The Old Testament was written by many authors over about a thousand years, from Moses through the prophets, poets like David, and post-exilic writers such as Ezra. Many books name their writers, while some books are anonymous.
Many human authors
The Old Testament is not presented as the work of a single writer. It is a collection written by many authors across roughly a thousand years. The authorial picture includes figures associated with different kinds of writing: Moses is credited with the Law, David is credited with many Psalms, and the prophets are associated with the books bearing their names. Alongside these named writers, the Old Testament also includes books that do not identify an author.
Named and anonymous books
Author information in the Old Testament varies from book to book. Many of its books name their writers, which is why specific attributions are commonly cited—such as Moses with the Law and David with many Psalms. At the same time, some books are anonymous, meaning the text does not provide a name for the writer. The result is that any summary of who wrote the Old Testament must hold both realities together: identifiable authors for many books and unknown authorship for others.
Evidence for attribution
The main lines of evidence highlighted for authorship are straightforward and tied to how the Old Testament is commonly described: Moses is credited with the Law, David with many Psalms, and the prophets with the books that bear their names. This does not mean every book is equally clear about its author. Rather, it reflects that certain major sections or books are traditionally associated with particular individuals, while other writings remain unattributed.
Timeframe and language
The Old Testament was composed over roughly 1400–400 BC, a span of about a millennium. This long period aligns with the reality of multiple authors writing across many generations. The writings are almost entirely in Hebrew, with a little Aramaic. These language notes belong to the basic setting of the Old Testament as a body of literature: it comes from an extended historical period and is preserved primarily in Hebrew with some Aramaic material.
What the Old Testament is
The Old Testament is the first and larger part of the Christian Bible, and it is also the Scriptures of Israel. As a collection, it addresses the people of Israel and later all readers of Scripture. This broad audience statement fits its long composition period and its varied authorship: it is not a single work written for a single moment, but a set of writings associated with Israel’s Scriptures and read by later readers as Scripture as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did one person write the Old Testament?
No. The Old Testament was written by many authors over about a thousand years. Some books name their writers, and some are anonymous.
Is Moses considered an author of the Old Testament?
Yes. Moses is credited with the Law, which is part of the Old Testament.
Did David write any of the Old Testament?
Yes. David is credited with many Psalms.
Who wrote the prophetic books?
The prophets are associated with the books bearing their names. This is one of the main author attributions commonly given for the Old Testament’s writings.
When and in what language was the Old Testament written?
It was composed roughly 1400–400 BC, over about a millennium. It was written almost entirely in Hebrew, with a little Aramaic.