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
Exodus 40:1-5,9-10,16,34-35 (Vespers – Entry of the Theotokos) 1 min 5,355
Ezekiel 1:1-20 (Holy Monday Sixth Hour) 3 mins 4,766
Ezekiel 1:21-2:1 (Holy Tuesday Sixth Hour) 2 mins 4,213
Ezekiel 2:3-3:3 (Holy Wednesday Sixth Hour) 2 mins 4,302
Ezekiel 36:24-28 (Pentecost Vespers) 1 min 4,785
Ezekiel 37:1-14 (Holy Saturday Matins) 2 mins 6,455
Ezekiel 43:27-44:4 (Annunciation fore-feast) 1 min 6,295
Genesis 1:1-13 (1st Monday of Lent) 2 mins 8,722
Genesis 1:1-13 (Eve of the Nativity) 1 min 5,413
Genesis 1:1-13 (Eve of the Theophany) 1 min 5,417
Genesis 1:14-23 (1st Tuesday of Lent) 1 min 6,217
Genesis 1:24-2:3 (1st Wednesday of Lent) 2 mins 7,509
Genesis 10:32-11:9 (4th Thursday of Lent) 1 min 4,492
Genesis 12:1-7 (4th Friday of Lent) 1 min 5,068
Genesis 13:12-18 (5th Monday of Lent) 1 min 4,452
Genesis 14:14-20 (Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council – Vespers) 1 min 5,911
Genesis 15:1-15 (5th Tuesday of Lent) 2 mins 4,235
Genesis 17:1-2, 4, 5-7, 8, 9-10, 11-12, 14 (Circumcision of Our Lord – Vespers) 1 min 5,551
Genesis 17:1-9 (5th Wednesday of Lent) 1 min 4,615
Genesis 17:15-17, 19; 18:11-14; 21:1-8 (Vespers – FORERUNNER) 2 mins 4,111
Genesis 18:20-33 (5th Thursday of Lent) 2 mins 4,666
Genesis 2:20-3:20 (1st Friday of lent) 4 mins 8,191
Genesis 2:4-19 (1st Thursday of Lent) 2 mins 5,980
Genesis 22:1-18 (5th Friday of Lent) 3 mins 4,796