No single person wrote the Old Testament, and different groups answer this question in different ways.
Traditional religious view
In Jewish and Christian tradition, God is seen as the ultimate author, inspiring many human writers over many centuries. These views often say:
- Moses wrote the first five books (Genesis–Deuteronomy), sometimes called the Law or Pentateuch.
- Prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the “Minor Prophets” wrote the books that bear their names.
- Kings and sages such as David and Solomon are credited with many Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs.
Scholarly historical view
Most modern biblical scholars see the Old Testament as a library compiled over roughly a thousand years by many anonymous authors, editors and scribal groups. The first major writings likely began in the monarchy period (around the 8th–7th centuries BCE) and continued through the Babylonian exile and after, with later editors shaping and combining earlier traditions.
Key points about authorship
- Many books do not name an author, and even those traditionally linked to a person (like Moses or Solomon) are often viewed by scholars as composite works drawing on earlier sources and later editing.
- By the time of Jesus, the main Old Testament collection (Law, Prophets, and Writings) was already recognized as a fixed body of sacred texts, regardless of detailed authorship questions.
