Genesis chapter 43


Ge 43:1-14.

Jacob is hardly persuaded to send Benjamin.


Ge 43:15-18.

Joseph entertains his brethren.


Ge 43:19-25.