{"id":9889,"date":"2023-10-23T19:47:36","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T19:47:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/?p=9889"},"modified":"2025-09-18T04:27:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T04:27:09","slug":"who-wrote-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/who-wrote-the-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Wrote the Bible? List of All 36 Known Names"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who Wrote the Bible? List of the 36 Authors of all 66 books<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Written by Marko Marina, Ph.D.<\/a><\/p>\n

Author |  Historian |  BE Contributor<\/p>\n

Verified!  See our guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n

Verified!  See our editorial guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n

\nDate written: October 23rd, 2023<\/p>\n\nDate written: October 23rd, 2023\n

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily match my own. – Dr. Bart D. Ehrman<\/p>\n

“Who wrote the Bible?” is a question that has intrigued scholars, theologians, and curious minds for centuries. The Bible, a sacred text with a profound impact on the world’s religious and cultural landscape, is a compilation of diverse books, each with its own authorship story. <\/p>\n

As we embark on this journey through the pages of the Bible, we will explore the traditional attributions of authorship for each book, often rooted in ancient beliefs and legends. However, we will also delve into the insights of modern scholars who have meticulously dissected the texts and discovered how many people wrote the Bible.<\/p>\n

This exploration will take us from the opening verses of Genesis to the closing words of Revelation, revealing the authors of the Bible. Let’s begin with the Book of Genesis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Who<\/span><\/p>\n

Who wrote the Pentateuch? (Genesis to Numbers)<\/h2>\n

The term “Pentateuch” finds its origins in the ancient Greek word “pentateuchos,” a poetic reference to “five containers” housing scrolls crafted from leather or papyrus. <\/p>\n

These distinctive vessels held within them the foundational literary treasures of the Bible, a sacred quintet comprising Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy<\/em><\/strong>. Each of these texts, carefully preserved within their metaphorical receptacles, offers profound insights into the foundations of biblical history and law. <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a closer look at the issue of who wrote the Bible by examining the Pentateuch – a cornerstone of the Jewish religion. <\/em><\/p>\n

The Pentateuch is also called the \u201cFive Books of Moses<\/a>\u201d because tradition believes they were written by Moses – the most important Jewish prophet<\/a>. However, modern scholarship disagrees. Why? Why? To reveal the answer, we’ll need to present first a summary of each book.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who Wrote the Book of Genesis?<\/h3>\n

The Book of Genesis<\/strong><\/em> known as the first book of the Hebrew Bible recounts the story of God\u2019s creation of the world and the beginnings of human life on Earth. Some of the most popular and widely-known Biblical images (e.g. The Tree of Knowledge; Adam and Eve, Kain and Abel, etc.) come from Genesis. <\/p>\n

Who Wrote Exodus?<\/h3>\n

The Exodus <\/em><\/strong>is the second book of the Pentateuch, but it\u2019s also an event, the act by which Moses\u2014or God\u2014brought the Israelites out of Egypt. It narrates the history of the Jewish people and the way Moses led them from Egypt across the Red Sea<\/a> and toward the Promised Land. Exodus also describes how God gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. Besides Moses, the main character, Exodus hides many other important yet forgotten figures such as Moses\u2019 wife<\/a> and his parents<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Who Wrote Leviticus?<\/a><\/h3>\n

Leviticus <\/strong><\/em>sits in the middle of the Pentateuch. Nearly half of the 613 commandments in the Hebrew Bible have their basis in the book of Leviticus. Consequently, anyone who wants to understand religious Judaism must understand this book.<\/p>\n

Leviticus is primarily concerned with the practices and rituals of the Israelites. It serves as a manual for the ancient Israelite priesthood, outlining various laws, religious ceremonies, and ethical guidelines.<\/p>\n

Who Wrote the Book of Numbers?<\/h3>\n

The Book of Numbers<\/em><\/strong> serves as a sequel to Exodus because it narrates the events and wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness after they escaped from Egypt. Moreover, Numbers also details the establishment of various laws, instructions for the Levitical priesthood, and regulations governing religious rituals, including offerings and the construction of the Tabernacle.<\/p>\n

Who Wrote Deuteronomy?<\/h3>\n

Deuteronomy<\/em><\/strong> is the fifth and final book of the Pentateuch. It describes the final events before entering the Promised Land. It can be said that Deuteronomy is the last part of Moses\u2019 story that began with the liberation of Israelites from Egypt. Deuteronomy is also significant for its emphasis on the Shema, a central confession of a monotheistic faith, and the presentation of the Decalogue (Ten Commandments). <\/p>\n

The modern quest to understand the authorship of the Pentateuch<\/strong> took off in the 18th century with the rise of the so-called source criticism. Scholars led by Julius Wellhausen argued that there were four different sources behind the first five books of the Bible<\/strong>: the Yahwist, the Elohist, the Deuteronomist, and the Priestly source. In other words, at least four different authors stood behind the creation of these books. <\/p>\n

However, recent scholarship suggested that ancient editors were neither writers of fiction nor rote copyists. Still, historians engaged in research, compositionally interweaving oral and written sources, adding marginal notes, and expanding. In the end, they were responsible for the wording themselves.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s important because if the final editor is even at that stage responsible for the wording, then from a certain perspective, the text is all too unified to do source criticism. The entire text, therefore, could be seen as the work of the last (unknown) editor.<\/p>\n

But these issues are far from being answered. As R. Norman Whybray asserts in The Introduction to the Pentateuch<\/a>: \u201cThere is at the present moment no consensus whatever about when, why, how, and through whom the Pentateuch reached its present form, and opinions about the dates of composition of its various parts differ by more than five hundred years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Book<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Traditional Authorship<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Scholarly Attribution<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Genesis<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Moses<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Exodus<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Moses<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Leviticus<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Moses<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

The Book of Numbers<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Moses<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Deuteronomy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Moses<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Note that in the title, we referenced 36 authors of the books of the Bible.  Since the scholarly attribution is often unknown, especially in the Old Testament, we chose to use the number of traditional authors for the title of this article.  But please keep in mind that scholars debate this number.<\/em><\/p>\n

Even a brief analysis of the Pentateuch in search for authors of the Bible indicates the complexity behind the creation of this captivating collection of books. How about the historical books of the Old Testament? How many people wrote that part of the Bible?<\/p>\n

>> Related:  <\/span><\/strong>To learn how many books are in the Bible, get a list of every book in order, and summaries, see our “Books of the Bible”<\/a> resource.<\/p>\n

Who wrote the Historical Books? (Joshua to Esther)<\/h2>\n

The Book of Joshua<\/em><\/strong> presents a story of a lightning military campaign in the career of a single general, who conquers the cities of Canaan for Israel. But the plot goes all the way to the Babylonian exile, covering various military campaigns of the Israelites. <\/p>\n

Who wrote the Book of Joshua? The Rabbinic tradition ascribed the book to Joshua – Moses\u2019 companion and helper described in Exodus and Numbers. However, this conclusion has been rejected since John Calvin (16th century). Modern scholarship recognizes that the Book of Joshua is an anonymous work<\/strong>. In other words, the author never identified himself in the text. <\/p>\n

Who Wrote Judges?<\/h3>\n

The Book of Judges<\/strong><\/em> continues the history of the Jews as described in Joshua. Consequently, it narrates new military campaigns and struggles until the establishment of the kingdom in the Book of Samuel. In this narrative, judges are the ones who lead the Israelites in battle and provide leadership and judgment during their respective periods of rule. <\/p>\n

Who wrote the Book of Judges? In Jewish tradition, it\u2019s thought that Samuel was the author. However, as no author is named in the text, Judges is assumed to be anonymous<\/strong>. His exact identity remains a mystery. <\/p>\n

In his Commentary<\/a>, Roger Ryan explains that the \u201cauthor could be a historian, a theologian, a lawyer, or an editor. My preference is to refer to the author as a \u2018storyteller\u2019 because what we are reading is a collection of stories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who Wrote the Book of Ruth?<\/h3>\n

This leads us to the Book of Ruth<\/em><\/strong> – a different kind of narrative. The Book of Ruth is a short and heartfelt narrative that showcases the power of love, faithfulness, and the unfolding of God’s providence in the lives of ordinary individuals.  Essentially, it\u2019s a story about a woman named Ruth who accepted Jewish God, religion, and Jewish people.<\/p>\n

Traditionally attributed to the prophet Samuel in the 11th century B.C.E., the Book of Ruth challenges this notion due to Ruth’s status as a non-Israelite and the strong emphasis on the importance of embracing foreigners. <\/p>\n

In contrast to tradition, “a general scholarly consensus, Jeremy Shipper writes<\/a>, “holds that Ruth is mostly the product of a single author” whose identity is unknown<\/strong>. The exact date of composition remains a mystery, but one could, as Shipper explains, make a reasonable but still extremely tentative argument for the early Persian period (6.-5. Century B.C.E.) based on the cumulative evidence.<\/p>\n

Who Wrote I & II Samuel?<\/h3>\n

The Books of Samuel (1 and 2 Samuel)<\/strong> belong within the genre of history. They tell the story of the transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the Israelite monarchy under King Saul and King David. Historically speaking, these two books trace the career of Samuel\u2014the last in a series of charismatic leaders, or judges, of the Old Testament.<\/p>\n

Both of these books are traditionally ascribed to prophets Samuel, Gad, and Nathan. However, modern scholarship raised serious claims that both books were created by several anonymous authors who combined earlier sources with their editorial skills. <\/p>\n

“The books of Samuel”, Alan G. Auld notes in his Commentary<\/a>, “are a work of creative genius\u2014not by one great author, but by several.”<\/p>\n

Who Wrote I & II Kings?<\/h3>\n

The books of Kings<\/strong> represent the final chapters of a larger section of the Old Testament known as the Deuteronomistic History, which includes the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, and 1 and 2 Samuel. The Book of Kings begins with the aging King David and his efforts to find a suitable successor and ends with the reign of King Ahab of Israel.<\/p>\n

Who wrote the 1 and 2 Kings? As you can probably anticipate, the answer isn\u2019t that easy to find. In terms of authorship, most scholars, Alice L. Laffey writes<\/a>, agree that these books \u201coriginally existed in fragments written at different times by different people in different places.\u201d In other words, we are again dealing with multiple anonymous authors behind the final product. <\/p>\n

Who Wrote I & II Chronicles?<\/h3>\n

The books of Chronicles (1 and 2 Chronicles)<\/strong> complete the third part of the Jewish Tanakh<\/a>. It\u2019s full of genealogies and describes the history of the Jewish people from the life of Adam to the Edict of Cyrus in 539 B.C.E. <\/p>\n

These books are traditionally ascribed to the 5th century B.C.E. Jewish priest and a scribe named Ezra. Some scholars support this conclusion based on the linguistic similarities between Chronicles and Ezra\u2013Nehemiah. However, most scholars conclude that we can\u2019t be sure about the exact identity of the author. “The issue of the authorship of Chronicles,” notes Frederick J. Mabie<\/a>, “is likely to remain an unsettled area of biblical scholarship.”<\/p>\n

Who Wrote the Book of Ezra?<\/h3>\n

The Book of Ezra<\/strong><\/em> provides an account of the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple. Jewish and Christian tradition holds that the author was the Jewish priest and scribe Ezra who also wrote Chronicles and Nehemiah.<\/p>\n

John Barton and John Muddiman note<\/a> that \u201cmodern scholarship has formed an uneasy consensus around the notion that Ezra and Nehemiah had their origin in two separate ‘memoirs’ from the two historical figures in \u00a3.460-440 BCE.\u201d Recent scholarship is inclined to conclude that Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles<\/strong> have complicated histories of editions with many layers and possibly more than one author<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Who Wrote Nehemiah?<\/h3>\n

The Book of Nehemiah<\/em><\/strong> focuses on the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the spiritual renewal of the Jewish community following their return from exile in Babylon. Regarding the authorship, Jewish and Christian traditions ascribe this work to Ezra. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth noting that in some rabbinic traditions, this book is thought to be written by Nehemiah who was then forbidden to claim the authorship because of his bad behavior toward others. <\/p>\n

Who Wrote Esther?<\/h3>\n

The Book of Esther<\/em><\/strong> describes the story of a Jewish woman in Persia, born as Hadassah but known as Esther, who becomes queen of Persia and thwarts a genocide of her people. It emphasizes the themes of courage, faith, and divine providence. It highlights how an ordinary person, in this case, Esther, can rise to extraordinary circumstances and play a crucial role in the survival of her people. <\/p>\n

Who wrote the Book of Esther? Traditionally, it has been attributed to Mordecai, who is a key character in the story and a relative of Esther. However, this attribution is not based on good historical grounds.<\/p>\n

The authorship of the Book of Esther is unknown because the author never identified himself within the text. Moreover, we have no secure external attestations. Therefore, most critical scholars<\/a> conclude, based on linguistic evidence, that the Book of Esther was written by an anonymous author either in the 4th or the 3rd century B.C.E.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Book<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Traditional Authorship<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Scholarly Attribution<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Joshua<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Joshua<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Uknown authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Judges<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Samuel<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Unknown author<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ruth<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Samuel<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Unknown author<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1 Samuel<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

SamuelGadNathan<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2 Samuel<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

SamuelGadNathan<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1 Kings<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Unknown<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2 Kings<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Unknown<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1 Chronicles<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ezra<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2 Chronicles<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ezra<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ezra<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ezra<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Nehemiah<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ezra\/Nehemiah<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Esther<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mordecai<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Unknown author<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Who wrote each book of the Bible?<\/strong> Our exploration already yielded some interesting results. The Bible was written by different authors living in different parts of the world. Sometimes, multiple authors were responsible for the creation of one book. Let\u2019s turn our attention now to the wisdom and poetry books.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

NOW AVAILABLE FREE!<\/p>\n

Did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Actually Write the Gospels?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The New Testament Gospels are anonymous. So why did early Christians say they were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? And what’s the evidence that they actually did?<\/p>\n

__CONFIG_colors_palette__{“active_palette”:0,”config”:{“colors”:{“62516”:{“name”:”Main Accent”,”parent”:-1}},”gradients”:[]},”palettes”:[{“name”:”Default Palette”,”value”:{“colors”:{“62516”:{“val”:”rgb(255, 133, 34)”,”hsl”:{“h”:26,”s”:0.99,”l”:0.5667}}},”gradients”:[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__ <\/span> GET THE FREE WEBINAR<\/strong><\/span><\/span> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Who Wrote the Wisdom and Poetry Books? (Job to Song of Solomon)<\/h2>\n

The Book of Job<\/em><\/strong> is the first poetic work of the Old Testament. It\u2019s known as a great narrative of Job\u2019s life with the underlying question of how to resolve the existence of God with the problem of evil and suffering. <\/p>\n

Traditionally, the Book of Job was attributed to Job – a righteous figure who lived in the 6th century B.C.E. However, modern scholars recognized the anonymity of the work. As is the case with so many books of the Bible, the author of the Book of Job isn\u2019t known. <\/p>\n

One common assumption<\/a> is that an anonymous poet used an existing popular story as the framework for exploring the possibility of disinterested righteousness and the different answers to the problem of innocent suffering.<\/p>\n

Who Wrote Psalms?<\/h3>\n

The Book of Psalms<\/em><\/strong> represents a profound anthology of Jewish religious hymns. The authorship of the Psalms is traditionally attributed to various individuals, primarily King David, along with other writers such as Asaph, the sons of Korah, and Solomon.<\/p>\n

However, modern scholarship<\/a> recognizes that the Psalms are a diverse collection, and their origins span several centuries. In other words, there is a collective and complex nature behind the composition of Psalms. <\/p>\n

Who Wrote the Book of Proverbs?<\/h3>\n

The Book of Proverbs<\/em><\/strong> is a collection of wise sayings, maxims, and practical advice for living a righteous and morally upright life. Traditionally, it’s attributed to King Solomon who was known for his profound wisdom. <\/p>\n

However, critical scholars recognize the complexity behind the issue of authorship. The Oxford Bible Commentary<\/a> notes: \u201cWhile the major collections of Proverbs are assigned either directly (10:1) or indirectly (25:1) to Solomon, the remaining collections are ascribed to other ‘authors’… If the Solomonic origin of some sayings should not be excluded, neither can it be demonstrated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who Wrote Ecclesiastes?<\/h3>\n

The Book of Ecclesiastes<\/em><\/strong> is a philosophical and reflective work attributed to King Solomon. It explores the meaning of life, the nature of human existence, and the pursuit of wisdom and happiness. <\/p>\n

Although the Jewish tradition believes that at the end of his life, Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, modern scholarship recognizes that the book was written much later. <\/p>\n

Some scholars believe it was written during the Persian time (c. 450.-330. B.C.E.) while others are inclined to put Ecclesiastes in the Hellenistic time (c. 330.-180. B.C.E.). In any case, scholars agree<\/a> that the book was written by an anonymous author long after King Solomon\u2019s life. <\/p>\n

Who Wrote the Song of Solomon?<\/h3>\n

The Song of Songs<\/em><\/strong>, also known as the Song of Solomon<\/em><\/strong>, is a unique book in the Old Testament of the Bible. It\u2019s a collection of lyrical poetry and love songs that celebrate the beauty of romantic and marital love.<\/p>\n

Despite traditionally attributed authorship to King Solomon, biblical scholars agree that the book was written much later. Most experts believe<\/a> that the book is the work of a later editor who added the mention of Solomon in the superscription, as well as in other passages of the book to amplify the importance and the authority of his text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Book<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Traditional Authorship<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Scholarly Attribution<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Job<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Job<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Unknown author<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Psalms<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

DavidAsaphSons of KorahSolomon<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple (unknown) authors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Proverbs<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Solomon<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Multiple authors (perhaps Solomon as well)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ecclesiastes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Solomon<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Unknown author<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Song of Solomon<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Solomon<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Unknown author<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Who Wrote the Major Prophets? (IsAiah to Daniel)<\/h2>\n

The issue of who wrote the Bible leads us to a collection of books within the category of major Jewish prophets. Let\u2019s start with the most famous one! <\/p>\n

Who Wrote Isaiah?<\/h3>\n

The Book of Isaiah<\/strong><\/em> is a prophetic book attributed to Isaiah who lived in the Kingdom of Judah during the 8th century B.C.E. Scholars believe that this work has three distinct movements. Each one has a specific historical context. The book as a whole is one piece, intentionally woven together around 520 BCE.<\/p>\n

The three distinct movements are<\/p>\n