Genesis: story, chapters, people, places and themes

Genesis opens with an ordered account of creation across six days: light, sky, sea and dry land, the sun and moon, living creatures, and finally humankind, made male and female in God's image and blessed to be fruitful and to steward the earth.

A closer account describes God resting on the seventh day, then forming the man from the dust and placing him in a garden in Eden watered by four rivers.

The serpent persuades the woman to eat from the forbidden tree, and she gives to the man, who also eats.

Eve bears Cain and Abel.

A genealogy traces ten generations from Adam through Seth to Noah, recording the great ages and deaths of each figure.

As humankind multiplies, the earth is described as filled with violence and corruption, and God resolves to bring a flood.

Noah, his family and the animals enter the ark as God commanded.

God remembers Noah, and a wind causes the waters to subside.

God blesses Noah and his sons, permits the eating of meat with limits on blood, and affirms the value of human life.

A genealogy, often called the table of nations, lists the descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth and the peoples and lands associated with them.

People settle on a plain and build a city and tower to make a name for themselves.

God calls Abram to leave his country and family for a land he will be shown, promising to make him a great nation and a blessing to all peoples.

Abram and Lot return from Egypt wealthy, but their herds are too many for the land to support together, and quarrels arise between their herdsmen.

A coalition of kings defeats the cities of the plain and carries off Lot and his goods.

God reassures Abram in a vision and promises him a son of his own body and descendants as many as the stars.

Still without a child, Sarai gives her servant Hagar to Abram to bear a son.

God appears to Abram, renews the covenant, and changes his name to Abraham and Sarai's to Sarah, promising that Sarah will bear a son named Isaac.

Three visitors come to Abraham at Mamre, and he offers generous hospitality.

Two angels reach Sodom and are received by Lot, who shelters them from a threatening crowd.

In Gerar, Abraham again presents Sarah as his sister, and King Abimelech takes her, not knowing she is married.

Sarah bears Isaac in her old age, exactly as promised, and Abraham circumcises him.

God tests Abraham, telling him to offer Isaac on a mountain in Moriah.

Sarah dies at Hebron, and Abraham mourns for her.

Abraham sends his trusted servant back to his homeland to find a wife for Isaac.

Abraham takes another wife, has more sons, but leaves everything to Isaac before dying and being buried beside Sarah.

During a famine Isaac stays in Gerar, where God renews to him the promises made to Abraham.

Old and nearly blind, Isaac prepares to bless Esau, but Rebekah helps Jacob disguise himself to receive it first.

Sent by Isaac to find a wife among Rebekah's kin, Jacob travels toward Haran.

Jacob reaches Haran and meets Rachel at a well, then serves her father Laban seven years for her hand.

The rivalry between Leah and Rachel drives a contest of childbearing, drawing in their servants Bilhah and Zilpah, until Jacob has many sons and a daughter.

Sensing Laban's changing attitude and prompted by God, Jacob gathers his family and flocks and leaves secretly for Canaan.

Approaching Canaan, Jacob learns that Esau is coming to meet him with four hundred men, and in fear he divides his company and sends ahead lavish gifts.

Esau runs to meet Jacob and embraces him, weeping, and the long-feared reunion becomes a reconciliation.

Dinah, Jacob's daughter, is violated by Shechem, a local prince who then seeks to marry her.

God calls Jacob back to Bethel, where he puts away foreign idols, builds an altar, and hears the promises and the name Israel confirmed.

A genealogy records the descendants of Esau, also called Edom, listing his wives, sons, and the chiefs and kings associated with his line in the land of Seir.

Joseph, favored by his father and given a special coat, reports dreams in which his family bows to him, deepening his brothers' resentment.

The narrative turns to Judah, who leaves his brothers and marries.

In Egypt Joseph serves Potiphar and is trusted with everything, for God prospers his work.

Two of Pharaoh's officials, a cupbearer and a baker, are imprisoned with Joseph and each has a troubling dream.

Pharaoh dreams of cattle and grain that no one can explain, and the cupbearer finally remembers Joseph.

Driven by famine, Jacob sends ten sons to Egypt to buy grain, keeping Benjamin at home.

As the famine continues, Judah persuades Jacob to send Benjamin, pledging himself as surety.

Joseph has his silver cup hidden in Benjamin's sack, then sends servants to accuse the departing brothers of theft.

Overcome, Joseph sends the Egyptians out and tells his brothers who he is, weeping aloud.

On the way to Egypt Jacob offers sacrifices and is reassured by God in a vision that his family will become a great nation there and that he will return.

Joseph presents his brothers and father to Pharaoh, who settles them in Goshen.

Told that his father is ill, Joseph brings his sons Manasseh and Ephraim to Jacob, who claims them as his own and blesses them.

Gathering his twelve sons, Jacob speaks a distinct word over each, part blessing and part assessment of their character and future.

Joseph mourns Jacob and, with Egyptian and family escort, buries him in the cave of Machpelah in Canaan as he had sworn.