Genesis gives no date
The opening of Genesis takes readers back to creation itself, long before Abraham, Joseph, Moses, or Israel existed (Genesis 1:1). Yet the book never pauses to name its human writer or give a date of composition. That means we should be honest: Scripture does not let us put Genesis on a precise year-by-year timeline.
Its stories cover a vast period, from the creation of the world through the life of Joseph in Egypt. The events happened before Moses led Israel out of Egypt, but the time when they were written down is a different question.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Why Moses is traditionally connected with it
For centuries, Jews and Christians have understood Moses to be closely connected with the first five books of the Bible, often called the Law or the Pentateuch. Exodus describes Moses writing down the words the Lord gave Israel at Sinai (Exodus 24:4). Near the end of his life, Deuteronomy also portrays him completing the written law (Deuteronomy 31:24).
Jesus spoke of Moses' writings as pointing to him (John 5:46). For that reason, many believers conclude that Moses wrote Genesis along with Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, perhaps using older family records and God-given revelation. Genesis itself does not explain exactly how its material was gathered.
And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
What date does that suggest?
If Moses wrote Genesis, it was likely written during the period of the exodus and Israel's wilderness journey. Christians who date the exodus earlier often suggest the fifteenth century BC. Those who favour a later date for the exodus may place Moses' writing in the thirteenth century BC.
These dates are careful estimates, not dates printed in Genesis. The Bible gives real historical settings and generations, but it does not provide enough information to settle every question about ancient chronology. It's alright to hold a view with humility.
Why the question matters
Some modern scholars argue that Genesis was compiled or edited over a longer period, possibly after Moses' lifetime. Faithful Christians disagree about the details of its composition. Still, the central message is not left hanging on a disputed date: God is the Creator, sin fractures human life, and God begins his covenant purpose through Abraham's family.
When you read Genesis, notice how it prepares the way for the rest of Scripture. Moses' law, Israel's story, and the hope of redemption all grow from the foundations laid here. A date can be interesting, but the book's invitation is more personal: meet the God who made the world and keeps his promises.
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.