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How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology
This book is for anyone who wants to learn how to observe carefully, understand accurately, evaluate fairly, feel appropriately, act rightly, and express faithfully God's revealed Word, especially as embodied in the Old Testament.
•Follow an extensively field-tested twelve-step process to deepen understanding and shape theology (biblical, systematic, and practical).
•Engage with numerous illustrations from Scripture that model these interpretive steps.
•Learn how to track an author's thought-flow, grasp the text's message, and apply the ancient Word in this modern world, all in light of Christ's redeeming work.
Loaded with examples, practical answers, and recommended resources, the twelve chapters will empower believers to study, practice, and teach the Old Testament as Christian Scripture, understanding and applying it in ways that nurture hope in the gospel and magnify the Messiah.
•Follow an extensively field-tested twelve-step process to deepen understanding and shape theology (biblical, systematic, and practical).
•Engage with numerous illustrations from Scripture that model these interpretive steps.
•Learn how to track an author's thought-flow, grasp the text's message, and apply the ancient Word in this modern world, all in light of Christ's redeeming work.
Loaded with examples, practical answers, and recommended resources, the twelve chapters will empower believers to study, practice, and teach the Old Testament as Christian Scripture, understanding and applying it in ways that nurture hope in the gospel and magnify the Messiah.
583 pages, Hardcover
Published March 31, 2017
54 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Jason S. DeRouchie
21 books35 followersJason S. DeRouchie (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Research Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 27, 2024
I wait to be convinced that you can "move from exegesis to theology in 12 steps," even if those 12 steps are as (rightly) detailed as DeRouchie portrayed. It seems to me that larger, systematic/dogmatic theological reasoning & beliefs informs the granular exegetical decisions, even if you try to have a full-proof phrase -> clause hierarchy -> bracket -> outline.
April 15, 2024
This book is quite good but gets docked a star because of how dry it is at times.
January 27, 2022
If there's one book I wish that I had been assigned to read in my OT and Hebrew classes as an MDiv student, this would be it. Jason DeRouchie has provided students of the Word with an accessibly written, beautifully illustrated, and thoughtfully organized, step-by-step walkthrough of how to interpret and apply the Hebrew Old Testament, replete with a surplus of helpful charts, graphs, appendices, and even a bibliography of suggested reading at the end of each chapter. His pedagogical approach is second to none, as is his clear love and passion for God's Word, which really shines through in the way he writes. I'm pretty sure I've never read a book with over a dozen pages' worth of endorsements from so many world-class theologians, Bible scholars, and pastors before, but this one certainly deserves every high praise it has received.
In particular, I found DeRouchie's chapters on "Literary Units and Text Hierarchy" (ch2), "Clause and Text Grammar" (ch5), "Argument-Tracing" (ch6), "Biblical Theology" (ch10), and his treatment of the Christian and OT's laws and promises in "Practical Theology" (ch12) to be especially helpful.
In particular, I found DeRouchie's chapters on "Literary Units and Text Hierarchy" (ch2), "Clause and Text Grammar" (ch5), "Argument-Tracing" (ch6), "Biblical Theology" (ch10), and his treatment of the Christian and OT's laws and promises in "Practical Theology" (ch12) to be especially helpful.
February 17, 2020
Amazing! Buy it! Read it! Now!
June 20, 2019
Given the subtitle, one might think this book to be a sort of AA for exegetes: "My name is Benjamin and I'm an exegete." "Hello, Benjamin." My take on exegesis I summarize as: Pay attention to what you read. Rather than twelve distinct steps that must be done in order, DeRouchie lays out twelve considerations for helping the exegete pay close attention to what he reads. Overall, this is the most helpful guide that I have read. It is fuller, and in that way more helpful, than Douglas Stuart's Old Testament Exegesis. It is more evangelical than Michael Gorman's Elements of Biblical Exegesis (though Gorman includes a couple of sample exegesis papers that are quite helpful). My chief concern is with DeRouchie's New Covenant commitments. As a result, he overstates the disjunction between the Old and New Testaments. His discussion of the law, for example, is neither subtle nor nuanced, seeming, for example, to imply that every use of "law" in Paul refers to the Mosaic law. His New Covenant commitments also influence (negatively) his discussion of the Sabbath and certain aspects of the application of the law. Nevertheless, highly recommended.
May 11, 2019
The first thing you’ll notice when you open the book is 16 pages of recommendations from other OT scholars, and their comments are striking: “HUAOT surpasses all previous works”; “DeRouchie’s work will likely become the standard for the next generation”; “Magisterial in depth and scope”; “nothing less than a gold mine!”; “perhaps the most comprehensive and complete practice guide to OT hermeneutics and exegesis available today”; “the most thoughtful and well-developed guidebook on how to do exegesis the I have encountered”; “In over fifty-two years of teaching in the classrooms of higher education, I have seen nothing comparable to this magnificent work by DeRouchie—destined to be the classic in its field.”
I’m always a bit skeptical about book blurbs, and was on high alert after that introduction, but after working through all 500+ pages of this book, I honestly can’t argue with it. I don’t have fifty-two years of teaching to compare with (I have zero), but I can say that I don’t know of another resource like this. This is a book I could give to my grandmother to learn some basics about reading her OT, or to someone well-versed in Hebrew to dig deep into the latest developments in Hebrew discourse analysis. The book has three “levels” — beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Beginners can skip the harder sections, and focus on what they can grasp. Advanced readers should read the whole thing.
Here are my favorite parts of this book:
—rigorous Hebrew exegesis using the best insights of discourse analysis to understand the flow of a passage, Dr. DeRouchie’s “Text Hierarchy.”
—seeing Christ in all of Scripture, rooted firmly in robust Biblical Theology.
—extended examples drawn from OT passages, with insights that are as good as any commentary.
—The Christological “lens” through which we interpret OT laws, promises, and prophecies.
—helpful diagrams and charts.
—a thorough list of additional recommended resources organized for each chapter.
For seminary professors, students, or any motivated church-member who wants to dig deeper into the Old Testament (“Jesus’s Bible”), I can’t think of a better one-stop shop than this book.
I’m always a bit skeptical about book blurbs, and was on high alert after that introduction, but after working through all 500+ pages of this book, I honestly can’t argue with it. I don’t have fifty-two years of teaching to compare with (I have zero), but I can say that I don’t know of another resource like this. This is a book I could give to my grandmother to learn some basics about reading her OT, or to someone well-versed in Hebrew to dig deep into the latest developments in Hebrew discourse analysis. The book has three “levels” — beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Beginners can skip the harder sections, and focus on what they can grasp. Advanced readers should read the whole thing.
Here are my favorite parts of this book:
—rigorous Hebrew exegesis using the best insights of discourse analysis to understand the flow of a passage, Dr. DeRouchie’s “Text Hierarchy.”
—seeing Christ in all of Scripture, rooted firmly in robust Biblical Theology.
—extended examples drawn from OT passages, with insights that are as good as any commentary.
—The Christological “lens” through which we interpret OT laws, promises, and prophecies.
—helpful diagrams and charts.
—a thorough list of additional recommended resources organized for each chapter.
For seminary professors, students, or any motivated church-member who wants to dig deeper into the Old Testament (“Jesus’s Bible”), I can’t think of a better one-stop shop than this book.
November 30, 2023
DeRouchie provides a helpful book for Old Testament Exegesis. The book, as its aim, is to provide an understanding for students of a wide variety of exposure to Biblical Hebrew (‘easy,’ ‘moderate,’ and ‘challenging’; i.e. ‘no exposure,’ ‘beginner,’ ‘advanced’).
DeRouchie writes in a clear straightforward manner than is genuinely helpful. He likewise provides beneficial summaries of more complicated issues, as well as an engaging tone of the subject material. Overall a very smooth read, and little redundancy.
It’s certainly a book I will return to through my own exegetical work in various genres and passages in the Old Testament.
Two areas this reader found DeRouchie particularly helpful was his discussion on genre and literary structure.
In light of the many benefits to the book, one area this reader found to be less helpful (personally given the exposure and understanding of Hebrew of the reader) is the earlier chapters lean toward those who have little to no exposure and understanding of Hebrew. Though helpful for them, much of this for more ‘advanced’ readers was elementary and having less take away for many of the early chapters. But despite this ‘negative,’ those chapters still served this reader in a refreshing reminder, and a some good biblical examples of the discussion(s) at hand in those chapters.
DeRouchie writes in a clear straightforward manner than is genuinely helpful. He likewise provides beneficial summaries of more complicated issues, as well as an engaging tone of the subject material. Overall a very smooth read, and little redundancy.
It’s certainly a book I will return to through my own exegetical work in various genres and passages in the Old Testament.
Two areas this reader found DeRouchie particularly helpful was his discussion on genre and literary structure.
In light of the many benefits to the book, one area this reader found to be less helpful (personally given the exposure and understanding of Hebrew of the reader) is the earlier chapters lean toward those who have little to no exposure and understanding of Hebrew. Though helpful for them, much of this for more ‘advanced’ readers was elementary and having less take away for many of the early chapters. But despite this ‘negative,’ those chapters still served this reader in a refreshing reminder, and a some good biblical examples of the discussion(s) at hand in those chapters.
June 2, 2017
I'm typically skeptical of books that reduce complex processes to a list of steps. This book is the exception. The author's clarity of thought, depth of insight into the Old Testament, and ability to examine both the big picture and the minute details of Old Testament exegesis is outstanding. But most of all, he never abandons a delight in and love for God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Scriptures throughout the whole book. Highly recommended.
July 15, 2020
Incredible! Highly recommended. As one of my heroes in the faith said of this work it is "Magisterial in depth and scope..." (Dr. Peter Gentry)
July 12, 2025
This was required reading for a class and was super helpful. It will be a tool I use often.
December 16, 2017
Jason S. DeRouchie is Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology at Bethlehem College and Seminary. DeRouchie received an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, as well as additional studies at Jerusalem University College and Harvard Divinity School. DeRouchie is the author of a number of books, including A Modern Grammar for Biblical Hebrew (coauthored with Duane A. Garrett; B&H Academic, 2009) and What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey if Jesus’ Bible (Kregel, 2013). Most recently, DeRouchie has written a user-friendly and comprehensive hermeneutical exploration of the Old Testament that is certain to dethrone many predecessors as a standard classroom textbook.
How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology is truly a tour de force par excellence. DeRouchie not only uncovers and illuminates every corner of the hermeneutical process of the Old Testament, but he helpfully offers numerous examples for readers to reflect upon while working through the TOCMA (Text > Observation > Context > Meaning > Application) model. The book is divided into five major parts (TOCMA) comprised of twelve foundational steps: Text — [1] Genre, [2] Literary Units, [3] Text Criticism, and [4] Translation; Observation — [5] Grammar, [6] Argument-Tracing, and [7] Word and Concept Studies; Context — [8] Historical Context and [9] Literary Context; Meaning — [10] Biblical Theology and [11] Systematic Theology; and Application — [12] Practical Theology. Readers will appreciate the level of care that DeRouchie has taken throughout the volume to bring the overall implications of the TOCMA model to life and ministry.
The organization and structure of How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament is also a noteworthy aspect of the volume. DeRouchie has provided a detailed analytical outline for reference and each chapter opens with an overview of the content, including a designation of the contents difficulty level (easy, moderate, or challenging). Readers are able to quickly determine how deep they wish to dive into each chapter and can skip around as desired. Another way to look at it is that DeRouchie has effectively written a three-level hermeneutical exploration that offers the beginning student room to grow and the advanced student a reliable source of review. Each chapter incudes numerous tables and charts with relevant information, and conclude with a list of keywords and concepts for review, questions for further reflection, and a resources list for further study. DeRouchie does indicate suggested resources for beginning and advanced students, but it would have been beneficial if these resource lists were annotated with comments about the usefulness of the book for the reader.
It’s difficult to say anything about this volume that hasn’t been said by other reviewers. I mean, the book opens with over fifteen pages of endorsement from respected Old Testament scholars and pastors, such as William D. Barrick, C. John Collins, Lee M. Fields, Peter J. Gentry, Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Tremper Longman III, Eugene H. Merrill, Gary D. Pratico, Bruce K. Waltke, and many more. Prior to DeRouchie, I was regularly using Old Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students by Douglas Stuart (4th edition; WJK, 2009), which is a standard textbook used around the world and an excellent volume that remains useful. DeRouchie has functionally replaced this volume on my shelf, and I imagine others will have the same feeling. The TOCMA model that is put forth in How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament offers twelve steps worth taking if you desire to properly understand, apply, and communicate the Old Testament.
How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology by Jason S. DeRouchie is unparalleled in scope and usefulness. There is simply no other book on the market better positioned to help readers understand and apply the Old Testament. It is informative, accessible, and thoroughly engaging. It is certain to become a classroom standard and should be on the bookshelf of anyone seeking to seriously understand the Old Testament as a faithful follower of Jesus. It comes highly recommended!
How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology is truly a tour de force par excellence. DeRouchie not only uncovers and illuminates every corner of the hermeneutical process of the Old Testament, but he helpfully offers numerous examples for readers to reflect upon while working through the TOCMA (Text > Observation > Context > Meaning > Application) model. The book is divided into five major parts (TOCMA) comprised of twelve foundational steps: Text — [1] Genre, [2] Literary Units, [3] Text Criticism, and [4] Translation; Observation — [5] Grammar, [6] Argument-Tracing, and [7] Word and Concept Studies; Context — [8] Historical Context and [9] Literary Context; Meaning — [10] Biblical Theology and [11] Systematic Theology; and Application — [12] Practical Theology. Readers will appreciate the level of care that DeRouchie has taken throughout the volume to bring the overall implications of the TOCMA model to life and ministry.
The organization and structure of How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament is also a noteworthy aspect of the volume. DeRouchie has provided a detailed analytical outline for reference and each chapter opens with an overview of the content, including a designation of the contents difficulty level (easy, moderate, or challenging). Readers are able to quickly determine how deep they wish to dive into each chapter and can skip around as desired. Another way to look at it is that DeRouchie has effectively written a three-level hermeneutical exploration that offers the beginning student room to grow and the advanced student a reliable source of review. Each chapter incudes numerous tables and charts with relevant information, and conclude with a list of keywords and concepts for review, questions for further reflection, and a resources list for further study. DeRouchie does indicate suggested resources for beginning and advanced students, but it would have been beneficial if these resource lists were annotated with comments about the usefulness of the book for the reader.
It’s difficult to say anything about this volume that hasn’t been said by other reviewers. I mean, the book opens with over fifteen pages of endorsement from respected Old Testament scholars and pastors, such as William D. Barrick, C. John Collins, Lee M. Fields, Peter J. Gentry, Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Tremper Longman III, Eugene H. Merrill, Gary D. Pratico, Bruce K. Waltke, and many more. Prior to DeRouchie, I was regularly using Old Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students by Douglas Stuart (4th edition; WJK, 2009), which is a standard textbook used around the world and an excellent volume that remains useful. DeRouchie has functionally replaced this volume on my shelf, and I imagine others will have the same feeling. The TOCMA model that is put forth in How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament offers twelve steps worth taking if you desire to properly understand, apply, and communicate the Old Testament.
How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology by Jason S. DeRouchie is unparalleled in scope and usefulness. There is simply no other book on the market better positioned to help readers understand and apply the Old Testament. It is informative, accessible, and thoroughly engaging. It is certain to become a classroom standard and should be on the bookshelf of anyone seeking to seriously understand the Old Testament as a faithful follower of Jesus. It comes highly recommended!
October 2, 2025
Very helpful in so many ways. Greatly appreciated the formatting, especially that each section was "tagged" for level of difficulty, making this book very useful for a wide range of readers. Chapter 6 on "Argument Tracing" and chapter 7 on "Word Studies" are of particular help.
I would differ on DeRouchie's convictions regarding the NT use of the OT (especially evident in chapter 10 on Biblical Theology where he advocates the Christocentric hermeneutic). Although he uses "Christotelic" interpretation terminology, he nevertheless advocates that there is a "fuller meaning" accessible only when the New Testament is read back into the Old. (Pg. 366, "Christians are in a better place to understand the Old Testament’s actual meaning than most in the old covenant community were.")
For these hermeneutical reasons, I found chapters 10-12 less helpful for (and at times a distraction from) in-depth Biblical exegesis and test-driven exposition. Nevertheless, this is still an excellent resource that is a tremendous resource for all who Believe that God's Word is to be handled with precision and care.
I would differ on DeRouchie's convictions regarding the NT use of the OT (especially evident in chapter 10 on Biblical Theology where he advocates the Christocentric hermeneutic). Although he uses "Christotelic" interpretation terminology, he nevertheless advocates that there is a "fuller meaning" accessible only when the New Testament is read back into the Old. (Pg. 366, "Christians are in a better place to understand the Old Testament’s actual meaning than most in the old covenant community were.")
For these hermeneutical reasons, I found chapters 10-12 less helpful for (and at times a distraction from) in-depth Biblical exegesis and test-driven exposition. Nevertheless, this is still an excellent resource that is a tremendous resource for all who Believe that God's Word is to be handled with precision and care.
August 4, 2025
One of the reasons I started reading this book was I wanted to understand better how to interpret the Mosaic Law as a NT believer. DeRouchie says we need to interpret the law understanding Jesus is the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law. This means some laws are unchanged, some are:
1. transformed (Sabbath --> sustained rest)
2. Maintained (Gender-distinction to gender distinction)
3. Extended (parapet building to care of neighbor)
4. Annulled (eating unclean foods to all foods are clean).
1. transformed (Sabbath --> sustained rest)
2. Maintained (Gender-distinction to gender distinction)
3. Extended (parapet building to care of neighbor)
4. Annulled (eating unclean foods to all foods are clean).
September 22, 2017
In a word: worshipful! Though I confess that it was "hard sledding" at times, I was greatly served and encouraged by this book. DeRouchie's passion for the glory of Jesus in all of Scripture and all of life is simply contagious and worship inducing! This book is a must for any serious pastor, theologian, or student of the Bible, particularly the OT of course.
June 9, 2018
The first half of the book was great and helpful for textual analysis. The second half of the book was terrible. Filled with inconsistencies, contradictions (within the same paragraphs!), and incoherent applications dependent more on his theological commitments than exegetical theology, I cannot recommend this whole book as helpful in understanding and applying biblical hermeneutics.
July 6, 2025
Overall it was a solid read. I learned a good amount. The book stayed on topic and didn't stray from it's intent to teach about understanding and applying the Old Testament.
It just feels like it is missing something. Some sections I flew through. Other sections I found it difficult to read.
A good book if you're trying to understand this exact topic.
It just feels like it is missing something. Some sections I flew through. Other sections I found it difficult to read.
A good book if you're trying to understand this exact topic.
December 21, 2017
Working on a review now....
May 18, 2020
Excelente libro de como interpretar y aplicar. Aunque tiene aspectos que se inclinan a teología reformada. Su tratamiento del texto en exegesis es excelente!
July 29, 2024
This book is hefty, and is not an easy read (in my opinion). Loved the “12 steps from exegesis to theology.” A lot of good stuff in there, but honestly at times, it got pretty dry.
October 16, 2021
A very thorough work to do exactly what the title implies. It is also a very readable work. DeRouchie has written his work to help those who don't know Hebrew, those who know some Hebrew, and those who are well-versed in Hebrew.
I would recommend this volume and its New Testament companion by Andrew Naselli.
I would recommend this volume and its New Testament companion by Andrew Naselli.
January 3, 2019
Ended up buying this book after being given digital early access by the publisher. A must have without a doubt
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews