Scripture Readings - Old Testament Readings

Old Testament

The Old Testament is the first part of the Bible, the books written before the coming of Christ. They are divided into four groups:

  1. Books of the Law;
  2. Historical Books;
  3. Doctrinal and
  4. Prophetical.

The Old Testament scripture begins with the five books of the Law called the Pentateuch, which means the five books; also called the Torah, which means the Law. Sometimes these books are also called the Books of Moses since they are centered on the exodus and the Mosaic laws.

In the Old Testament there are also books of the history of Israel; books called the Wisdom books such as the Psalms, Proverbs, and the Book of Job; and books of the prophecies which carry the names of the Old Testament prophets. A prophet is one who speaks the Word of God by direct divine inspiration. Only secondarily does the word prophet mean one who foretells the future.

The Orthodox Church also numbers among the genuine books of the Old Testament the so-called apocryphal books, meaning literally the secret or hidden writings. Other Christians put these books in a secondary place or reject completely their being of divine inspiration.

Reading Read Time Hit Count
Baruch 3:36-4:4 (Eve of the Nativity) 1 min 6,063
Daniel 2:31-36;44-45 (Eve of the Nativity) 1 min 5,573
Daniel 3: 26-56 – (Matins – Seventh Ode – A prayer of the holy three children.) 4 mins 3,987
Daniel 3: 57-88 – (Matins – Eighth Ode – The Hymn of the Holy Three Children) 3 mins 3,476
Daniel 3:1-23 with Song of the Three Holy Children (Great and Holy Saturday) 11 mins 9,118
Deuteronomy 1:8-11,15-17 (Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council – Vespers) 1 min 6,680
Deuteronomy 10:14-21 (Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council -Vespers) 1 min 6,646
Deuteronomy 32:1-43 (Matins – Canticle Two – The Second Song of Moses) 5 mins 5,237
Exodus 1:1-20 (Holy Monday Vespers) 2 mins 4,513
Exodus 12:1-11 (Holy Saturday Vespers) 1 min 4,746
Exodus 12:15-13:16 (Vespers – Meeting of Our Lord) 8 mins 3,940
Exodus 13, 12; Numbers 8; Leviticus 12 2 mins 28
Exodus 13:20-15:19 (Holy Saturday Vespers) 7 mins 5,171
Exodus 14:15-18;21-23;27-29 (Eve of the Theophany) 1 min 4,690
Exodus 15:1-19 (Matins – Canticle One – The First Song of Moses) 2 mins 4,303
Exodus 15:22-16:1 (Vespers – Exaltation of the Cross) 1 min 4,850
Exodus 15:22-27 (Eve of the Theophany) 1 min 5,167
Exodus 19:10-19 (Holy Thursday Vespers) 1 min 5,047
Exodus 2:11-22 (Holy Wednesday – Vespers) 2 mins 3,957
Exodus 2:5-10 (Eve of the Theophany) 1 min 5,383
Exodus 24:12-18 (Vespers – Transfiguration) 1 min 4,763
Exodus 3:1-8 (Vespers – Theotokos) 1 min 4,288
Exodus 33:11-23 (Holy Friday Vespers) 2 mins 4,220
Exodus 33:11-23; 34:4-6, 8 (Vespers – Transfiguration) 3 mins 5,098