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
I Kings 17:1-23 (Vespers, 1st Reading – Elijah) 3 mins 4,549
I Kings 18:30-39 (Eve of the Theophany) 2 mins 5,467
I Kings 19:3-9, 11-13, 15-16 (Vespers – Transfiguration) 2 mins 4,785
I Kings 7:51, 8:1, 3-4, 6-7, 9-11 (Vespers – Entry of the Theotokos) 1 min 4,805
I Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 (Vespers, Saints) 1 min 4,590
II Kings 2:19-22 (Eve of the Theophany) 1 min 5,127
II Kings 2:6-14 (Eve of the Theophany) 2 mins 5,048
II Kings 4:8-37 (Holy Saturday Vespers) 4 mins 5,140
II Kings 5:9-14 (Eve of the Theophany) 1 min 5,259
Isaiah 35:1-10 (Eve of the Theosophy) 1 min 5,157
Isaiah – Composite of 40, 41, 45, 48, 54 (Vespers, Forerunner) 1 min 6,467
Isaiah – Composite of 19:1, 3, 4-5, 12, 16, 19-21 (Vespers- Meeting of Our Lord) 1 min 4,192
Isaiah 1:1-20 (1st Monday of Lent) 3 mins 7,060
Isaiah 1:16-20 (Eve of the Theophany) 1 min 5,272
Isaiah 1:19-2:4 (1st Tuesday of Lent) 2 mins 6,155
Isaiah 10:12-20 (3rd Wednesday of Lent) 2 mins 5,572
Isaiah 11:1-10 (Eve of the Nativity) 1 min 4,877
Isaiah 11:10-12:2 (3rd Thursday of Lent) 2 mins 6,028
Isaiah 12:3-6 (Eve of the Theophany) - 4,459
Isaiah 13:2-13 (3rd Friday of Lent) 2 mins 4,390
Isaiah 14:24-32 (4th Monday of Lent) 1 min 4,340
Isaiah 14:7-20 (Bodiless Powers) 2 mins 5,627
Isaiah 2:11-21 (1st Thursday of Lent) 1 min 5,860
Isaiah 2:2-3 (Ascension Thursday Vespers) 1 min 4,756