Start at the beginning. Understanding the book of Genesis will provide greater insight to the entire Bible. The Bible would be incomplete and perhaps unknowable without the book of Genesis. This epic story spanning generations sets the stage for the entire drama of redemption, revealing Jesus Christ and unfolding God's plan for the ages. In this commentary, David Guzik explains the book of Genesis chapter by chapter, verse by verse, helping you to understand this exciting and important beginning to the Bible.
I enjoyed having the Biblical text fully written out so I didn't have to switch between my Bible and the study guide. The guide goes through Genesis verse by verse, so you don't miss anything. But what I really enjoyed was having the original language translations and the customs explained. It gives you so much more of a complete understanding.
What a haul. I’ll definitely continue with these Guzik commentaries as there is so much to learn. Guzik does a good job of making sense of all the ancient practices and inferences that would be missed by a 2025 American, but would be clear without verbiage to a Babylonian nomad of ~2000 B.C..
I enjoyed the synthesis of others works - Guzik certainly contributes but much of the leg work is done by the established commentaries of Luther, Leupold and Spurgeon - all of which lends to a greater discussion on the theologically rich, narratively messy Genesis.
Only thing I would have liked a bit more of was Hebrew etymology and word studies. There is some in here and I was fascinated each time. If not for the mountains of academia that support biblical positions or what I think to be metaphysical truths that clearly point to a Creator, the level of poetry, double entendre and cross-referencing done in the book of Genesis simply could not be a feat of human effort. There is no way to humanly wield the pen so cleverly, so poignantly, and so resolutely that the very meaning of each line would not be totally lost to time.
Praise be unto the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages.
This book is a must-read for all believers in God, Elohim, and the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). I have been and continue to be blessed. I'm still reading and studying Genesis with the author. God bless you, David!
I have come to have high regard for David Guzik’s commentary through the “Blue Letter Bible”. This format is easier to read and just as helpful to understand what was happening in the context of the book. Very helpful!
I’ve never done a deep dive into the Old Testament so this book really opened my eyes to the beginning of God’s people. To see them as real men with faults and wayward children is inspiring to me. Thank you for such an insightful study of the book of Genesis.
David Guzik's in-depth commentary and thoughtful analysis provided me with a comprehensive exploration and a deeper understanding of the Book of Genesis. It helped me understand how themes and characters are interwoven throughout Scripture. It was very useful for my personal study and I can see it being great for group discussions as well.